🌿 Folk Prescriptions

When I was a child, my mother would prepare a large bowl of bitter Chinese medicine and coax me to drink it. “Bitter medicine cures illness—drink it, and you’ll get better soon!” Over the years, I’ve heard these words countless times. Whether drinking Chinese medicine truly speeds recovery, I’ve forgotten—but I do remember spitting half out while drinking. If my mother had said, “Drinking this will make you prettier,” my reaction might have been different! Now, I’m no longer afraid of the bitterness of Chinese herbs—after the bitterness comes a sweet aftertaste, quite pleasant. Bitter tea is just one part of Chinese medicine. Even when healthy, taking a few doses can still balance the body. My mother’s nightly soup may contain medicinal herbs too. Since ancient times, Chinese medicine has endured and remained respected for good reason. From Yin-Yang Theory: Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes treating the root cause, following the principle of achieving the body’s natural balance. It focuses on harmonizing Yin and Yang, deficiency (emptiness) and excess (cold/heat), interior and exterior. In short, when the body remains balanced, health flourishes. Imbalance signals the need for treatment. The principle behind beauty care mirrors that of traditional medicine—first regulate internal health, and external beauty follows. Using cosmetics to cover flaws is direct, but long-term reliance leads to dependency. I’m not against cosmetics, but skin quality reflects internal health. For example, when suffering from colds, flu, or fever, one becomes exhausted and dull, and skin loses its radiance. Thus, healthy people naturally look beautiful—no exaggeration. To achieve optimal results, understand your constitution. Western medicine examines cells and tissues; Chinese medicine focuses on Yin-Yang, cold/heat, dampness/dryness. Beauty care can target these aspects to improve skin quality. For instance: (1) Damp-heat type: Face often reddish with burning sensation, oily and dull when tired, prone to acne and pimples. Treatment focuses on cleanliness to prevent clogged pores; (2) Cold-damp type: Pale complexion, fatigue causes puffiness and lack of luster. Focus on removing dead skin and boosting metabolism; (3) Dry-heat type: Reddish face, dry and rough skin when tired, occasional rashes and pimples. Key is maintaining skin hydration; (4) Cold-dry type: Pale complexion, malnourished, slow metabolism, dry skin prone to wrinkles. Emphasize massage and nutrient supplementation to enhance circulation. If unsure of your type, observe yourself or consult a professional. Regardless of type, daily cleansing and nutrition are essential. Even without regular herb intake, many skincare products today contain herbs like ginseng, red dates, Job’s tears, Poria, and loofah, which help improve skin quality. Problem Skin: True beauty means being attractive and healthy. If you have acne, pimples, etc., beautifiers won’t ignore them. Modern technology is indeed a blessing for those who care about appearance, but for lasting results, try targeted herbal dietary therapy. Here are some suggestions: (1) Acne: Caused by excessive sebum accumulation forming blockages and pus. Dietary remedy: Watermelon + Loofah + Poria; (2) Freckles: Resulting from sun exposure or damp-heat. Dietary remedy: Calabash + Cicada Slough + Lotus Root; (3) Pimples: Due to internal dampness. Dietary remedy: Radix Saposhnikoviae + Hyacinth Bean + Loofah; (4) Wrinkles: Caused by nutrient and moisture deficiency. Dietary remedy: Astragalus + Cicada Slough; (5) Dark circles: Caused by sleep deprivation and overwork. Dietary remedy: Prepared Rehmannia + Sour Jujube Seed + Red Date; (6) Puffy eyes: Main cause besides genetics is insufficient sleep. Dietary remedy: Cicada Slough + Equisetum + Poria; (7) Rough skin: Common in mature skin, caused by air pollution, chronic insomnia, or work stress, leading to dullness and coarseness. Dietary remedy: Watermelon + Silver Ear + Lily; (8) Dull and weary appearance: Caused by fatigue, an early sign of aging. Dietary remedy: Platycladi Seed + Goji Berry + Honey Date. Check your mirror—do you see any of these issues? No problem if none, happy if yes. Maintain a positive mindset—this is also part of beauty and wellness. Most importantly, identify the root cause and address it gradually. About Lingzhi: According to the *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing*, attributed to Emperor Shennong, herbs were classified into 365 types across three categories—Lingzhi, like ginseng, ranks among the top-tier herbs. It benefits five organs and promotes blood and qi flow. Long-term use reportedly extends life, prevents disease, and nourishes the body. Strictly speaking, Lingzhi includes six types: Red, Black, White, Yellow, Green, and Purple. Though their effects differ, they all delay aging and effectively combat fatigue and aging symptoms. Beyond its well-known anti-cancer properties, Lingzhi also clears blood lipids, prevents arteriosclerosis, reduces stroke risk, treats chronic fatigue syndrome, repairs gastric or duodenal ulcers, manages diabetes or insomnia, and offers beauty benefits. As recorded in *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Lingzhi makes the face beautiful.” Simply put, it means “beauty.” A rosy complexion naturally conveys health. To achieve this, Lingzhi is an excellent choice, offering: (1) Promotes blood circulation; (2) Rich in essential amino acids for skin metabolism; (3) Enhances activity and quantity of SOD (which eliminates oxygen free radicals causing skin aging), reducing wrinkles; (4) Clears pigmentation, prevents acne, keeps skin fair and tender; (5) Removes oxidized fats, balances nutrients, aids weight management. Living in a busy city, occasional tonics don’t yield instant results—consistency is the first step toward successful beauty.<Beauty>