🌿 Folk Prescriptions

· Eggs
Eggs are also known as "chicken eggs." They contain abundant nutrients: protein, phospholipids, vitamins A, B1, B2, calcium, iron, vitamin D, enzymes, etc. According to measurements, every 100 grams of whole egg contains 12.7 grams of protein.
The protein in eggs is among the highest quality in terms of type, composition, and nutritional value compared to other foods. One gram of egg protein has significantly higher nutritional value than one gram of meat protein. High-quality proteins like those in eggs play a vital role in maintaining skin luster and elasticity.
Egg yolks contain a certain amount of phospholipids, which have emulsifying properties. The choline released from phospholipids in the body helps prevent skin aging and keeps skin smooth and radiant. Egg yolks are also rich in vitamins A and B2. Measurements show that every 100 grams of egg yolk contains 2,000 international units of vitamin A, 0.3 mg of vitamin B2, 30 international units of vitamin D, and 0.25 mg of vitamin B1. These vitamins are essential for skin nutrition.
Eggs also contain relatively abundant iron. Every 100 grams of egg yolk contains 150 mg of iron. Iron plays a key role in blood formation and transporting oxygen and nutrients in the blood. A healthy, rosy complexion depends on sufficient iron. Iron deficiency may lead to iron-deficiency anemia, causing pale, yellowish skin lacking radiance. Thus, eggs are indeed an important food for maintaining skin beauty.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers eggs sweet in taste and neutral in nature, with functions including tonifying the middle energizer, nourishing yin, strengthening the body, and beautifying skin. The *Compendium of Materia Medica* states: “Egg white has a clear nature and slightly cold property; egg yolk has a dense nature and warm property; the whole egg combines both, hence neutral in nature. For deficiencies in essence, supplement with qi; for deficiencies in form, supplement with blood. Since eggs regulate both qi and blood, they can clear qi, replenish blood, nourish yin, and moisturize the skin.” The *New Supplement to the Materia Medica* says: “Egg yolk tonifies the center, strengthens qi, nourishes the kidneys, and enriches yin.” Therefore, moderately increasing egg consumption offers benefits such as physical strength, anti-aging, and skin beautification.
· Duck Eggs
Duck eggs also possess skincare and beautifying effects, though slightly inferior to eggs. They contain protein, phospholipids, vitamins A, B2, B1, D, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, and other nutrients.
Traditional Chinese medicine views duck eggs as sweet in taste and cool in nature, with functions including nourishing yin, clearing lung heat, enriching muscle, and beautifying skin. Regular consumption of silver ear fungus stewed with duck eggs and rock sugar has nourishing yin, lowering fire, moistening the lungs, and beautifying skin effects. Preparation: one duck egg, 10 grams silver ear fungus, 20 grams rock sugar.
First, soak silver ear fungus in water until soft, wash clean, add water, simmer gently until tender. Crack in duck egg, add rock sugar, then boil over high heat until egg is cooked through. Duck eggs are slightly cool in nature—unlike eggs (neutral)—so individuals with weak spleen yang or cold-damp diarrhea should avoid them.
· Quail Eggs
Quail eggs are nutritionally comparable to chicken eggs and offer good skincare and beautifying effects. They contain protein, cephalin, lecithin, lysine, cysteine, vitamins A, B2, B1, D, iron, phosphorus, calcium, and more.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers quail eggs sweet in taste and neutral in nature, with functions including tonifying qi and blood, strengthening the body and brain, enriching muscles, and beautifying skin. Quail eggs benefit patients suffering from anemia, malnutrition, neurasthenia, menstrual irregularities, hypertension, bronchitis, and vascular sclerosis. Their tonifying, beautifying, and skin-enhancing effects are especially significant for women with anemia or menstrual disorders.
· Clam Meat
Clam meat comes from the family Unionidae, specifically the toothless clam. It contains protein, nucleic acids, zinc, calcium, and other nutrients. Zinc in clam meat participates in melanin synthesis and maintains skin elasticity, luster, and smoothness. Nucleic acids in clam meat help eliminate age spots, improve skin texture, and reduce wrinkles.
Traditional Chinese medicine regards clam meat as sweet and salty in taste, cold in nature, with functions including nourishing yin, clearing heat, improving eyesight, detoxifying, enriching muscles, and beautifying skin. Eating clam meat regularly helps significantly with acne or facial infections during adolescence. Additionally, clams can cultivate pearls.
Pearls are excellent beauty products. They contain abundant amino acids, which promote metabolism, protect epithelial cells, improve skin smoothness, and have calming and sedative effects.
· Soft-Shelled Turtle
Soft-shelled turtle belongs to the family Trionychidae, also known as Chinese softshell turtle, bai, round turtle, foot turtle, or water turtle. It lives in rivers, lakes, and ponds. It contains animal gelatin, keratin protein, nucleic acids, phospholipids, vitamins A, B2, B1, niacin, vitamin D, zinc, iron, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, and other nutrients. Vitamins A, phospholipids, B2, niacin, and nucleic acids are all essential nutrients for skin cells, providing skin care benefits. Zinc enhances skin smoothness. Animal gelatin softens skin and makes hair shiny.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers soft-shelled turtle meat sweet and salty in taste, neutral in nature, with functions including nourishing yin, cooling blood, tonifying qi, replenishing deficiency, enriching muscles, and brightening skin. The *Daily Herbal Compendium* states: “Its flavor is sweet and salty, nature neutral, removes blood heat, treats fatigue, strengthens yang qi, greatly supplements deficiency in yin.”
Modern medicine believes soft-shelled turtle enhances immune function, boosts resistance, delays aging, prevents skin aging, and inhibits cancer cells. By improving overall health, it enriches and beautifies skin. Those with yin deficiency or dry skin see noticeable skin improvement with regular consumption. Besides beautifying skin, soft-shelled turtle treats low-grade fever, anemia, yin deficiency cough, menstrual irregularities, hypertension, dizziness, tinnitus, diabetes, rectal prolapse, skin infections, and yin sores.
Since soft-shelled turtle is a greasy food, those with poor appetite, weak spleen and stomach yang, internal cold-dampness, or external real heat should avoid it.