The scorching heat of summer is slowly fading away. After being exposed to the sun all summer, fair-skinned people are particularly prone to developing dark spots, causing distress for beauty-conscious women.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that brown spots and freckles are often caused by a tendency to worry and be depressed, insufficient temperament, and accumulation of stagnant heat. Therefore, the principle of treatment should focus on soothing the liver and invigorating the spleen, nourishing the kidneys and clearing heat, and regulating qi and blood. The most important thing is to maintain a happy mood and an open mind. In terms of diet, avoid fried and spicy foods to prevent the exacerbation of symptoms. Fruits such as tomatoes and papayas, which are rich in pectin, can reduce facial pigmentation. It is recommended to eat them regularly, and also consume nourishing supplements such as pollen, lemon, tremella, and bird's nest.
There is a traditional folk remedy called "cooling and beautifying drink" that can lighten facial freckles. The ingredients include watermelon rind, white fungus, and mother of pearl. After boiling the three ingredients with water for about an hour, filter out the broth and add white sugar to drink. This remedy is suitable for people with dull complexion and facial pigmentation after summer fatigue.
Many herbal teas sold in the market also have moisturizing and beautifying effects, such as rose tea and chrysanthemum tea. Cooking lean meat soup with roses, chrysanthemums, loofah, red dates, and white poria cocos can improve skin complexion and help fade freckles, brown spots, and butterfly spots.
Loofah Beauty Soup
Ingredients: 2 loofahs, 3 grams each of rose petals, chrysanthemum flowers, and white poria cocos, 10 red dates (without pits), 6 ounces of lean meat, seasoning as needed.
Instructions: Peel the loofahs and cut them into pieces. Rinse the rose petals, chrysanthemum flowers, and white poria cocos with water. Slice the lean meat. First, boil the lean meat, red dates, white poria cocos, and loofah with water for about an hour. Finally, add the rose petals, chrysanthemum flowers, and seasoning, and cook for a while.
Dietary benefits: Wrinkle reduction, anti-inflammation, and beauty enhancement.
Tremella Cherry Soup
Ingredients: 2 tremella mushrooms, 2 ounces of cherries, appropriate amount of rock sugar.
Instructions: Soak the tremella mushrooms in clean water until softened. Wash the cherries and remove the pits. First, boil the tremella mushrooms with water for half an hour, then add rock sugar and dissolve it. Finally, add the cherries and cook for a while before consuming.
Dietary benefits: Qi and blood nourishment, skin whitening.
