Angelica Root, Bai zhi, (Latin: A. dahurica (Fisch.) Benth. et Hook) is
a well known Chinese herb with recorded medicinal use as early as 300BC. The earliest recording of Bai Zhi can be
found in “BEN JING” or “Shennung Ben Chao Jing” (my clumsy translation: Mystic Farmer’s
Herbal Handbook). According to the “Mystic
Farmer,” Bai Zhi is useful in “treating female reproductive system infection, reducing
swelling, treating cold, soothing watery eyes, skin regeneration and
moisturizing.” In addition, “Ri Hua Zi Herbal
Handbook” from Song Dynasty (960-1276) recorded that Bai Zhi can be used to
clear red eyes, reduce inflammation, replenish blood, expel pus, promote local
blood circulation, promote metabolism, promote tissue repair and growth, reduce
pain, treat pimples, remove dark spots and scars on face.”
Need I say more—2300 thousand’s years of Chinese
herbal experience says Bai Zhi is good for skin regenerationand moisturizing,
clearing pimple, and removal of dark spots on your skin!
Coming back to 21 century, chemical composition
wise, Bai Zhi contains essential oils including byak-angelicin,byak-angelicol, oxypeucedanin, imperatorin,isoimperatorin, phellopterin, bergapten,
, 3-Methylene,6-（1-Methylethyl） cyclohe- xene, Hexadecanoic acid, Methylcyclodecame,
Nonanol, 1-Te- tradecene, Furocoumarin,
Isobergapten,Pim-
pinellin, Isopimpinellin,Oxypeuce-
danin, Imperatorin, Isoim- peratorin etc. In addition, Bai Zhi includes
various elements essential for your health including Ca, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Na, P,
Mg, Co, Mo, etc.
Where do you buy Bai Zhi? Go to
China town herbal stores—almost all of them carry it. If there isn’t one nearby, search online. You
will find many sites sell Bai zhi in its whole herb form as well as powder
form. Usually, use whole herb for making
tea or soup; and use powder for skincare purpose.
Here are some tips for using Bai Zhi in your skincare routine.
Bai Zhi Anti-acne Mask
If you have acne or full flown pimple on your skin, mixing some Bai Zhi
powder with small volume of honey diluted with a little water. If you want, add a little aloe vera gel. Make a paste.
Spread the past over your face.
Leave a thicker layer over the acne or pimple spot. Leave dry.
Then, rinse with warm water and end with a splash of cold water. If your pimple is swelling, this mask paste
is gentle enough that you can leave a layer over the problem spots overnight.
Bai Zhi Enriched Makeup
If you have acne or pimple, my guess is that you will try to cover those
up with makeup during the day. Here is what
I do with my problem spots: in the
liquid make up, add a little Bai Zhi powder, mix well, and apply over the
problem spots. Woola, now, I have makeup
help to cover the problem and Bai Zhai stay on to treat the problem.
Bai Zhi Whitening Mask
Mix Bai Zhi powder, one egg yolk, a little honey, and a few drops of olive
oil into a consistent paste. Spread the
past over your face. Leave a thicker
layer over the acne or pimple spot.
Leave dry. Then, rinse with warm water
and end with a splash of cold water.
This mask is effective in moisturizing and even the skin tone.
You can change olive oil with lots of other oils such as Vitamin E oil,
grapseed oil, avocado oil (my favorite), or jujube oil--doesn’t really
matter. Also, how much of each
ingredient you put in does not matter much either, just as long as you get a
paste that is easily spreadable but not too fluidly. I hate my mask dripping all over the place. When I make my own mask, if the paste is too
thick, I add a little vegetable juice such as cucumber juice; if the paste is
too diluted, I add more powder—you can use Bai Zhi powder or just plain old
oatmeal powder to thicken the paste up.
Double Whitening Mask
Mix Bai Zhi powder, Bai
Fu Zi powder (another herbal that I will talk about in later post), oatmeal
powder with a little diluted honey. Add
a few drops of Vitamin E oil to make a paste.
Spread the past over your face. Leave a thicker layer over the acne or pimple
spot. Leave dry. Then, rinse with warm water and end with a
splash of cold water.
This mask is effective
in removing fine wrinkles, remove dark spots, and even and whitening the skin
tone. The formula is great for moms who
tend to have dark spots due to the hormonal changes during the pregnancy.
I will provide more tips
on how to use Bai Zhi in your skincare routine tomorrow.
Thanks for reading.
Connie
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