Practical TCM Beauty

Author: Shen Yingsen, He Yangzi, Jiang Jie
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Chapter 2: Common Beauty/Internal Prescriptions. The use of Chinese medicine for internal consumption is a distinctive feature of TCM beauty. Through herbal prescriptions that dispel wind, clear heat, eliminate dampness, resolve phlegm, regulate Qi, invigorate blood, and tonify the body, treating based on syndrome differentiation, and regulating the viscera, the goal is to dispel pathogens, support the body, and achieve health and beauty. Below is a brief overview of some commonly used internal beauty-prescriptions, including decoctions, ointments, pills, powders, and herbal wines.
I. Chinese Herbal Decoctions
[Chonghe Shunqi Decoction (Luo Yikuan, Sanwei Baojian)]
Pueraria lobata 4.5g, Cimicifuga foetida 3g, Saposhnikovia divaricata 3g, Astragalus membranaceus 2.4g, Panax ginseng 2.1g, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 1.2g, Paeonia lactiflora 0.9g, Atractylodes macrocephala 0.9g.
Add 3 slices of ginger and 2 dates to the above herbs, boil in two bowls of water until reduced to one bowl. Warm in the morning. This formula tonifies the spleen and stomach, raises Yang Qi, consolidates Qi, nourishes the skin, strengthens the exterior, and brightens the face. Used for spleen and stomach Qi deficiency, insufficient rise of clear Yang Qi, and lackluster complexion. Sanwei Baojian records: "A woman suffered from insomnia and poor diet, damaging her spleen and stomach, leading to a dark and dull complexion. Her lips were cracked severely. She was prescribed Chonghe Shunqi Decoction, a Yang-boosting formula, to restore her color. After several doses, she recovered."
[Peach Leaf Clear Lung Drink (Yizong Jinjian: Shengxue Xinfa)]
Baked Peach Leaf 6g, Moringa oleifera bark 6g, Coptis chinensis 3g, Phellodendron amurense 3g, Panax ginseng 1g, Ginkgo biloba (pounded) 500g. Boil in one cup of water until reduced to seven-tenths, take on an empty stomach. This formula tonifies vital Qi, nourishes blood, and brightens the complexion. Treats wasting and consumption of the five viscera, and pulmonary heat with acne, characterized by burning facial rashes, pain, pustules, flushed face, and rapid pulse.
[Qi-Poishing Defluxing Drink (Chen Shifu, Shishi Mielu)]
Panax ginseng 9g, Atractylodes macrocephala 15g, Poria cocos 9g, Rehmannia glutinosa 30g, Cornus officinalis 12g, Cinnamon bark 3g, Amomum fragrans 3g, Alpinia oxyphylla 3g, Pinellia ternata 3g, Tangerine peel 1.5g, Sacred basil 3g. Decoct in water. This formula tonifies the spleen and stomach, dries dampness, resolves phlegm, promotes diuresis and swelling reduction, and aids weight loss. Treats deficiency of the spleen and kidneys with accumulation of damp-phlegm, especially suitable for edema-type simple obesity.
[Fire-Ember Decoction (Chen Shifu, Shishi Mielu)]
Scrophularia ningpoensis 30g, Ophiopogon japonicus 9g, Asparagus cochinchinensis 9g, Rehmannia glutinosa 9g, Rehmannia glutinosa 9g, Cornus officinalis 3g, Schisandra chinensis 1.5g, Paeonia lactiflora 9g, Moutan 6g, White mustard seed 3g, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 1.5g. Decoct in water. This formula clears heat, quenches fire, nourishes fluids and Yin, improves complexion and promotes weight gain, and strengthens the body. Used for Yin deficiency and excess fire with emaciation, also treats emaciation caused by hyperthyroidism and diabetes.
[Lonicera Powder (Jiang Tingsxi, Gujin Shujibian: Yibu Quanlu)]
Lonicera japonica 2.1g, Ligusticum chuanxiong 2.1g, Angelica dahurica 2.1g, Scutellaria baicalensis 2.1g, Coptis chinensis 2.1g, Glehnia littoralis 2.1g, Schizonepeta tenacissima 2.1g, Moringa oleifera bark 2.1g, Gardenia jasminoides 2.1g, Fritillaria cirrhosa 2.1g, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 2.1g. Decoct as one dose, take after meals. This formula clears the lungs, dispels heat, resolves wind and toxicosis, and slightly nourishes Yin. Treats acne caused by wind-heat accumulation in the lungs, known as "powdery acne," characterized by flushed face, numerous red papules, and sometimes blackheads or pustules. Red tongue with thin yellow coating, rapid pulse. Also suitable for Yin deficiency.
[Goji Berry Ointment (Gong Tingxian, Shoushi Baoyuan)]
Goji berries 500g. Boil in a sand pot three times, filter the juice, and simmer into an ointment slowly. Take with wine. This formula tonifies vital Qi, nourishes blood, and brightens the complexion. Treats wasting and consumption of the five viscera, and enhances beauty and longevity.
[Goji Berry Decoction (Shengji Zonglu)]
Goji juice, Rehmannia glutinosa juice 1,500ml, 300ml, Almond (pounded) 500g, Panax ginseng (powder) 200g, Poria cocos (peeled and pounded) 200g. Boil the first four ingredients in a silver pot until thin paste forms, then add Panax ginseng and Poria cocos powder, stir well, and cook again until ointment-like. Store in porcelain containers. Take twice daily, half a spoonful each time, with warm wine or salt soup. This formula calms the five viscera and delays aging, retaining youth. Used for insufficient Qi and blood with dull complexion.
[Three Immortals Pill (Zou Gang, Shouqin Yanglao Shuxin)]
Aconitum carmichaelii 30g (roasted with 20g salt), Fennel 90g, Atractylodes macrocephala 90g. Grind into fine powder, mix with wine and rice paste to form pills the size of chestnuts. Take 50 pills before meals with warm wine or salt soup. This formula retains youth and invigorates blood. Chen Shulin notes: "My late father often took this medicine, increasing his appetite significantly. Later, he met an 80-year-old man from the money bureau, whose hair and beard were all black. When asked how, he replied that he had taken one dose daily after 30 years old."
[Gathered Medicine Pill (Zou Xuan, Shouqin Yanglao Shuxin)]
Cauliflower, Rehmannia glutinosa, Polygala tenuifolia, Phytolacca acinosa, Achyranthes bidentata, Acorus tatarinowii, Polygonum multiflorum, Paeonia lactiflora, Cinnabar, Cnidium officinale, Terminalia chebula, Eucommia ulmoides, Panax ginseng, Dioscorea opposita, Polygonum multiflorum, Alisma orientale, Lindera aggregata, Cinnamon bark, Poria cocos, Eucommia ulmoides, Cinnabar, Aconitum carmichaelii, each 60g. Grind into fine powder, make into pills the size of chestnuts with honey. Take 30–50 pills before meals with warm wine or salt soup. This formula promotes longevity, calms the mind, circulates Qi and blood, and brightens the skin.
[Balanced Tonifying Mulberry Pill (Chen Zhi, Yanglao Fengqin Shu)]
Mulberry 240g, 120g, Aconitum carmichaelii 120g, Achyranthes bidentata 120g, Epimedium brevis 120g, Dendrobium candidum 120g, Dry ginger 60g, Cinnamon bark 60g. Grind the eight herbs into fine powder, mix with dates, make into pills the size of chestnuts. Take 30 pills with warm wine. This formula retains youth, strengthens tendons and bones, and tonifies the viscera.
[Eight Immortals Pill (Chen Zhi, Yanglao Fengqin Shu)]
Alisma orientale 90g, Poria cocos 60g, Moutan 90g, Dioscorea opposita 120g, Cinnamon bark 60g, Cornus officinalis 120g, Rehmannia glutinosa 240g, Aconitum carmichaelii 90g. Dry all herbs except cinnamon, grind with cinnamon into fine powder, make into pills the size of chestnuts with honey. Take 30 pills on an empty stomach daily with warm wine or salt soup.