8 Herbal Tea Recipes for Brightening and Removing Dark Spots and Scars

In a review under the “evidence-based complement alternative medicine” section, published by the National Library of Medicine in 2004, researchers found a large amount of traditional Chinese herbal formulae were documented.

Yi Yeong-Deug and Chang II-Moo, researchers from the Natural Product Research Institute at Seoul National University, jointly write in the review, “On world medical history, traditional Chinese medicine was one of the more advanced medical sciences until the late 17th century. Many medical kinds of literature and classics have been recorded; however, over 12000 medical classics are still scattered in libraries throughout China.”

With many combinations and available herbs, can you imagine how complex it is to formulate a Chinese herbal prescription?

For thousands of years, documents show that traditional Chinese medicine has been used for beauty. Emperors and Empresses often asked their doctors in the palace to discover new herbs or new formulas to reverse aging or help them stay beautiful and young longer. That is due to a common concept in traditional Chinese medicine practice that what is wrong internally will first appear externally: on your face.

Ritsugaku Ken, a traditional Chinese medicine physician at the Japan Toyo Medical Association and president of the Heisei Acupuncture Clinic at Kurashiki Heisei Hospital, said in an interview, “There is a considerable number of herbal prescriptions in traditional Chinese medical books of the past. Each covers various dermatologic needs of modern women, such as removing freckles, rejuvenating or brightening one’s skin.” The Japanese practitioner said the secret to beauty is even more pertinent to the human body than western cosmetic history.

Dr. Ken shared the following eight DIY Chinese herbal drinks to make at home for anti-aging, nourishing skin, and scar lightening, which you can enjoy at home with evident improvements.

1. Nourishing Almond Tea

You’ll need 12g (0.43 oz) of ground almonds, 6g (0.22 oz) of osmanthus flowers, and rock sugar to taste.

Function: Maintain youthful skin and remove scars.

Directions:

1) Bring a pot of water to a boil.
2) Place almonds and let them cook for 15 minutes.
3) Pour the osmanthus flowers and cook for another 10 minutes.
4) Sieve and remove the mixture of flowers and almonds when timed.
5) Add some rock sugar to your preference for sweetness in the hot drink before serving.

Note: This tea is unsuitable for people with loose stool, menstruation, or pregnancy.

2. Brightening Melon Seed Tea

You’ll need 6g (0.22 oz) of winter melon seeds, a bowl of clean, sliced wintermelon, and 800ml (27 fl oz)of water

Function: brightening, moisturizing

Directions:
1) Put the winter melon seeds in medicine or a refillable tea bag. Set aside.
2) Clean wintermelon. Cut in slices with the skin on.
3) Place all ingredients in a pot and bring them to a boil.
4) switch to low heat and cook for 10-15 minutes
5) Sieve the Tea.
6) Cool before serving. Consume once a week

Note: This Tea is unsuitable for people with frequent urination, pregnancy, or chronic digestive illnesses.

3. Anti-aging Tea

Function: nourish liver qi and eyesight, relaxing, anti-aging, and moisturizing the skin.

You’ll need: 2g (0.07 oz) Goji berries, 2g (0.07 oz) cinnamon, 2g (0.07 oz) hawthorn, 2g (0.07 oz) chrysanthemum

Directions:
1) Put everything in a cup.
2) Pour 300 ml (10 fl oz) of water into the cup.
3) Let it brew for two minutes.
4) It is ready to serve.
5) You can have a second cup by refilling the hot water.

Note: This Tea is not suitable for people with pregnancy or excess stomach acid.

4. Stay Youthful Rose Tea

Function: Increase Qi and nourish the blood, enhance weight loss, regulating the liver and stomach.

You’ll need: 10g (o.35 oz) rose, 10 (0.35 oz) of motherwort

Directions:
1) Place all ingredients in. a cup.
2) Pour hot water and let it brew for 10 minutes.
3) Best if you cover the tea with a lid while brewing.

Note: This Tea is unsuitable for people with pregnancy, menstruation, and blood and qi deficiency.

5. Dark Spot Removal Tea

Function: Strengthen the spleen, Lighten dark spots, and reduce edema.

You’ll need 8g (0.28 oz) of Poria Cocos or FuLing, 12g (0.42 oz) of lotus seeds, 12g (0.42 oz) of barley

Directions:
1) Clean all the ingredients.
2) Turn to low heat and simmer to about 600ml.
3) Cool before serving.

Note: This Tea is not suitable for pregnant women.

6. Complexion Boost Tea

You’ll need 3g (0.11 oz) of winter melon kernel, 2g (0.07 oz) of Tao Ren (Prunus Davidiana seeds), 2g (0.07 oz) of dried orange peel, 3g (0.11 oz) of green Tea, and 3g (0.11 oz) of rock sugar.

Directions:
1) Put the wintermelon kernel, Tao Ren, and dried orange peel in a pot of 500ml water.
2) Bring it to a boil.
3) Switch to low heat and cook for 15 minutes.
4) Sieve and remove the ingredients. Set Tea aside.
5) Add green Tea to the hot Tea. Add rock sugar to taste.
6) Serve warm once a day.

7. Honeysuckle Acne Removal Tea

Function: Antibacterial, remove heat and toxins. Remove acne.

You’ll need 6g (0.21 oz) of honeysuckle

Directions:
1) Put honeysuckle in a teacup.
2) Add boiled water.
3) Cover with a lid and brew for 5-10 minutes.
4) Serve immediately.

Note: This Tea is unsuitable for people with weak spleen and stomachs.

8. Wrinkle Removal / Liver-boost Tea

Function: Nourish liver and kidneys, moisturize and prevent wrinkles.

You’ll need 8g (0.28 oz) of Huang Jing (Polygonatum sibiricum), 12g (0.42 oz) of goji berries, 12g (0.42 oz) of Tu Si Zi or Cuscuta Chinensis Seeds

Directions:
1) Clean all the ingredients.
2) Add to 1000ml (2.1 pints) water and bring to a boil.
3) Switch to low heat and simmer down to 600ml (1.26 pints).

Note: This Tea is unsuitable for people with spleen deficiency and diarrhea.

After looking at the secret beauty tea recipes, which one would you like to try?