The main dosage forms of traditional Chinese medicine for external use in beauty include powder, solution, ointment, paste, and mask.
(1) Powder
Powder is a dosage form made by grinding various drugs into powder. When preparing, the impurities and dirt in the drugs should be removed, dried, ground into fine powder, and stored in a dry place after sieving. It can be used as a facial cleanser applied to the face and hands, followed by gentle massage, or as a foundation. Powder beauty products, except for a few that are not suitable for dry skin, can generally be used for various skin types and different constitutions, with a wide range of applications.
Prescription example: Jinguo Palace Women Whitening Powder.
Method: Take 90g of white cloves, white silkworms, white morning glories, white tribulus terrestris, and white gentian, 60g of white atractylodes, 15g of white aconite and white poria, and 450g of soapnut. Remove the skin and sinew from the soapnut, grind it into a fine powder with other drugs, and mix well. Commonly used as a facial cleanser.
Function: Moisturizes the skin, removes dirt and grease, moisturizes and relieves itching. Used to treat acne, prickly heat, etc. Daily use makes the face as smooth as jade.
Powders primarily used to treat facial skin diseases have the main purposes of protection, absorption, evaporation, drying, relieving itching, and reducing external friction on the skin. They are suitable for acute or subacute dermatitis without exudation, such as prickly heat and acne. Commonly used preparations include Qingdai Powder, Liu Yi Powder, and anti-itching powder.
There are also washing agents, also known as suspension agents, hanging agents, water powder agents, and oscillating agents, which are medicinal preparations made by mixing water with powder (containing 30% to 50% powder). Their functions and indications are basically the same as powders. Examples include Qingdai Powder washing agent and Dian Dao Powder washing agent.
(2) Solution
The liquid obtained by decocting the medicinal liquid after boiling the drugs, or the medicinal liquid obtained by dissolving the powdered drugs in hot water and cooling it is called a solution. In addition, preparations made by pounding fresh herbs from plants or using solvents such as alcohol and vinegar can also be classified into this category. Solutions should be made freshly and not stored for a long time, except for vinegar and alcohol solutions. Solutions have the functions of cleansing, relieving itching, reducing swelling, contracting, clearing heat and detoxifying, etc. For example, using a concentrated decoction of winter mulberry leaves to cleanse and store it in water, and washing the face with it in the early morning of winter can have the effects of dispelling wind, moisturizing the skin, and making the face smooth and not frozen. It is called "brightening face wash". Solutions can be used externally and for moist compresses to treat facial skin diseases. The main purpose of external washing is to clean the affected area, while moist compresses have the effects of anti-inflammatory, reducing swelling, and contracting, and can be used for contact dermatitis, eczema, and other conditions with more exudation. The specific application of moist compresses can be open or closed. In addition, solutions can also be used for bathing.
Prescription example: Three Flowers Wrinkle Removal Solution.
Method: Take peach blossom in spring, lotus blossom in summer, and hibiscus flower in autumn, dry them, regardless of the amount, and boil them in snow water, wash the face frequently.
Function: Promote blood circulation, remove stasis, moisturize the skin, and remove wrinkles.
(3) Ointment
Ointment is a semi-solid external dosage form that contains drugs mixed with a suitable matrix and is uniform, delicate, and easy to spread on the skin, mucous membranes, or affected areas. It has the characteristics of not drying easily, sticking to the surface of the body, long-lasting and deep penetration, protecting the skin, and preventing the influence of external physical and chemical factors. According to the preparation method, ointments can be divided into six types: ① Compound ointment: Mix animal oil or vegetable oil (mineral oil such as petroleum jelly can also be used in modern times) with the drugs to form a paste. ② Boiled ointment: Use water or alcohol as a solvent, heat the soluble components in the herbs to dissolve, filter to remove impurities, and then heat and concentrate. It can also be prepared by directly heating and concentrating the herbal juice. ③ Oil and wax ointment: Use vegetable oil or animal oil to extract the soluble components of the herbs, filter, and then dissolve beeswax or white wax to form an ointment. ④ Pounded ointment: Pound the herbs rich in oil and fat into a paste. ⑤ Vinegar ointment: Use vinegar as a solvent and prepare it by the same method as boiled ointment. ⑥ Honey ointment: Prepare a ointment by combining honey with finely ground drugs.
Ointments with oily properties have a high degree of oiliness and are not easy to wash off. They are not suitable for people with oily skin. Ointments made with oil and fat or honey should be prepared in small quantities and stored in a cool place to prevent acidification and spoilage. Ointments containing heavy metal salts such as lead powder and realgar should be prepared temporarily and stored in a sealed container, as they are prone to oxidation and reduction, which can reduce efficacy and even increase toxicity. After storing ointments for a period of time, if the drug separates from the matrix or water precipitates, it should be stirred evenly before use.
Ointment is a commonly used dosage form of traditional Chinese medicine for external use in beauty, which is used for both health and medical beauty. It has the effects of moisturizing the skin, whitening, and removing wrinkles when used for health and beauty. When used to treat facial skin diseases, it has the effects of protecting the affected area, anti-inflammatory, relieving itching, removing scars, and eliminating warts.
Prescription example:
Compound ointment example: Moisturizing and spot-removing ointment.
Method: Take 60g of black snake and an appropriate amount of lard. Burn the black snake to ash, grind it into a fine powder, and mix it with lard to make an ointment. Apply a thin layer to the face before going to bed every night, and wash it off with warm water the next morning.
Function: Promote blood circulation, moisturize the skin, and treat facial dark spots.
Boiled ointment example: Red Beauty Formula.
Method: Take an appropriate amount of salvia miltiorrhiza and sheep fat. Chop the two drugs, decoct them together until the center of salvia miltiorrhiza turns white, and filter
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