🌿 Folk Prescriptions

This is especially important in autumn, primarily because of the significant climate changes during this season. Early autumn is mainly characterized by heat and dampness; for a relatively long period around mid-autumn, dryness predominates; whereas in late autumn and deep autumn, coolness and coldness become dominant. Therefore, people must remain vigilant in all aspects of daily life—sleeping, dressing, skincare, and living environment—and pay attention to health preservation.
First, clothing care. With summer ending and autumn beginning, cool breezes blow gently. Although it's chilly, it's not yet freezing, and people can still tolerate it. It's advisable to engage in some physical exercise. This principle is similar to allowing children to experience a little hunger and cold. If one observes a single leaf falling and realizes autumn has arrived, putting on heavy fur coats early will make it difficult to remove them later. As cold intensifies, people will keep adding layers, gradually weakening their ability to resist cold. Why are those who swim in winter water so resistant to cold? Because they start training from autumn, enduring cold daily, gradually strengthening their constitution and adapting to climatic changes. Thus, "autumn cold exposure" (qiu dong) is an active health-promoting practice emphasized throughout history as a key method of autumn health preservation. In simple terms, "autumn cold exposure" means not rushing to add clothes in autumn, consciously allowing the body to experience a bit of cold. This avoids overheating and excessive sweating caused by wearing too many clothes, prevents evaporation of sweat and depletion of body fluids (yin essence), and stops yang energy from escaping outward, thus aligning with the autumn principle of storing yin essence and conserving yang energy. However, "autumn cold exposure" should be adapted according to individual differences and weather changes. Elderly people and children, due to weaker physiological functions and lower resistance, should pay extra attention to warmth when entering deep autumn. If temperatures drop suddenly or rain/snow occurs, stop practicing "autumn cold exposure" and wear more clothes immediately.
Moreover, the meaning of "autumn cold exposure" extends beyond clothing care—it should be interpreted broadly as a general health preservation principle in autumn: no matter what activity one undertakes, one should avoid causing profuse sweating, ensuring the inward retention of yin essence and preventing excessive loss of yang energy.
Autumn features variable weather with alternating cold and heat, warm dryness and cool dryness. Thus, clothing adjustments should be timely. Ancient wisdom states: "Adjust diet and carefully manage clothing changes"; "Avoid color like avoiding danger, change clothing according to temperature." This emphasizes the need to adjust clothing based on climate changes. Autumn weather can be unpredictable—even within the same region, conditions may vary drastically, such as "four seasons in one day, different weather within ten miles." To maintain stable body temperature, it's wise to prepare several autumn garments, such as lined jackets, spring-autumn shirts, fleece garments, and thin woolen sweaters.
Second, skincare. During autumn, as the weather turns colder, human skin struggles to adapt quickly. Blood circulation slows down, skin becomes dry, and fine wrinkles easily appear, particularly around the eyes. Therefore, extra attention to skin care is essential in autumn.
Spiritual beauty methods: Skin appearance is closely related to emotional state. When people feel tense, anxious, or restless, facial blemishes and dark spots often emerge. The close link between skin and emotions stems from hormones and autonomic nervous system balance, which directly reflect psychological changes on the skin. While cosmetics help enhance beauty, spiritual beauty methods are equally crucial.
A Chinese proverb says: "Laugh once, stay young for ten years," illustrating that laughter is the most direct and fundamental beauty method. When happy and smiling, one’s complexion naturally becomes rosy and radiant. This is because facial muscle movements during laughter accelerate blood circulation and metabolism in the face and skin, enhancing skin elasticity. Consequently, foreign countries have already included laughter in sports-based beauty practices. Since mood affects endocrine balance—the key factor determining skin beauty—when feeling down, one should promptly relax mentally and use positive self-suggestion to transform gloomy feelings into optimism, achieving spiritual beauty.
Medicinal beauty methods: Classified by administration route, they fall into topical and oral types. By target area: facial skin beauty agents, beauty agents for五官 (five senses organs), hair beauty agents, body shape beauty agents, fragrance-enhancing agents, etc. By purpose: preventive and therapeutic categories. By dosage form: ointments, powders, pastes, liquids, lotions, decoctions, pills, etc. By specific function: moisturizing and beautifying complexion, anti-aging and wrinkle prevention, whitening and brightening skin, softening hands and skin, improving eye health, promoting eyelash and eyebrow growth, enhancing lip color, protecting nose and ears, cleaning teeth and strengthening gums, etc. By source: imperial secret formulas, immortal’s effective prescriptions, folk remedies, etc. As shown above, medicinal beauty methods are highly diverse. Here we only illustrate a few examples.
Shenghui Facial Ointment Formula: 200g bitter almonds (soaked in hot water, peeled and de-stoned), 90g white aconite root powder, each 60g finely ground cinnabar and lead powder, 250g sheep marrow, 1g pearl powder, 30g white peony root powder, 300ml wine, 7 egg whites. First, soak bitter almonds in a small amount of wine and grind into paste. Then mix in egg whites and grind 100 times. Next, add sheep marrow and grind 200 times. Finally, incorporate all powdered ingredients gradually, adding wine slowly until thoroughly mixed and finely ground. Store in a porcelain container. Apply nightly after washing face with clear water and drying. This formula makes the complexion rosy and glowing like peach blossoms.
Dihuang Beauty Pills: Raw rehmannia root (unlimited quantity), white honey (appropriate amount). Wash raw rehmannia, crush and extract juice. Simmer juice over low heat until thickened into a paste. Add white honey and continue simmering until mixture can be rolled into pills. Remove and shape into pill-sized balls like tangerine seeds. Take 15–20g with warm rice wine three times daily. Long-term use maintains youthfulness, keeps skin fresh and delicate, and after 100 days, the face appears as rosy as peach blossoms.
Apricot Kernel Beauty Ointment: 100g apricot kernels, 200g talc powder, 100g mica powder, 50g white angelica root. First, dry and grind apricot kernels and white angelica root into fine powder. Mix evenly with talc and mica powder. Add appropriate honey to form a soft ointment. Apply a small amount daily to the face. This product moisturizes skin, treats dull or dry complexion and facial black spots.
Flower Pollen External Application Method: 10g flower pollen. Boil in water for 30 minutes, strain out the liquid, and apply the juice externally to the face daily. This formula moisturizes and beautifies skin, treating rough skin, allergies, freckles, and dark spots.
Formula for Youthful Appearance: 800g ginger, 250g jujube, 10g crystal salt, 150g licorice, 25g cloves, 25g agarwood, 200g fennel. All herbs coarsely ground and mixed uniformly. Use 15–25g per dose, boiled in the morning or steeped in boiling water. Functions: strengthen spleen and stomach, regulate defensive and nutritive qi, nourish blood and qi. Has anti-aging and beautifying effects, keeping appearance youthful.
Cixi Empress’ Youth-Keeping Formula: Appropriate amount of pearls ground into powder. Take one small tea spoonful with warm tea every 10 days. Clears heat and nourishes yin, preserves youth, making skin smooth and lustrous. "Long-term use makes face look like a child": 100g goji root, 30g raw rehmannia root. Long-term use maintains youthful appearance.
Formula for White, Clear, and Radiant Face: 60g each of white spikenard, white aconite root, white ginseng, white angelica root, 90g ligusticum root, 3 pieces of pig pancreas (remove residue and red juice, fully crushed). Grind all six ingredients into powder. First, mix 250g radish seed with 250g wine and water, boil briefly, then crush into paste. Combine with other herbs and place in wine-water solution. Store in ceramic vessel, seal for three days. Apply nightly before bed, wash off next morning with clear water. This formula gives a white, clear, and radiant complexion.
Facial Cleansing Remedy: 30g each of patchouli leaves, white angelica root, sandalwood, sandalwood, trichosanthes root, paper mulberry fruit, white poria, stephania root, 75g each of fragrant saffron, linglingxiang, mugwort, 30g cloves, 9g musk (ground), 30g agarwood, 120g black bindweed, 90g red adzuki beans, 30g chuanxiong, 500g glutinous rice. All ingredients finely ground. Use a small amount in warm water to wash face twice daily. Long-term use makes face fragrant and skin fair and tender.
Massage Beauty Methods: Throughout history, health practitioners emphasized "frequent facial rubbing." The *Sun Zhenren Health Song* states: "To live forever, rub the Kunlun [head]; constantly massage your face with both hands." Great health master Tao Hongjing said: "Warm hands by rubbing, then massage the face from top to bottom, removing evil qi and giving the face a healthy glow." Tang Dynasty medical sage Sun Simiao wrote in *Qianjin Yifang·Elderly Care Guidelines*: "Warm hands by rubbing, then massage the face from top to bottom 27 times, removing dryness and dark complexion, giving the face radiance and helping resist wind-cold and seasonal illnesses. All diseases vanish." These show ancient people greatly valued facial massage for beauty. Key principles include: first, remain calm, breathe naturally, and relax the whole body during massage. Second, use light, gentle techniques—avoid strong stimulation—only aim for mild soreness. Third, wash hands and face before operation, apply skincare cream to aid procedure and enhance effect. Fourth, timing, sequence, and frequency can be adjusted based on individual needs—complete full routine or partial sections as desired, flexible and adaptable. Fifth, avoid excessive stretching of skin to prevent damage and sagging. Sixth, for lasting beauty and health through self-massage, persistence is essential—do not rush. With consistent effort, satisfactory results will follow.
Now discuss eye beauty massage.
The eyes are windows to the soul and a vital organ for facial beauty. Bright, lively eyes enhance vitality and visual pleasure. Regular massage improves blood circulation around the eyes, regulates visual and ocular nerves, relieves eye muscle fatigue, and delays drooping eyelids and periorbital wrinkles. Specific massage techniques:
Seated upright, gaze straight ahead. Rotate eyes clockwise 10 times, then focus forward briefly. Rotate counterclockwise 10 times, again focusing forward briefly. Finally, close eyes gently, use index and middle fingers of both hands to softly stroke the same-side eyelid for about 1–2 minutes. This is the eye rotation technique;
Use thumbs to press and rub Jingming acupoint about 30 times; then use index finger tips to rub Zanzhu acupoint on the same side 3 times; next, press and rub Taiyang acupoints with index finger pads, applying pressure until a sensation of soreness arises, then rub 30 times; finally, press and rub Sibai acupoints with index finger tips, again applying pressure until soreness, then rub 30 times. This is the acupoint pressing and rubbing technique.
Clasp fists, use the radial side of the proximal interphalangeal joints of the index fingers to firmly press against the orbital rim, scraping from inside outward, performing 15 repetitions each on upper and lower orbits, aiming for a sensation of soreness. This is the orbital scraping technique.
Close eyes slightly, bring fingers together, use middle and ring finger pads to press at Jingming acupoint, then glide outward to Tongziliao acupoint, repeating 30–50 times. This is the eyelid spreading technique.
These massage methods clear the mind, improve vision, relieve eye fatigue, prevent wrinkles, and enhance eye beauty. Perform once daily in morning and evening, or whenever eye fatigue occurs.
Now discuss nasal beauty massage.
The nose occupies a central position on the face and is a prominent feature of facial beauty. A well-shaped nose with unobstructed nostrils contributes significantly to facial attractiveness. Practical evidence shows that nasal massage promotes blood circulation in nasal mucosa, enhances secretion of nasal mucus, stimulates ciliary movement of epithelial cells, increases resistance to illness, and helps elevate and refine the nasal bridge, enhancing aesthetic appeal. Specific massage techniques:
Press and rub acupoints: Use middle finger tip to press and rub Yingxiang acupoint 30 times, then press and rub Suliáo acupoint 30 times;
Push and rub the nose: Join fingers of both hands, place index and middle fingers on the same-side nose, push upward from Yingxiang acupoint to nasal root, repeat about 30 times, creating a mild warming sensation;
Pinch and press nasal root: Use right thumb and index finger to pinch and press the nasal root, moderate force, repeat 30 times.
These massage techniques strengthen the nose, open nasal passages, moisturize skin, and enhance facial appearance. Besides promoting nasal beauty, they also help prevent various nasal diseases and common colds.
There is also facial skin beauty massage.
Facial skin is one’s “front door.” Its condition directly impacts overall appearance. Common protective facial massage techniques include:
Direct facial rubbing: Place both palms flat on either side of the nose, use palm or entire hand to rub up and down repeatedly 10–15 times, covering the entire cheek from beside the nose to the ear, until the face feels red and warm;
Face tapping: Bring four fingers together, use fingertip pads to tap the forehead, eye area, nose area, and entire face for 1–2 minutes in sequence;
Horizontal pushing on forehead: Join four fingers, place fingertips upward on Yintang point, push outward along eyebrows from inner to outer edge, repeat 3–5 times, then repeat along a higher line from inner to outer edge 3–5 times, progressively increasing height until the entire forehead is covered. Then begin from the hairline and gradually lower the line until reaching the eyebrows.
Acupoint pressing and rubbing: Use thumbs or index fingers of both hands to press and rub bilateral Sibai, Chengqi, Dicang acupoints and Jiaoxia Chengjiang acupoint, each for one minute, apply even pressure, combined with vibration technique.
These massage methods promote blood circulation, moisturize skin, prevent wrinkles and spots, and refresh the head and eyes. Besides facial beauty, they can also treat colds, mental lethargy, dizziness, and headaches. Generally performed twice daily—preferably in the morning and before bedtime—but remember to wash face with warm water before and after massage, dry thoroughly. Avoid excessive force to prevent skin injury.
Traditional Cosmetic Beauty Methods.
Traditional cosmetics primarily use natural Chinese herbs or foodstuffs as raw materials, with bases including animal fats, honey, milk, and plant oils. These natural components are highly compatible with the human body. Especially given current concerns about the safety and pharmacological effects of synthetic chemicals, traditional cosmetics hold distinct advantages in today’s "natural trend" and possess broad development potential.
Zhang Guifei’s Facial Cream
Take one fresh egg, pierce a small hole at the top, pour out the yolk but retain the egg white, fill with 60g finely ground cinnabar, then seal the hole with wax. Place it among other eggs to be hatched, letting the hen incubate. Once the chick hatches, the product is ready for use.
This facial cream was a secret formula used by Zhang Lihua, consort of Emperor Chen Houzhu of the Southern Dynasties, reportedly derived from the *Zhenfang* of the Western Queen Mother. Regular use of Zhang Guifei’s facial cream can make the complexion rosy and luminous, smooth and lustrous. It eliminates dark spots and discoloration, and even improves skin laxity.
Imperial Consort’s Facial Cleanser
Formula: 30g each of Chuanxiong, Xixin, Gaoben, Bai Fuzi, Ru Xiang, Dongguazi, Chenxiang, Tugugen, Guanglingling (Lingxiangcao); 60g each of Bai Tan, Gansong, Bai Ji, Wu Bai Zhi, Bai Fu Ling, Du Lingling (Jiucengta); 45g Bai Lian, 15g each of Bai Shu, Lizi Neipi, 150g Chushu, 300g Zaojiao Wei, 6g Bingpian, 750g glutinous rice flour, 4 loofahs.
Preparation: Grind all ingredients except Zaojiao Wei and glutinous rice flour into fine powder, then mix with Zaojiao Wei and glutinous rice flour, store tightly.
Usage: Use daily to wash face.
Effects: Brightens spirit, reduces wrinkles, removes dark spots.
Facial Mask Beauty Methods
Applying medicated and nutrient-rich substances mixed with suitable base directly onto the face, forming a film, is a common therapy offering various benefits such as health maintenance, whitening, anti-aging, acne treatment, and wart removal. Depending on the base, masks come in gel, paste, plaster, and herbal powder forms. Often combined with herbal steam baths and facial massage.
China is one of the earliest countries to use facial masks. Traditional masks often consist of egg whites, pork trotter gel, or egg whites/pork broth mixed with finely ground herbs possessing beauty benefits—for example, *Zhanzhou Gao* and *Xingren Gao* in *Puji Fang*, and *Ti Jiang Mask* in *Beiji Qianjin Yaofang*. These offer moisturizing, skin-rejuvenating, and cleansing effects. Due to rich natural resources and traditional therapeutic advantages, Chinese herbal facial masks have been widely praised by medical practitioners throughout history and are popular in folk traditions.
Cucumber Facial Mask
Chop cucumber (skin included) into thin slices or scrape off the peel, then apply directly to the face. This mask moisturizes, softens, and brightens skin. Suitable for dry skin. Use 2–3 times weekly in summer and autumn, each session lasting 15 minutes.
Egg White Facial Mask
Take the egg white from one egg and apply directly to the face. After a short time, a protein film forms on the skin surface. Wash off with cool water after 20 minutes. Ideal for coarse pores and shallow wrinkles.
Milk Serum Facial Mask
Mix milk serum and flour in a 1:1 ratio, apply to the face. Rinse with warm water after drying. Suitable for dry and elderly skin.
Besides the above spiritual, medicinal, massage, cosmetic, and mask beauty methods, there are also acupuncture, qigong, dietary therapies, etc., which are not discussed here. These beauty methods are applicable not just in autumn but throughout the year, though they deserve special emphasis in autumn.
Third, sleep care.
In sleep matters, *The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine* advises: "Go to bed early and rise early, rising with chickens." This means in autumn, when the climate turns cooler, one should go to bed earlier to align with the storage of yin essence, and rise earlier to align with the extension of yang energy. Regarding sleeping direction, ancient people proposed "westward facing in autumn and winter." As stated in *Qianjin Yaofang·Dao Lin Yangxing*: "For sleeping, face east in spring and summer, west in autumn and winter." *Laolaohengyan* cites *Ji Yuzao*: "When lying down, face east in spring and summer, west in autumn and winter." This is because spring and summer belong to yang—head should face east; autumn and winter belong to yin—head should face west, conforming to the principle of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, nourishing yin in autumn and winter."
In sexual life, Traditional Chinese Medical Sexology holds that during autumn and winter, one should follow nature’s principle of gathering and storing, moderating sexual activity to conserve yin essence. This is especially critical for middle-aged and elderly individuals. After age 40, yin energy begins to decline gradually. By old age, diminished vitality is natural. Yet, if one takes good care and nurtures kidney essence, slowing aging and achieving longevity is entirely possible. Thus, abstinence is essential for the elderly. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Bao Hui, aged 88, remained robust. When asked by Jia Si Dao for his health secrets, he replied: "I’ve lived healthily for fifty years thanks to taking 'solitary sleep pills' alone." Everyone laughed heartily. As the saying goes: "Excessive indulgence hastens aging," "Sexual exhaustion shortens life." These are not exaggerated warnings but carry scientific truth. Sun Simiao, in *Qianjin Yaofang·Fangzhong Buyi*, stated: "At age 20 (meaning 20–29), ejaculate every four days; at 30, every eight days; at 40, every sixteen days; at 50, every twenty days; at 60, cease ejaculation unless physical strength remains strong, then once a month." Most health practitioners agree with Sun Simiao’s recommended frequency of intercourse. Evidence shows that excessive sexual activity often leads to symptoms such as weak waist and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, forgetfulness, fatigue, sallow complexion, mental dullness, frequent urination, male erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea, female menstrual irregularities, abdominal pain, increased vaginal discharge, etc.