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TCM Treasures - Dahurian angelica root
By Zhang Qian |
April 28, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
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SIMPLIFIED Chinese: 白芷 Pinyin: bái zhǐ
Bai zhi (dahurian angelica root) - which has the same pronunciation as "white paper" in Chinese - is widely-known as a beauty treatment in ancient China, used smooth, nourish and lighten skin, but it is also an effective pain-killer.
The story goes that a scholar suffering from headaches went to see a famous physician in the Wushan mountain, north of present-day Chongqing municipality. After being given some fragrant pills, the scholar found his headache much relieved the next day.
Curious about these pills, he spied on the physician grinding up the white root of an umbrella-like herb, and mixing it with hot honey to make the pills.
The doctor spotted him but wasn't angry. He explained that this was his family's secret recipe for painkillers handed down over the generations, but that its name had been lost. He asked the learned scholar to help him name it.
The scholar suggested calling it "xiang bai zhi" - literally, fragrant white newborn root. In time, the herb became popular nationwide.
Bai zhi is a warm herb that helps dispel pathogenic energies like dampness, relieve inflammation and relieve pain. It is widely used for relieving pain associated with headaches, toothache and a stuffy nose.
Prescriptions & Usage:
Painkilling
Put 5g bai zhi and 3g liquorice in a pan with 600g water. Boil for 5 minutes. Add 5g green tea.
Divide it to three measures and drink one after each meal.
Benefits: Recommended to treat headaches caused by cold, toothache and sinusitis.
Skin treatment
Mix 30-40g bai zhi fine powder in ordinary face cream and keep in a fridge. Apply to your face at night for an hour. Remove excess cream with a tissue, but don't wash your face until the next morning.
Apply once a day at the first 15 days, and once every 2-3 days after.
Benefits: Makes skin smooth and soft, and has a lightening effect.
Bai zhi (dahurian angelica root) - which has the same pronunciation as "white paper" in Chinese - is widely-known as a beauty treatment in ancient China, used smooth, nourish and lighten skin, but it is also an effective pain-killer.
The story goes that a scholar suffering from headaches went to see a famous physician in the Wushan mountain, north of present-day Chongqing municipality. After being given some fragrant pills, the scholar found his headache much relieved the next day.
Curious about these pills, he spied on the physician grinding up the white root of an umbrella-like herb, and mixing it with hot honey to make the pills.
The doctor spotted him but wasn't angry. He explained that this was his family's secret recipe for painkillers handed down over the generations, but that its name had been lost. He asked the learned scholar to help him name it.
The scholar suggested calling it "xiang bai zhi" - literally, fragrant white newborn root. In time, the herb became popular nationwide.
Bai zhi is a warm herb that helps dispel pathogenic energies like dampness, relieve inflammation and relieve pain. It is widely used for relieving pain associated with headaches, toothache and a stuffy nose.
Prescriptions & Usage:
Painkilling
Put 5g bai zhi and 3g liquorice in a pan with 600g water. Boil for 5 minutes. Add 5g green tea.
Divide it to three measures and drink one after each meal.
Benefits: Recommended to treat headaches caused by cold, toothache and sinusitis.
Skin treatment
Mix 30-40g bai zhi fine powder in ordinary face cream and keep in a fridge. Apply to your face at night for an hour. Remove excess cream with a tissue, but don't wash your face until the next morning.
Apply once a day at the first 15 days, and once every 2-3 days after.
Benefits: Makes skin smooth and soft, and has a lightening effect.
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