White Aconite is a tuber of the plant Aconitum carmichaelii, which belongs to the family Ranunculaceae. Due to its inherent toxicity, White Aconite is generally processed before use. In addition to its ability to dry dampness and resolve phlegm, White Aconite can also be incorporated into various face masks for beauty and skincare purposes.
Image of White Aconite
【Benefits and Functions of White Aconite】
1. Drying dampness and resolving phlegm
White Aconite has a warm and pungent nature and is mainly used for cold phlegm and dampness conditions. It can be combined with dried ginger and asarum to warm the lungs, dry dampness, and resolve phlegm in cases of coughing, wheezing, and excessive thin phlegm caused by the combination of phlegm and cold pathogenic factors.
2. Dispelling wind and relieving spasms
White Aconite is mainly used to treat symptoms such as facial and ocular deviation, limb weakness, limb spasms, dizziness, and vertigo caused by stroke. It has better efficacy when used for stroke with phlegm-dampness syndrome.
3. Detoxifying and dispersing nodules
It is primarily used to treat scrofula and phlegm nodules. Scrofula is a disease characterized by the growth of various-sized nodules in the neck, similar to what we now call lymph node tuberculosis. White Aconite can disperse the nodules, and pharmacological studies have also found that White Aconite's anti-tuberculosis effect is second only to streptomycin, making it effective in treating scrofula.
Image of White Aconite
【Differences between White Aconite and Black Aconite】
1. White Aconite
White Aconite is highly toxic, with the tuber being the most toxic part. It can cause significant irritation to the skin and mucous membranes and can also have a suppressive effect on the central nervous system.
Symptoms of poisoning may include numbness of the tongue and mouth, a feeling of tightness in the limbs and body, profuse sweating, thirst, dry mouth, palpitations, restlessness, followed by slurred speech, vomiting, diarrhea, cyanosis of the face and forehead, and eventual respiratory and circulatory failure leading to death.
2. Black Aconite
The toxic reactions of Black Aconite are mainly caused by a class of alkaloids called aconitines. The lethal dose of aconitine is 3-4mg, and ingestion of 0.2mg of aconitine by an adult can lead to poisoning.
Poisoning incidents involving Black Aconite are more common. Symptoms of aconite poisoning mainly manifest as toxic reactions in the nervous system, digestive system, and cardiovascular system, and severe cases can result in death.
Image of White Aconite
【Beauty Applications of White Aconite】
1. Lightening and nourishing face mask for pigmentation
Ingredients: Angelica, peach kernel, chuanxiong, bai zhi, White Aconite, bai ji powder, fresh milk, and honey, each in appropriate amounts.
Method: Take 2g of each of the six Chinese herbal powders mentioned above, add an appropriate amount of fresh milk to make a paste, and then add 1ml of honey and mix well. Use a small brush to evenly apply the mask to the face, wash off after 20-30 minutes, 2-3 times a week.
Benefits: Angelica, peach kernel, and chuanxiong promote blood circulation and reduce pigmentation; bai zhi, White Aconite, and bai ji facilitate melanin metabolism and lighten pigmentation; fresh milk and honey moisturize, nourish, and add radiance to the skin.
2. White Aconite spot-removing and whitening face mask
Ingredients: 10g of White Aconite powder, 10g of bai zhi powder, an appropriate amount of honey, and a little mineral water.
Method: Put the White Aconite powder, bai zhi powder, honey, and mineral water in a face mask bowl; stir well with a stirring chopstick to form a thin and easy-to-apply mask paste. Leave it on for about 15-20 minutes, then thoroughly rinse the face with water.
Benefits: Cleanses, purifies, lightens pigmentation, and whitens the skin.
