Chinese
herbal medicine is rich in knowledge and tips for skincare. Many herbs are used for both systematic and
symptomatic skincare purpose. In this
post, I am introducing you to Chinese Angelica (Chinese name: Dang gui; Latin
name: Radix Angelicae Sinensis).
Ancient Chinese believes that Dang gui, which is also
known as “woman’s ginseng,” “tones blood and regulates menses; invigorates and harmonizes blood;
moistens intestines and moves stool.”
Therefore, Dang gui is one of most used ingredients in Traditional Chinese
herbal formulations (TCMs) for treating female reproductive system related problems
such as irregular menstrual cycle, menstrual cramp, even PMS. The herb is famous for restoring hormonal
balance.
For skincare purpose, the herb has been found to improve circulation
in the skin, detoxify the skin cells, clear blemishes, and brighten the complexion.
Therefore, it can be used
for acne, brown
spots, freckles, and hair loss.
Chemically,
Dang gui is rich in essential oils (safrole, ligustilide,
butylidenphthalide, valerophenone-o-carboxylic acid), falcarindio,
furo-coumarin (bergapten), trace elements, and Vitamins (nicotinic acid, folic
acid, B12, and A).
“So, how do I
use it?” (yep, I am reading your mind).
For
systematic use, I drink tea made from Dang gui.
When I make tea, I usually mix two slices of Dang gui with one slice of Astragalus
(I will tell you more about this herb in future post), 4-5 dried longan fruits,
and 4-5 dried dates. Dang gui has a
bitter sweet taste. I found that the warm
sweetness of the Longan fruits and dates calms Dang gui’s bitterness and definitely
helps the taste of the tea. Sometimes, I
stew a beef or pork bone soup with a few slices of Dang gui in the pot. You won’t taste Dang gui in the soup. In fact, I notice that both Dang gui and
Astragalus help to bring more flavors to the soup. Even my son does not complain about the herbs
in the soup.
For topic
use, boil Dang gui in a pot with water (you can also add other herbs. Will tell you more in my future posts). Use lots of slices if you want to make a concentrated
Dang gui liquid. Let the liquid cool
down. Use it in your hair wash, body
wash, face wash, face scrub, face mask, tonics, or astringents.
One last
note, make sure that the container you use to make Dang gui tea or liquid is ceramic,
porcelain, or glass. Avoid metal
containers.
Thanks for reading!
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