Edema and Puffiness — Why Your Face Swells Every Morning and How Korean Medicine Treats It
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Swollen face every morning — is it just fatigue?
Some people wake up with a noticeably puffy face, and by afternoon their legs feel heavy and sock marks remain deeply imprinted on the skin. Temporary edema can come from too much salt or too little sleep, but chronic, recurring edema points to a problem with fluid metabolism. After ruling out kidney, heart, and thyroid disease, swelling without a clear organic cause is called idiopathic edema.
Spleen deficiency with damp accumulation and fluid metabolism
In Korean medicine, fluid metabolism is governed by three organs. The lungs send water downward (regulating the waterways), the spleen lifts water upward and distributes it throughout the body (transporting and transforming dampness), and the kidneys excrete unnecessary water through urine (qi transformation). Among these, when the transporting and transforming function of the spleen and stomach weakens, dampness loses its proper place and stagnates beneath the skin and between tissues. This is edema due to spleen deficiency with damp accumulation.
Oryeong-san and Bangki-hwanggi-tang
- Oryeong-san: A representative diuretic formula made up of Alismatis Rhizoma, Polyporus, Poria, Atractylodes Rhizoma Alba, and Cinnamon Twig. It supports the qi transformation of the bladder and excretes stagnated fluid through urine. It is effective for edema with low urine output and thirst.
- Bangki-hwanggi-tang: Used for edema due to spleen qi deficiency with damp stagnation. Astragalus tonifies the qi while Stephania powerfully eliminates dampness. It suits patients with marked lower-extremity edema and accompanying fatigue.
Improving lymphatic circulation
For relieving edema, lymphatic circulation is key. In acupuncture, stimulating points such as Shuifen (CV9), Yinlingquan (SP9), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) promotes lymphatic flow. For self-care, try alternating warm and cold facial washes in the morning, gua sha massage on the face, and sleeping with the legs slightly elevated. Reduce salt intake (under 5 g per day) and eat potassium-rich foods such as bananas, sweet potatoes, and spinach to help excrete sodium from the body.