Library

A prescription from *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) for treating dark and unclean facial complexion.

*Bai Xian Pi* (Cortex Dictamni), *Bai Jiang Can* (Bombyx Batryticatus), *Xiong* (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), *Bai Fu Zi* (Radix Typhonii), *Ying Shi Bai* (White Excrement of Hawk), *Bai Zhi* (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae), *Qing Mu Xiang* (Radima Aucklandiae), *Gan Song Xiang* (Nardostachys Radix), *Bai Zhu* (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), *Bai Tan Xiang* (Santalum Album Lignum), *Ding Zi Xiang* (Flos Caryophylli) (each 3 fen), *Dong Gua Ren* (Semina Benincasae), *Bai Mei* (Fructus Mume) (14 pieces, pitted), *Gua Zi* (Semini Cucurbitae), *Xing Ren* (Semen Armeniacae Amarum) (30 pieces, skin removed), *Ji Zi Bai* (Album Ovi Galli) (7 pieces), *Da Zao* (Fructus Jujubae) (30 pieces, pitted), *Zhu Yi* (Pancreas Porci) (3 pieces), *Mian* (Tritici Fructus Preparatus), *She Xiang* (Moschus) (2 fen, finely ground).

The above twenty ingredients are first mixed with *Zhu Yi* (Pancreas Porci) and flour, then sun-dried until dry. Subsequently, all herbs are pounded and sifted together. Two sheng of *Bai Dou Xie* (Powder of Glycine Max Seed) is added to make a powder. Use this powder to wash the face and hands in the morning. After ten days or more, it produces miraculous results in whitening the complexion. (Excerpted from Volume VI)

A prescription by Wen Zhong to make the facial complexion white and lustrous like jade.

*Yang Zhi* (Adip Suillum), *Gou Zhi* (Adip Caninum) (each 1 sheng), *Bai Zhi* (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae) (0.5 sheng), *Wu Hui* (Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii), *Da Zao* (Fructus Jujubae) (10 pieces), *She Xiang* (Moschus) (a small amount), *Tao Ren* (Semen Persicae) (14 pieces), *Gan Cao* (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) (1 chi, roasted), *Ban Xia* (Rhizoma Pinelliae Preparatum) (0.5 liang, washed).

The above nine ingredients are decocted together. When the color of *Bai Zhi* turns yellow, filter out the dregs and apply the liquid to the face. Changes will be visible after twenty days, and after fifty days, the skin becomes as lustrous and fine as jade.

Another effective prescription by the Hermit to whiten dark complexion and remove dullness.

*Wu Zei Gu* (Endoconcha Sepiae), *Xi Xin* (Herba Asari), *Gua Lou* (Fructus Trichosanthis), *Gan Jiang* (Rhizoma Zingiberis Preparatum), *Shu Jiao* (Fructus Zanthoxyli) (each 3 liang).

The above five ingredients are chopped and soaked in *Ku Jiu* (Vinegar) for three days. Then, add 2 jin of refined *Niu Sui* (Medulla Bovis) and decoct until the vinegar aroma dissipates and the medicine is ready. Grind into powder and apply to the darkened areas of the face; the person will become fresh, beautiful, and radiant.

Recently effective prescription of Empress Wu Zetian for refining *Yi Mu Cao* (Leonurus Japonicus) to preserve youth.

Use this herb every morning to wash hands and face, similar to the method of using bath beans. It smooths wrinkles on the face and sagging skin on the elderly, causing flaky skin to peel off; the peeled skin falls onto the hands like white dirt. Washing again yields further benefits. After exclusively using this medicine, one may mix it with bath beans if desired, adjusting according to personal preference. Initially, washing the face with this medicine makes the facial skin and hands feel smooth and moist, with a glossy complexion. After about ten days, the appearance becomes distinctly different from that of ordinary women. After a month, a healthy blood color emerges, appearing red, fresh, and lustrous, unlike the usual state. If used continuously morning and night for years, a woman in her forties or fifties will appear like a fifteen-year-old girl. Commonly known as "Yu Chou" (Stagnant Odor), this prescription was secretly passed down by immortals and not revealed even for a thousand gold. Even when used, it is invariably effective. Although some people have heard of this herb, they do not possess the true method. The true method is recorded below; please do not disseminate it. Collect *Yi Mu Cao* (Leonurus Japonicus) on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, sun-dry it until dry, and burn it to ash. Ensure no soil is attached to the roots when harvesting, otherwise it will be ineffective. Before burning, sprinkle water on a patch of ground or prepare a mud furnace. Burn the *Yi Mu Cao* for a long time until it turns to ash. Do not sieve this ash. Mix the dry ash with hot water, knead thoroughly until very soft, form into balls the size of chicken eggs, and sun-dry them until extremely dry. Take yellow earth mud to make small furnaces, opening a small hole at each of the four sides of the furnace on the ground. Place charcoal underneath and above, ensuring even heating. Avoid fierce fire; if the medicine melts and turns porcelain-yellow, it will be ineffective. With mild fire, the medicine remains white and fine. After one cycle of heating, take it out into a white porcelain vessel. Pound it with a jade pestle, sieve through silk, and pound again for three days without interruption. Store the collected medicine in a dry container, keep it deeply hidden, and use it occasionally to wash hands and face, making the skin white as jade. For black necks in women, simply rub and wash with this medicine, resulting in a jade-like complexion. Keep it secret and do not transmit it. If a jade pestle is unavailable, a deer antler pestle can also be used. This is miraculously effective.