CHINESE HERBS & BEAUTY

THE HISTORY
The used of Chinese Herbal Medicine for beautification has had a long and venerable history, it can be traced as far back as from the Literature of Traditional Chinese Medicine of [Emperor’s Canon of Medicine, Warring States], [Shennong’s Pharmacopoeia, Han Dynasty, 25-220 A.D.] and [Compendium of Materia Medica, Li Shizhen, Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 A.D.], which have recorded numerous kind of Chinese medicinal herbs that have cosmetic effects. Whereas in [Valuable Prescriptions] written by renowned physician Sun Simiac, [Taiping Benevolent Prescriptions], [Imperial Proved Prescriptions], [Prescriptions for Caring all People] and [An Essential Medical Reference] in the Song (960-1279 A.D.), Yuan (1279-1368 A.D.), Ming (1368-1644 A.D.) and Qing (1644-1911 A.D.) Dynasties respectively, had in varying degree recorded wide spectrum of Chinese herbal prescriptions for beautification and its treatment methods. As early as the Jin Dynasty (265-420 A.D), records of using Chinese herbs mask to improve skin healthy were found in the Herbal Classic of [Prescriptions for Emergencies].

TOP

THE BENEFITS
Chinese cosmetology follows the concept of holism and aims to deal with skin imperfections at its root cause in order to have a fundamental cure as well as to offer a natural path to lasting beauty. For instance, Chinese Herbal Mask, can helps to invigorate and revitalize the flow of blood to beautify the skin and regenerate rosy and radiant glow complexion with regular use. It is useful for treating a variety of skin complaints, particularly for freckles, aging and pimply skins, besides, it will bring the following benefits:-

Whitens, revivify, and improves skin conditions and metabolism.
Enhances skin elasticity and rejuvenates skin cells.
Protects skin mucous membrane and prevents acne;
Prevents black spots, freckles and wrinkles.
Relieves skin inflammation and prevents various skin diseases caused by viral infection.
Promotes blood circulation, moistens as well as nourishes skin and delays the sign of ageing.
Cleans the skin, reduces excess sebum secretion and refines pores.

The effectiveness of Chinese herbal formulas in promoting skin beauty has been proven over the thousands of years with countless clinical experiments before hand down to present, safe and reliable are its major characteristic. A carefully combined Chinese herbs or selected single herb is often used and rarely causes unwanted side-effects when applied appropriately. Even some side effects that do occur among a few raw herbs, those side effects can be easily counteracted as the quantity used in the preparation is usually minimal, besides, the crude herbs have been processed before use or one herb is often use to reduce or eliminate side effects of another herb in the combination.

The herbs use in Chinese medical cosmetology preparations are contains dozens of natural ingredients, along with the specific actions of each herb, which helps to provide nutrients to the skin, improves skin’s metabolism, prevents degeneration, protects skin and alleviates the appearance of wrinkles and so on. For example; Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) consists of volatile oils, Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) rich in saponins, which are the active constituents that impart normalizing action on nervous system, metabolism and maintaining a healthy vascular circulatory system.

TOP

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The used of Chinese herbs as external therapy for beauty, by directly or indirectly, often works in the following three ways:-

1. Local stimulation – improve the flow of nutrition to tissue as capillaries dilates and stimulates blood circulation, thus effectively calms inflamed skin and reduces swelling or intensify skin’s self-immune ability through reflexology of nerve system.

2. Medicine absorption – the active ingredients absorbed by the skin and mucous membrane permeates into the blood circulation, the lymphatic system, thus to have medicinal effect from within.

3. Meridian regulation – to expel cold-evil by warming the meridians, activate vital energy and blood circulation, remove blood stasis and dissipate spots, detoxify and beautify skin as well as calm inflamed skin and reduces swelling by stimulates using the medicinal properties to the acu-point.

TOP

COMMONLY USED HERBS IN CHINESE COSMETOLOGY
1. Herbs that dispelling wind-evil: prevent and expel wind-evil that attack human body.
- Radix Angelicae Dahuricae, Rhizoma Ligustici, Bombyx Batryticatus, Flos Magnoliae, Radix Ledebouriellae, Radix Platycodi, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Herba Menthae.

2. Herbs that invigorating vital energy and warming Yang: boost the production and smooth flow of blood and body fluids, regulate body temperature and maintain the proper functions of vital organs.
- Radix Ginseng, Radix Astragali, Radix Acanthopanacis Senticosi, Cortex Eucommiae.

3. Herbs that nourishing the blood and Yin: improve blood circulation.
- Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Rehmanniae, Ganoderma Lucidum, Radix Polygoni Multiflori, Rhizoma Polygonati, Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati.

4. Herbs that clearing away heat-evil: expel interior and superficies heat-evil.
- Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, Fructus Kochiae, Herba Spirodelae, Gypsum Fibrosum, Flos Chrysanthemi, Rhizoma Coptidis.

5. Herbs that adding fragrant and coloring: dispersing wind-cold and activating vital energy.
- Moschus, Flos Caryophylli, Herba Agastachis, Cinnabaris.

6. Herbs that activating blood circulation: - Herba Leonuri, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Flos Carhami.

7. Herbs that regulating vital energy: dispersing the stagnated liver energy.
- Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum, Radix Aucklandiae, Lignum Santali.

8. Herbs that eliminating wetness-evil: - Fructus Amomi Rotundus, Herba Agatachis, Talcum.

TOP