Clearing Blemishes: Traditional Chinese Medicine Dietary Recipes

Blemishes refer to freckles, melasma, etc. They are dark in color, the size of a needle or a grain of rice, and resemble bird eggs, hence the name. Freckles often occur on the exposed areas of the face and neck in adolescents, especially in young women with fair skin. They worsen in spring and summer and fade in autumn and winter. The cause is related to genetics, endocrine disorders, and sunlight exposure. Melasma is more common in middle-aged and young adults, especially in women. It is a pigmentation disorder that occurs on the face and varies in size. The cause is related to endocrine disorders, nutrition, and sun exposure. Sunlight and ultraviolet radiation can darken the color of blemishes. According to traditional Chinese medicine, this condition is often caused by liver stagnation and spleen deficiency, as well as insufficient liver and kidney function. Treatment should focus on nourishing the liver and kidneys and invigorating the liver and spleen. The following dietary recipes can be used:

1. Black and White Blemish Dissolving Powder

10g black fungus, 5g white fungus. Grind the two fungi into a fine powder, take 5g each time, drink with honey water 3 times a day, continuously for 1 month. It can eliminate stasis and transform blemishes, nourish the skin and muscles.

2. Poria Blemish Clearing Soup

10g white poria, 10g white silkworm, 10g white chrysanthemum, 10g luffa seed, 20g pearl powder, 3 roses, 10 red dates. Put the ingredients in a pot with an appropriate amount of water, simmer and extract the juice, divide into 2 portions, drink after meals, 1 dose per day, continuously for 7-10 days. It can invigorate the spleen and clear blemishes, dispel wind and promote blood circulation.

3. Spleen-Strengthening Blemish Clearing Porridge

30g Chinese yam, 15g lotus rice, 15g adzuki beans, 10g coix seed, 10g euryale seed, 10g white kidney beans, 10 red dates, 100g rice. After boiling the various herbs in water for 40 minutes, add the rice to make porridge, divide into 2 portions, take morning and evening, continuously for 1 month. It can invigorate the spleen and soothe the liver, remove fat and clear blemishes.

4. Walnut Sesame Drink

30g walnuts, 20g sesame seeds, 200ml milk, 200ml soy milk, sugar as needed. Grind the walnuts and sesame seeds into a fine powder, mix with milk and soy milk, boil and drink, sweeten with sugar, divide into 2 portions, take morning and evening, 1 dose per day. It can nourish deficiency, generate fluids, moisturize the intestines, and nourish the skin to clear blemishes.

5. Pig Kidney Blemish Clearing Porridge

1 pair of pig kidneys, 100g Chinese yam, 50g coix seed, 200g rice, salt as needed. Remove the fascia from the pig kidneys, wash them, cut into small pieces, add the other ingredients and rice, cook the porridge with an appropriate amount of water, season with salt, divide into 2 servings, take 1 dose per day. It can nourish the kidneys and strengthen the spleen, dispel stasis and transform blemishes.

6. White Duck Blemish Clearing Soup

1 white duck, 200g Chinese yam, 100g raw Rehmannia, 30g goji berries, seasoning as needed. Remove the feathers and bones from the white duck, wash it, marinate it with salt, pepper, and cooking wine both inside and outside the duck, sprinkle with spring onions and ginger, marinate for about 1 hour, then cut into small pieces; slice the Chinese yam. Wrap the raw Rehmannia in a cloth, place it at the bottom of the bowl, then add the Chinese yam, goji berries, and duck pieces, steam until cooked, eat 2-3 times a week. It can nourish the liver and kidneys, nourish yin and clear blemishes.

7. Angelica Hawthorn Tea

10g angelica, 10g hawthorn, 5g white moss bark, 5g white caltrop. Put the ingredients in a cup, pour boiling water, seal and soak for 10-20 minutes, then drink as tea, 1 dose per day, continuously for 1 month. It can soothe the liver and invigorate the spleen, clear blemishes and transform stasis.

8. Goji Berry and Raw Rehmannia Powder

100g goji berries, 30g raw Rehmannia. Roast the goji berries and raw Rehmannia, grind them into powder, take 10g each time, 3 times a day, drink with warm water or an appropriate amount of white wine, continuously for 1 month. It can nourish the liver and kidneys, eliminate dark spots.