Indications

Pimples & acne

 

Actions

Clears heat, toxins and pus to resolve pimples and acne at the source.

 

Dosage

3 pills twice per day near food.

May increase dosage to 6 pills twice per day in the first few weeks depending on the severity of the acne.

For cystic acne use with ‘Lumps & Nodules’ formula.

 

Ingredients

Loquat, leaf                    191.2mg

Bail Skullcap, root.        191.2mg

Salvia, root.                    191.2mg

Red Peony, root.            191.2mg

Gardenia, flower.          191.2mg

Honeysuckle, flower.    191.2mg

Forsythia, flower.           191.2mg

Rehamnnia, root.          191.2mg

Hawthorn, berry.           191.2mg

Licorice, root.                 79.6mg

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Contains 78 capsules

AUSTL 462768

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An Chuan Ling – "Pimples & Acne"

A modern Chinese herbal formula traditionally used to reduce inflammation, clear acne and support healthy skin from the inside by addressing the underlying causes of pimples, boils and inflammatory skin eruptions.

 

What is An Chuan Ling?

Almost everyone experiences pimples at some stage in life.

For some people, they are occasional.

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For others, they become a persistent and frustrating problem that affects confidence, self-esteem and quality of life.

Acne develops when several factors occur together:

• excessive oil production

• blocked pores

• bacterial overgrowth

• inflammation

• hormonal influences

• an overactive immune response

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognised these processes long before bacteria and hormones were understood.

It viewed acne as a combination of Heat, inflammation, toxins and impaired circulation, often influenced by digestive health and constitutional imbalance.

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At Chiron Medical we call this formula "Pimples & Acne", because it is designed to treat the full spectrum of inflammatory acne—from mild teenage pimples to widespread acne affecting the face, chest and back.

 

Why We Call It "Pimples & Acne"

Not all acne looks the same.

 

Some people develop:

• blackheads

• whiteheads

• inflamed pimples

• pustules

• painful acne

• acne on the back and shoulders

• heat rashes

 

This formula is designed to address all inflammatory stages of acne, particularly when redness, swelling and infection are present.

 

What Is It Traditionally Used For?

Traditionally, this formula is prescribed for Heat Toxin affecting the skin with Blood Heat and inflammation.

 

Skin Conditions

• acne vulgaris

• inflamed pimples

• pustular acne

• facial acne

• chest acne

• back acne

• heat rash

 

Inflammatory Skin Disorders

Traditionally considered for:

• boils

• folliculitis (pattern dependent)

• inflamed skin eruptions

• recurrent pustules

 

The Herbs That Make the Formula

An Chuan Ling combines herbs that reduce inflammation, support healthy circulation and help the body resolve inflammatory skin lesions.

 

Pi Pa Ye (Loquat Leaf)

Traditional role

Clears Heat from the Lungs and skin while reducing inflammation.

Biomedical actions

Research suggests:

• anti-inflammatory activity

• antioxidant effects

• antibacterial activity

• support for skin healing

 

Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root)

Traditional role

Clears Heat and Dampness while reducing toxicity.

Biomedical actions

Research demonstrates:

• potent anti-inflammatory activity

• antibacterial effects

• antioxidant properties

• regulation of inflammatory cytokines

 

Dan Shen (Salvia Root)

Traditional role

Invigorates Blood and improves circulation to help resolve inflamed skin lesions.

Biomedical actions

Research suggests:

• improved microcirculation

• anti-inflammatory activity

• antioxidant effects

• promotion of wound healing

 

Chi Shao (Red Peony Root)

Traditional role

Cools Blood and reduces inflammation while improving circulation.

Biomedical actions

Research demonstrates:

• anti-inflammatory effects

• antioxidant activity

• vascular protection

• regulation of inflammatory mediators

 

Zhi Zi (Gardenia Fruit)

Traditional role

Clears Heat and relieves irritability while reducing inflammatory skin conditions.

Biomedical actions

Research suggests:

• anti-inflammatory activity

• antimicrobial effects

• antioxidant properties

• support for skin repair

 

Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower)

Traditional role

One of Chinese medicine's premier herbs for clearing Heat and Toxicity affecting the skin.

Biomedical actions

Research demonstrates:

• broad-spectrum antibacterial activity

• antiviral effects

• anti-inflammatory activity

• immune modulation

 

Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit)

Traditional role

Clears Heat and Toxicity while helping resolve boils, pimples and skin infections.

Biomedical actions

Research suggests:

• antibacterial activity

• anti-inflammatory effects

• antioxidant properties

• support for immune regulation

 

Sheng Di Huang (Fresh Rehmannia Root)

Traditional role

Cools the Blood, nourishes Yin and helps reduce inflammatory Heat affecting the skin.

Biomedical actions

Research demonstrates:

• antioxidant activity

• anti-inflammatory effects

• support for tissue repair

• immune modulation

 

Shan Zha (Hawthorn Fruit)

Traditional role

Supports digestion and reduces food stagnation, helping address one of the common contributors to inflammatory skin disorders.

Biomedical actions

Research suggests:

• antioxidant activity

• support for healthy lipid metabolism

• digestive enzyme stimulation

• anti-inflammatory effects

 

Gan Cao (Liquorice Root)

Traditional role

Harmonises the formula while reducing toxicity and protecting the digestive system.

Biomedical actions

Research demonstrates:

• anti-inflammatory activity

• antibacterial effects

• antioxidant activity

• immune regulation

• support for skin healing

 

How the Formula Works

Modern dermatology recognises that acne develops through four major processes:

• excess sebum production

• blockage of hair follicles

• overgrowth of Cutibacterium acnes

• inflammation

A

n Chuan Ling brings together herbs that address several of these mechanisms simultaneously.

 

Research suggests the formula may help:

• reduce inflammatory activity

• inhibit bacterial growth

• improve skin circulation

• support tissue repair

• regulate immune responses

• reduce post-inflammatory damage

 

Rather than simply drying the skin, the formula aims to restore healthier skin function from within.

 

What Does Modern Research Say?

Many of the herbs within An Chuan Ling have been extensively investigated for inflammatory skin disease.

 

Acne

Research has explored:

• reduction of inflammatory lesions

• antibacterial activity against acne-associated bacteria

• regulation of inflammatory cytokines

• reduction of oxidative stress

 

Skin Healing

Studies suggest support for:

• wound healing

• collagen repair

• reduction of inflammatory damage

• improved microcirculation

 

Inflammation

Several herbs demonstrate significant activity against pathways involved in:

• NF-κB signalling

• IL-1β

• IL-6

• TNF-α

• oxidative stress

 

These actions closely mirror the modern understanding of acne as an inflammatory disease rather than simply a bacterial infection.

 

Acne Starts Below the Surface

A pimple appears on the skin...

...but the processes that created it often began weeks earlier.

Hormonal influences.

Inflammation.

Immune activity.

Sebum production.

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Chinese medicine has always recognised that healthy skin reflects healthy internal physiology.

This is why treatment focuses on improving the body's internal environment as well as the visible skin lesions.

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Comparing the Chiron Medical Skin Formulas

Every skin condition has its own pattern.

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An Chuan Ling - Pimples & Acne - Mild to severe inflammatory acne and heat rashes - Clears Heat, reduces inflammation and supports skin healing

Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin -Inflammation - Liver Fire - Red, Hot, Itchy, Pus - Inflamed skin infections, boils and cellulitis - Clears Heat Toxin and acute inflammation

Nei Xiao Luo Li Tang - Lumps & Nodules - Deep cystic acne, nodules and hard swellings - Softens masses and resolves chronic nodules

Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang - Clear the Way - Acne Scarring - Recovery after acne - Supports tissue repair, circulation and healthy skin regeneration

 

Building a Complete Acne Programme

One of the strengths of Chinese medicine is that treatment can evolve as acne changes.

 

Pimples & Acne (An Chuan Ling)

The foundation formula for inflammatory acne affecting the face or body.

↓

Red, Hot, Itchy, Pus (Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin)

Added when acne becomes intensely inflamed, infected or pustular.

↓

Lumps & Nodules (Nei Xiao Luo Li Tang)

Used when deep cystic acne or hard nodules develop beneath the skin.

↓

Clear the Way

Introduced during recovery to support healthy collagen formation, improve circulation and minimise acne scarring.

 

Together these formulas create a comprehensive approach that follows acne through every stage—from active inflammation to skin repair.

 

For Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners

 

Classical Pattern

Heat Toxin with Blood Heat and Dampness affecting the skin

Typical presentation:

• inflammatory papules

• pustules

• facial redness

• oily skin

• heat rash

• red tongue

• rapid or slippery pulse

 

Formula Strategy

An Chuan Ling:

• Clears Heat.

• Resolves Toxicity.

• Cools the Blood.

• Invigorates circulation.

• Reduces inflammatory skin lesions.

 

Common Clinical Applications

Frequently considered for:

• acne vulgaris

• pustular acne

• adolescent acne

• adult acne

• folliculitis

• inflammatory skin eruptions

 

For Medical Doctors

 

Proposed Biomedical Actions

Current research suggests the constituent herbs influence:

• inflammatory cytokines (including IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α)

• oxidative stress

• bacterial biofilm formation

• skin microcirculation

• wound healing

• innate immune regulation

Major bioactive compounds include:

• baicalin

• baicalein

• tanshinones

• paeoniflorin

• chlorogenic acid

• forsythosides

• geniposide

• glycyrrhizin

 

Collectively these compounds demonstrate anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and tissue-repair properties that are highly relevant to the pathophysiology of acne.

 

Potential Herb–Drug Considerations

Clinical monitoring is advisable in patients taking:

• oral antibiotics

• isotretinoin

• hormonal acne therapies

• anticoagulants (particularly due to Dan Shen)

• immunosuppressive medications

 

Patients with severe nodulocystic acne, rapidly progressive skin infection, fever or significant scarring should receive appropriate dermatological assessment. This formula is intended as supportive therapy within an integrated treatment plan.

 

Healthy Skin Begins Within

Clear skin isn't simply about treating the surface.

Healthy skin reflects healthy circulation...

Balanced inflammation...

Effective immune function...

And good digestive health.

That is why we call this formula "Pimples & Acne."

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Rather than chasing individual pimples, An Chuan Ling supports the internal systems that allow the skin to heal naturally. Combined with targeted formulas for infection, cystic acne and scar repair, it forms the cornerstone of the Chiron Medical approach to achieving clearer, healthier skin from the inside out.

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Key Takeaways

• An Chuan Ling is a modern Chinese herbal formula designed to support the management of all types of inflammatory pimples and acne, from mild facial acne to more widespread body acne and heat rashes.

• At Chiron Medical it is called "Pimples & Acne" because it serves as the foundation formula for inflammatory skin conditions.

• It combines herbs with demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, circulatory and skin-healing actions that align with current understanding of acne pathophysiology.

• It works alongside Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin ("Red, Hot, Itchy, Pus"), Nei Xiao Luo Li Tang ("Lumps & Nodules") and Clear the Way to provide a staged approach to acne treatment and recovery.

• The formula should be prescribed by a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner as part of a comprehensive skin health programme, particularly in patients with persistent, severe or scarring acne.

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