Got Puffy Eyes? Our Editor Tests 3 Daily TCM Remedies For Eye Bags, 2 Powerful Diet Tips & Acupressure Tricks You Need To Know!

Puffy eyes and under-eye bags are something most women deal with at some point. They can make you look tired, older, and dull—even makeup can’t fully hide them, especially since eye bags are physically raised! If you're hoping to brighten your eyes and tackle issues like eye bags, dark circles, and fine lines, this article is for you. We’ll break down the causes and types of eye bags from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, plus share easy massage techniques, effective dietary tips, and simple daily methods to help smooth and lift your under-eye area. Keep reading!

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What Causes Eye Bags? Here’s What TCM Says

The eyeball sits within the eye socket, cushioned by fat for protection. Normally, the fat inside the eye socket and the connective tissue under the eyes stay in balance—this is when your eyes look their most vibrant and youthful. However, as we age, the orbicularis oculi muscles weaken, skin loses elasticity, and the fat starts to protrude, forming visible eye bags.

According to TCM, the appearance of eye bags is also linked to internal imbalances in the body’s organs. When yin and yang are out of sync, blood flow and metabolism around the eyes suffer. Below are the five most common causes of eye bags from a TCM standpoint:

1. Kidney Deficiency

In TCM, the kidneys govern water metabolism and fluid balance throughout the body. As we age—or due to stress, illness, or poor lifestyle habits—kidney qi and essence decline. This can lead to poor fluid regulation, causing water retention, particularly under the eyes. These types of eye bags tend to look dark or blackish, since black is associated with kidney imbalance in TCM. If you notice black-toned eye bags, it could be a sign that your kidneys need some care.

2. Spleen Deficiency

The spleen and stomach control digestion and nutrient transport. When spleen function is weak—often due to poor diet, overwork, or fatigue—fluids aren’t properly metabolized. As a result, excess moisture can accumulate around the eyes, making the skin loose and puffy. Weak spleen qi often leads to droopy eyelids and persistent eye bags.

3. Cold Uterus (Gong Han)

Believe it or not, having a cold uterus (a common TCM diagnosis for poor blood circulation) can also lead to under-eye bags! Poor circulation means blood and qi stagnate, especially around the eyes. Over time, this causes dark circles and puffiness to form. This is a hidden cause many women overlook.

4. Poor Blood and Qi Circulation

Long hours in front of a screen, staying up late, and inadequate rest all weaken circulation. When blood flow slows down and fluid metabolism becomes sluggish, puffiness and dark circles follow. Stagnant meridians around the eyes can also result in congestion and swelling, making eye bags more noticeable.

5. Weak Liver Function

The liver is responsible for detoxification, storing blood, and maintaining smooth qi flow. When liver qi becomes sluggish or blocked, toxins build up, and blood circulation around the eyes suffers. This causes blood and fluids to pool under the eyes, leading to puffiness and dark discoloration.

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Types of Eye Bags

Before treating eye bags, it’s important to identify what type you have. That way, you can target the root cause and choose the most effective remedy. Eye bags generally fall into three categories:

1. Genetic Eye Bags

Some people naturally have excess fat in the eye socket due to genetics. This can cause the eyes to look puffy or protruded from a young age. Another variation is strong, prominent orbicularis oculi muscles, which can give the appearance of eye bags even when no fat is protruding—these are known as “pseudo-eye bags.”

2. Puffy (Edema) Eye Bags

Also known as “bubble eyes,” these are caused by temporary fluid retention. Late nights, eating salty or oily food, or drinking too much water before bed can all trigger puffiness. Salt that isn’t fully flushed out can draw water to the under-eye area. These bags are usually worst in the morning and may go down after a few hours.

3. Aging-Related Eye Bags

As we age, we naturally lose collagen and bone density around the eyes. Gravity also causes the fat under the eyes to sag, creating droopy, protruding eye bags. This is one of the most common types in older adults and is difficult to reverse without targeted treatment.

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Best Acupressure Points to Reduce Eye Bags

One major reason for eye bags is poor blood flow around the eyes. Acupressure can help stimulate circulation, boost metabolism, and improve the look of your under-eye area over time.

Here are 4 powerful acupressure points that target eye bags and dark circles. You can massage them morning and night. First, rub your hands together to warm them up. Then gently cover your eyes with your palms. Use your fingertips to press and massage in small circles for about 30 reps per point, taking around 5 minutes total.

Eye Bag Acupressure Point #1: Taiyang

Located about 1 inch behind the end of your eyebrow (in a slight hollow). Stimulating this point improves skin metabolism, and it’s great for relieving tension headaches, eye fatigue, and dark circles.

Eye Bag Acupressure Point #2: Yuyao

Found directly above the pupil, in the middle of the eyebrow. If you’re dealing with puffiness due to poor sleep or dehydration, this point helps drain excess fluid from the eye area.

Eye Bag Acupressure Point #3: Chengqi

Located between the bottom of the eye and the orbital bone (just below the pupil). Regular massage here can brighten the eyes and reduce dark circles, eye lines, and puffiness.

Eye Bag Acupressure Point #4: Jingming

Found in the inner corner of the eye near the bridge of the nose. This point helps with eye fatigue, puffiness, and dryness. If your eyes often feel gritty or tired, make this one a regular part of your massage routine.

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Eye Bag-Reducing Remedies You Can Drink

1. Red Date, Chinese Yam & Job’s Tears Drink

If your under-eye puffiness and dark circles are caused by a sluggish digestive system—symptoms like bloating, burping, and soft stools—try drinking this herbal blend once a week.

Ingredients: 5 red dates, 15g Chinese yam, 15g Job’s tears, and a small piece of dried tangerine peel.

Instructions: Rinse all ingredients thoroughly, add water, and simmer for 15–20 minutes. This nourishing drink helps reduce dampness in the body and relieves under-eye swelling.

2. Goji Berry & Chrysanthemum Tea

If your eyes often feel dry and tired, or if the skin around your eyes looks dull, this tea is a great option. These symptoms may be linked to liver imbalances or excess internal heat.

Instructions: Steep goji berries and chrysanthemum flowers in hot water for about 5 minutes. Refill with water and drink until the flavor fades. You can enjoy this 2–3 times a week for soothing relief and eye rejuvenation.

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Super Simple At-Home Eye Exercises to Beat Eye Bags

Puffy eyes can make your entire face look tired and bloated. Try this quick eye workout at home to reduce swelling and relax eye muscles:

Step 1: Open your eyes wide, then shut them tightly. Hold each movement for 5 seconds.
Step 2: Stare straight ahead and move your eyeballs in a horizontal figure-8 motion. Repeat 5 times.
Step 3: Hold your index finger in front of your eyes and deliberately cross your eyes while focusing on it.
Step 4: Look to the left and hold for 5 seconds, then to the right for another 5 seconds. Feel the stretch around your eyes.
Step 5: Look into a mirror, squint gently and hold for 10 seconds. Then close your eyes and repeat.
Step 6: Place your index, middle, and ring fingers flat across your forehead and gently massage in circular motions. This helps relax the eye area and release tension.

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Everyday Habits That Help Reduce Eye Bags

Besides massages and exercises, your daily routine plays a big part in managing eye bags.

Tried & Tested by Our Editor

1. Going to Bed Early

Honestly, getting enough sleep doesn’t just help with eye bags—it improves your overall health. After trying an early sleep schedule for just three days, I noticed less oiliness in the afternoon, smoother skin, and reduced puffiness. Although the fat under my eyes didn’t magically disappear, my eyes looked less swollen. Still, sticking to 7–8 hours of sleep meant sacrificing too much of my “me time.” After four days, I gave up and went back to sleeping late.

2. Warm Compress

Both warm and cold compresses can help, though I often forget when to use which. Because my dark circles and eye bags are both pretty bad, I use an ice pack at work in the mornings to feel refreshed and a warm towel at night to relax. While it doesn’t do much for fat-based eye bags, it does relieve eye fatigue and feels comforting.

3. Eye Massage

Every article out there seems to suggest eye massages, but I used to be too lazy to commit. That changed after a serious late-night session left me with terrible eye bags and dark circles. I immediately searched up some acupressure techniques and did a full massage before bed. It felt good—my eyes were more relaxed and circulation improved. Unfortunately, I woke up the next morning looking the same, so I gave up again. (Yes, I’m lazy!)

In Summary:

Doing something is still better than doing nothing. Whether it’s sleeping early, applying warm compresses, or massaging your eyes, all of these help improve circulation and reduce puffiness. But for long-term fat-based eye bags like mine, these DIY methods only go so far. Eventually, I realized only professional treatments could get to the root of the problem—under the skin.

If you're like me and at-home remedies just don't cut it, you’ll probably need aesthetic treatments. Since the fat pads sit deep under the skin, only clinical technologies—like laser, ultrasound, or radiofrequency—can penetrate to that level, dissolve fat, and stimulate drainage. That’s how you truly reduce puffiness and dark circles.

I personally tried the R6 Miracle Eye Rescue Treatment (they had a free first trial!), and the results were surprisingly good. I thought my eye bags were beyond help, but after just one session, the puffiness noticeably went down—and the effects lasted! I’ve been a loyal fan of the R6 treatment ever since.

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Painless & Non-Invasive: R6 Miracle Eye Rescue Treatment Instantly Zaps Eye Bags

Eye bags can seriously age your appearance and make you look tired, even when you’re not. If nothing else has worked, I highly recommend the R6 Miracle Eye Rescue Treatment at Perfect Medical.

This advanced treatment combines ultrasound and monopolar radiofrequency to penetrate deep into the skin, dissolve excess fat under the eyes, improve microcirculation, reduce water retention, flush out toxins, and target common eye concerns—eye bags, dark circles, and fine lines. It helps revive tired-looking eyes and brings back a youthful, radiant glow.

The R6 Miracle Eye Rescue Treatment offers three key benefits:

• Deep fat reduction
• Collagen regeneration
• Lymphatic drainage

It tightens sagging skin around the eyes, improves eye bag contours, and smooths out wrinkles—all without surgery or downtime.

Unlike traditional eye bag removal surgery, R6 is completely non-invasive and pain-free, with no scalpels, no scars, and no recovery time. It’s perfect for busy urban women who want visible results without disruption to their daily lives.

Ready to give it a try? Click the link below to register and book your first session—don’t miss out!