Lotus Beauty Formula
The lotus stands gracefully, elegant and noble, rising above mud without stain—historically praised as the "gentleman among flowers." With both appealing color and taste, the lotus is edible and possesses beauty-enhancing properties. The "Herb and Fruit Catalogue with Dual Medicinal and Nutritional Value" records nearly ten recipes for consuming lotus.
The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states lotus functions include "calming the heart, enhancing complexion, preserving youth, and lightening the body." It also documents methods for "beauty-preserving ingestion," recorded here for reference: "On July 7th, collect seven parts of lotus flowers; on August 8th, gather eight parts of roots; on September 9th, harvest nine parts of seeds. Dry them in shade, crush, and sieve. Take one "fangcunbi" each time, mixed with warm wine and ingested."
"Fangcunbi" refers to an ancient measuring tool for powdered medicine. Shaped like a knife blade, approximately one inch square, hence its name. One fangcunbi equals about 27.4 milliliters; it holds roughly 2 grams of mineral medicines and about 1 gram of herbal powders.
Beauty Formula