2011年7月29日 星期五

Natural Skin Lightening

Natural skin lightening products can be found easily in market nowadays. For women who are looking for a way to lighten their skin tone, they can choose skin whitening cream, skin lightening soap, skin lightening gel, skin lightening pills, and skin lightening lotion and so on. However, as for the oldest and enduring recipes for natural skin whitening, I am afraid that the answer has to be found from Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

In ancient and modern China, healthy white tender skin is always one of the constant standards for beauty. So, no wonder Chinese medicine has accumulated so many various secret recipes that use Chinese herbs and mineral to lighten complexion. Among them, the 3 big natural skin lighteners have to be mentioned here. They are Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes Rhizome) and Bai Fu Ling (White Poria). And they are also known as the Three White Decoction (San Bai Tang).

When it comes to widespread skin whitening formulas, it needs to trace back to the Three White Decoction, which was recorded in the medical book of “Introduction to Medicine” (Yi Xue Ru Men) in Ming Dynasty (16th century).

“Bai Shao, Bai Zhu, Bai Fu Ling 5 grams each, licorice root 2.5 grams, boiled with water and drinks it when it is still warm.”

This formula was used to treat deficient upset of typhoid fever. And later it was found that it could also tonify Qi, promote blood regeneration, lighten skin, and moisten skin so that it was spread widely among people. The compatibility of the Three White Decoction is quite precise and appropriate for rough skin, withered yellow-brown skin, melasma, and darker pigmentation due to deficiency-cold of Qi and blood.

TCM believes that skin tone is closely related to the condition of zang-fu viscera. If there is something wrong happened to the internal organs, the resulted imbalanced Qi and blood would lead to skin roughness and freckle. Therefore, this prescription starts from regulating the function of internal organs and balancing Qi and blood again. Once the internal organs function right and smoothly again, it achieves black skin lightening and get rid of dark age spots in the end.

Bai Shao, Bai Zhu and Bai Fu Ling are traditional herbs that are used to moisten and whiten skin. Along with licorice root, they can be served as anti aging herbs as well. According to Chinese medicine theory, their property and functions are as follows.

Bai Shao is sweet and sour. Its property belongs to slightly cold. It can be used to treat withered yellow-brown complexion, freckles, and discolorations.

Bai Zhu is warm. It tastes sweet and bitter. And it can remove body dampness and has anti-aging effects. From Chinese medicine perspective, the color of lingering water in body presents dark and dull. So getting rid of dampness can recover the perple’s original complexion.

Bai Fu Ling is sweet and tasteless. It is neutral in nature. Its functions are similar to Bai Zhu. In terms of skin care, it can also remove age spots and liver spotting and lighten the skin.

Licorice root is mild-natured. It tastes sweet. The licorice benefits include moistening skin and deodorization. It usually is used to get rid of bad breath and chapped skin due to deficiency of spleen and stomach.

Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed the natural skin whitening effects by the above-mentioned four Chinese herbs.

White Peony Root can scavenge free radicals and has antioxidant effect;White Atractylodes Rhizome and White Poria work to enhance immune function and dilate blood vessels;Licorice root can regulate immune system. External use of licorice root can block the sun’s UV rays, brighten skin tone, remove hyper pigmentation, and prevent skin roughness and so on. Hence, a lot of skin whitening products contain licorice extract.

As the old Chinese saying goes, “A white complexion is powerful enough to hide seven faults.” That is true that in China if a girl has the white complexion she would be viewed as more attractive and prettier. Skin whitening is always a trend and it never changes. If you would like to give it a try to natural skin lightening products that are made of Chinese herbs and natural minerals, Three White Decoction can be a good choice.

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