Q:I am a 32-year-old woman and suffer from acne. The condition returns when I stop taking my medication. I have been told that it could be due toconstipation or a hormonal imbalance. Can TCM treat acne and what foods should I avoid to prevent these break-outs?

A:Your problem is probably caused by insufficient kidney yin, excessive"liver-fire", a stagnation of "blood-heat" in the lungs and stomach, as well asan imbalance of the chong and ren meridians.

Chinese medicine, scrapping (where boards made of buffalo horns are run overvarious parts of the body until purplish-red to remove excess heat and expeltoxins) and facial acupuncture can help alleviate your symptoms. They do thisby dispelling the heat, strengthening the organs and balancing the chong andren meridians.

You should also have at least eight hours of sleep. Avoid spicy, oily anddeep-fried food because it will create heat and dampness which will affect thedigestive system. It is also important to practise good hygiene. If yourbreak-out occurs close to your menstrual cycle, you should consult yourphysician at least a week before your period comes.

Information provided by Ms Lim Lay Beng, a TCM physician at YS Healthcare TCMClinic in The Adelphi.