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Ancient Chinese Beauty Remedies

If you have ever wondered why so many Chinese women seem to have glowing skin and maintain a youthful appearance well into their older years, you'd probably like to know some of their beauty secrets. A look at some Chinese beauty techniques that date back to ancient China may provide some clues and help you look better and younger longer.

  1. Natural Extracts for Skin Health

    • The Chinese discovered long ago that a variety of herbs and plants offer various health benefits that manifest as glowing, clear skin. For instance, ginseng, ginkgo leaf, and Solomon's seal rhizome are said to aid in circulation and detoxification. The ancient Chinese would combine these with other ingredients said to promote health, based on their areas of concern and a doctor's recommendation. Other ingredients commonly used to promote clear, soft skin were dried tangerine peel, red dates, and licorice root, according to the Shen-Nong website. These ingredients were commonly made into a concentrate and then sweetened with honey to create a jelly that was eaten.

    Prescribed Diets for Youthful Appearance

    • Certain foods were believed to help the body repair itself, helping people maintain their youthfulness even as the decades passed. Some common foods thought to provide antiaging benefits are sesame, mushrooms, honey, pumpkin seeds, and milk. A diet rich in these and other antiaging foods was believed to play a large role in maintaining youthful looks. In some cases, doctors prescribed specific amounts of these foods to be consumed daily.

    Creams and Lotions for Blemish Treatment

    • While today you can go to any pharmacy and choose from a variety of creams and lotions for problems such as acne, brown spots, or wrinkles, the ancient Chinese relied on nature for relief from such problems. For instance, they ground almonds and mixed them with egg white for an overnight cream said to remove brown spots, acne, and fine wrinkles; they also made masks out of pearl powder and egg whites to achieve a glowing complexion.

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