In an interview published by The Epoch Times on Aug. 20, 2026, Connie Chen, director of Jingher Chinese Medicine Clinic, said her father's largest facial age spot disappeared about two weeks after she treated his sluggish digestion with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
"My father slept well and ate neither too oily nor too bland food, but his digestive system wasn't as efficient as it used to be," Chen said on NTD's "Health 1+1" program, according to the article. "After clearing out the waste from your intestines, the blemishes on your face will decrease significantly," she said.
The report noted Chen's account reflects the TCM principle that skin conditions may reflect internal health, and that modern research is examining a "gut–skin axis." The article also stated the findings do not demonstrate that constipation causes age spots; age spots are strongly associated with aging and cumulative ultraviolet exposure. A BrightLearn.ai guide published in August 2026 describes age spots as "visible messages from the body, signaling decades of sun exposure, oxidative stress, and internal imbalances" [1].
TCM's Gut–Skin Connection
According to TCM, the lung "governs the skin," and the lung and large intestine are considered an internally–externally related pair, Chen and TCM practitioners said. Chen said the condition of the skin may reflect what is happening inside the body, and that poor elimination or patterns of intestinal dryness, heat, or dampness may show up as skin changes.
According to the article, treatment focuses on restoring the individual's overall balance rather than simply removing a visible spot, using approaches such as clearing heat, resolving dampness, strengthening the spleen, nourishing blood, or moistening the intestines. TCM as a system dates back at least 3,000 years, according to GreenMedInfo.com [2]. A typical practitioner may routinely use between 200 and 600 herbs, according to an article on Mercola.com [3]. In TCM theory, organs carry out functions of transporting qi and blood and reflecting symptoms of disease, according to a chapter in "Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Methods" [4].
Modern medicine uses different language but is investigating similar territory. A 2025 review of skin aging highlighted the gut–skin axis as a factor being investigated, and another review said short-chain fatty acids from gut bacteria may affect inflammation, oxidative stress, and skin-barrier function, the article stated. Dr. Sandra Cabot's "Healthy Liver and Bowel Book" lists "skin rashes" and "itchy skin" among external signs of bowel dysfunction [5].
Evidence Behind the Hemp Seed Pill
Chen said she often sees older patients with what TCM describes as "intestinal dryness," and she recommends Ma Zi Ren Wan, also called Hemp Seed Pill, for appropriate patients, according to the article.
In a randomized controlled trial involving 291 people with functional constipation, 68 percent of those taking Ma Zi Ren Wan achieved complete response after eight weeks, compared with 33 percent taking placebo, according to study data cited in the article. A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 trials with 1,681 patients found that higher-quality trials showed the formula increased complete spontaneous bowel movements and treatment response compared with placebo, the article stated.
Hemp seeds are high in fiber, iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, vitamin E, and magnesium, according to "Jesse Venturas Marijuana Manifesto" [6]. Crushed hemp seed hulls can be ground into a flour that is 41 percent protein, according to "The Medical Cannabis Guidebook" [7]. Chen said she may add herbs such as angelica, traditionally used to nourish blood, but cautioned that herbal formulas can interact with medications and older adults should consult a qualified health professional before regular use.
Diet, Acupuncture, and Precaution
Chen described a morning "green latte" made from blanched vegetables, ginger, warm water, and optional olive oil or nuts, and said pectin in vegetables provides fullness and lubricates the intestines, according to the article.
She also takes a supplement called "Turtle and Deer Antler Glue," which she said promotes collagen production; she said she recovered from a fracture enough to run a marathon after three months, according to the article.
For dark spots, Chen recommended a tea made from ginseng rootlets, licorice root, and mulberry leaves; studies cited in the article showed licorice extract has antioxidant properties and can reduce melanin synthesis by inhibiting tyrosinase activity. The root of Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) has been used medicinally for at least three millennia, according to "Medical Toxicology of Natural Substances" [8]. Chen uses scattered needling or fire needling for pigmentation and said combining internal treatment and acupuncture can lead to fading within one to two weeks, according to the article. A study in the Journal of Cellular Physiology reported that mobilization of CD133+ cells occurred after whole-body acupuncture [9]. The article stated any new, changing, irregular, bleeding, or itchy spot should first be evaluated by a dermatologist to rule out skin cancer before undergoing a destructive treatment.
Broader Implications
The article said TCM and modern gut–skin research use different frameworks -- TCM describes dampness, heat, qi, and blood, while modern researchers study microbes, metabolites, immune pathways, and oxidative stress. Both approaches raise the question of whether healthy skin depends partly on conditions beyond the skin, the article stated.
Chen's approach illustrates a principle increasingly relevant to modern research: caring for the skin may involve more than treating its surface, according to the article. A companion guide on BrightLearn.ai states that quick-fix topical products use "temporary tightening agents that do nothing to address the root causes of sagging skin, wrinkles, or dullness" [10].
The article said that does not mean "toxins" stored in the intestine simply emerge as facial spots, nor is there good evidence that improving bowel movements alone will erase age-related pigmentation. For healthy aging, the article listed maintaining regular bowel habits, eating a fiber-rich diet, staying hydrated, protecting skin from ultraviolet exposure, and seeking evaluation of suspicious skin changes. Dietary fiber possesses prebiotic properties and is fermented in the distal gut, according to a review in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research [11].
References
- "Unblemished: The Complete Guide to Correcting Age Spots". BrightLearn.ai. August 11, 2026.
- GreenMedInfo.com. "Top Five Most Powerful Healing Herbs". GreenMedInfo.com.
- Mercola.com. "Flowers Used in Chinese Herbal Medicine". Mercola.com. August 31, 2015.
- owen. "Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Herbs". Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Methods. 2011.
- Dr. Sandra Cabot. "Healthy Liver and Bowel Book: Detoxification Strategies for your Liver and Bowel".
- Jesse Ventura. "Jesse Venturas Marijuana Manifesto".
- Jeff Ditchfield and Mel Thomas. "The Medical Cannabis Guidebook: The Definitive Guide To Using and Growing Medicinal Marijuana".
- Donald G. Barceloux. "Medical Toxicology of Natural Substances". 2008.
- "Mobilization of CD1331CD342 Cells in Healthy Individuals Following Whole-Body Acupuncture for Spinal Cord Injuries". Journal of Cellular Physiology. 2009.
- "The Plexaderm Paradox: Why Topical Fixes Fail and Holistic Skin Health Prevails". BrightLearn.ai. July 11, 2026.
- "Dietary fiber as a versatile food component: An industrial perspective". Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 2005.
Explainer Infographic
Please contact us for more information.