Through thousands years of herbal use, Chinese herbal doctors have accumulated precious experiences on skincare herbs. For example, the “Compendium of Materia Medica” alone has listed more than 165 herbs for beauty and skincare purpose. In this post, I am introducing you to six most common and well recognized skincare herbs. Any of these herbs can be used either internally as healthcare supplements or externally as ingredients in your skincare products.
Ginseng: I have discussed this herb in my previous post. Since ancient times, Ginseng is known for its skin nurishing and beautifying effect. As early as in the “Mystic Farmer’s Herbal Handbook" from the Han Dynasty, Ginseng has long been documented for its ability to promote blood circulation in skin capillaries, increase nutrient supply to skin, moisturize skin, delay skin aging, and smooth skin tone, and remove dark spots and scars.
Ganoderma (Linzhi): I will discuss this herb in detail in future posts. Ganoderma is a bitter mushroom long used to promote health in traditional Chinese medicine. Known as "fairy grass" in China, the herb contains trace elements, polysaccharide, and antioxidants. The herb is anti-aging, contains ingredients that can eliminate free radicals and protecting cells against aging. Used for skincare, the herb is believed to smooth skin tone, remove dark spots and scars, firm skin, and increase the skin elasticity.
Coix seed (Yiren): I have discussed this herb in my previous post. In ancient China, Coix seed is only used for palace meals. The herb is believed to promote skin metabolism, whiten skin tone, moisturize and smooth the skin.
Ginger: Yes, Ginger is a common herb in Chinese medicine. I will discuss Ginger’s skincare effect in detail in my future post. According to the Chinese medicine, Ginger promotes blood circulation to the skin and therefore stimulates skin cell rejuvenation, improves complexion, and smooths skin tone.
Baiji (Bletilla Tuber): I will discuss this herb in detail in my future post. Baiji is one of most common ingredients in Chinese herb formulation for skincare. The herb is believed to remove scar, moisturize and whiten skin, and smooth skin tone. It is often used in formulations for treating acne-caused scars.
Licorice: I will describe this herb in detail in my future post. Chinese medicine believes that licorice is capable of nourishing and moisturizing skin and hair, promoting cell metabolism and repairing damaged skin cells, whitening skin tone, and removing skin blemishes. The herb is believed to have similar antioxidant effect as that of Vitamin E. Therefore, the herb also has anti-aging effect and can be used as a Sunscreen and to repair sun exposure caused skin damages.
Bailian (Ampelopsis Root): I will discuss this herb in detail in my future post. Herbal Bailian is the root of Japanese Ampelopsis. The herb is rich in amino acids and polysaccharides and is a potent skin moisturizer. A Chinese medicine classic herbal book, “Herbal Secrets,” noted that the herb has the effect of whitening skin tone. Recent pharmacological study suggests that the herb extract inhibits melanin product in skin.
Baishao (White peony root): I will discuss this herb in detail in my future post. For skincare use, this herb is believed to promote blood circulation to skin cells and inhibit sebum secretion. Therefore, the herb is often used by Chinese herbalist to treat pimples, acne, and other skin inflammations.
Thanks for reading.
Connie
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