Naturally Nourishing the Skin: Effective Dietary Methods for Melasma

Melasma, also known as liver spots or butterfly spots, is a symptom of facial hyperpigmentation. It occurs when there is an increase in melanin production in the skin, which is not effectively eliminated and instead accumulates on the face. Both men and women can develop melasma, but it is more common in women. The causes of melasma are complex and can be both physiological and non-physiological in nature. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver stores blood and likes to be unobstructed while disliking depression. If the emotions are not smooth, the liver loses its unobstructed nature, or if there is a deficiency in Yin and blood or insufficient production of vital substances, it can lead to stagnation of liver qi, causing heat to accumulate over time and damaging the Yin and blood of the face, resulting in the development of melasma. The kidneys store essence, which is associated with water. If there is a deficiency of water, the fire becomes excessive, leading to a depletion of body fluids and blood, which cannot nourish the face properly and results in the appearance of melasma. There are many natural foods that have the ability to nourish the skin and eliminate melasma. The following are a few dietary methods:

Method 1:

[Ingredients]: Hawthorn and tangerine peel, appropriate amount.
[Effects]: Clearing black spots. Suitable for facial melasma and freckles.
[Preparation]: Boil hawthorn and tangerine peel in water, let it cool, filter the residue with gauze, and add honey for taste.
[Usage]: Can be consumed regularly.

Method 2:

[Ingredients]: 100g each of soybeans, mung beans, and red beans, appropriate amount of sugar.
[Effects]: Nourishing the five viscera and moisturizing the six bowels. Suitable for dull complexion, melasma, and freckles.
[Preparation]: Wash and soak the soybeans, mung beans, and red beans until they swell, then mix and mash them. Add an appropriate amount of water and boil it. Season with sugar.
[Usage]: Drink three times a day.

Method 3:

[Ingredients]: 30g walnut kernels, 300g cow's milk, 200g soy milk, 20g black sesame seeds, appropriate amount of sugar.
[Effects]: Nourishing the skin. Suitable for melasma and wrinkled skin.
[Preparation]: Grind the walnut kernels and black sesame seeds into powder. Mix them with cow's milk and soy milk and cook in a pot. Add sugar for taste. Alternatively, you can add a raw egg while cooking, stirring continuously.
[Usage]: Eat a small bowl in the morning and evening. Can be consumed regularly.

Method 4:

[Ingredients]: 100g pear, 200g sugarcane, 300g grapes, 100g honey.
[Effects]: Clearing lung heat, nourishing the five viscera and six bowels. Suitable for dull complexion, black spots, and freckles.
[Preparation]: Wash the pear, sugarcane, and grapes and juice them, then mix with honey and store in a bottle.
[Usage]: Drink 10ml in the morning and evening, diluted with hot water.

Method 5:

[Ingredients]: 1 pair of pig kidneys, 100g Chinese yam, 200g glutinous rice, 50g coix seed, appropriate amount of water.
[Effects]: Tonifying the kidneys and nourishing the skin. Suitable for pigmentation and melasma.
[Preparation]: Remove the tendons and glands from the pig kidneys and chop them. Wash and chop the peeled Chinese yam, glutinous rice, and coix seed. Cook them together with water over low heat until it becomes porridge. Season with condiments.
[Usage]: Eat in separate meals.

Method 6:

[Ingredients]: Three-Nut Beauty Porridge: 10g each of peach kernel, sweet almond, and ginkgo nut, 1 egg, 10g rock sugar, 50g glutinous rice.
[Effects]: Promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, promoting bowel movements, and nourishing and beautifying the skin.
[Preparation]: First grind the peach kernel and the other two ingredients into a fine powder. Then wash the glutinous rice and put it in a sand pot. Add the powdered medicine and an appropriate amount of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, add the egg, and simmer over low heat until the porridge is cooked. Finally, add the rock sugar and mix well.
[Usage]: Consume once a day for breakfast. A course of treatment consists of 20 servings, and another course can be taken after a 5-day break.

Method 7:

[Ingredients]: 250ml goat's milk, 2 eggs, 50g rock sugar, appropriate amount of water.
[Effects]: Tonifying the middle qi, nourishing the six viscera, and moisturizing the skin. Suitable for thin and dull complexion, melasma, and freckles.
[Preparation]: Dissolve the rock sugar in water and pour it into the goat's milk. Bring to a boil and add the eggs. Stir well and bring to a boil again.
[Usage]: Can be consumed regularly.