Black circles under the eyes.

Date: Mon, 28 Aug 1995 17:18:04 -0500
Sender: HERB.TREARNPC.EGE.EDU.TR
From: Whoever <rlt.VNET.NET>
Subject: Eyes

This may sound like a stupid questions, but it has me somewhat perplexed. I have recently noticed black circles under my eyes, I know I will be immediately assaulted with responses on fatigue, stress, etc. and I would like to clear that up immediately. I do yoga, am a vegetarian, and excercise regularly, it is not stress or fatigue. I believe I am missing a nutrient of some kind. I should be getting enough iron and protien with my diet, does anyone know what else this might be a symptom of? Feel free to email me privately in regard to this.

From: Deb Phillips <ARmidwife.AOL.COM>

Allergies could be the culprit.

From: Paul Iannone <p_iannone.POP.COM>

: Another reason for black circles under the eyes may be a kidney situation.

Although this is often said (it is a Macrobiotic belief), let's just note that the bottom lid is the site of the beginning of the Stomach Channel in the 'bioenergetic' theory of East-Asian Traditional Healing [the pupil is the usual site of examining the condition of the Kidney].

The Stomach and its Channel are fundamental to good health. If your diet is irregular, you skip and delay meals, eat fruit or fruit juice or desserts with meals, coffee, or worry too much, you will weaken that Channels flow. Once that occurs, the tissue along that Channel will sag. Darkness in that sagging tissue is Blood Stagnation due to Qi Depletion.

Dampness, which can cause bags under the eyes for the very reason that the Stomach can become soggy due to very weak Digestion (and lack of Kidney Yang Fire in some cases), will cause large sacks under the eye, not sunken dark circles.

Hope that helps refine the thinking some.