Herbal Chuan Xin Lian Mung Bean Barley Therapeutic Mask

When I was young my granny used the home remedies to treat my pimples skin. Her ways of ancient beauty therapeutic method is really fantastic, when I recalled it back. 

It is really to the extreme of wanting to cure my inflammation skin problem, she even used rice water as facial cleanse, cucumber juice extract as face toner, green bean powder and home made dried potatoes powder, mix and match to make it as facial mask in thick paste form, simply pasted on my face. Surprisingly that kind of home remedies really works to reduce the redness and outbreaks of the pimples. 

Due to my previous experiences of curing pimples with her traditional methods, the greatest benefits to what I had gained not only clear away the serious pimples and cure infection acne skin. Thus, by getting all sorts of her ancient home remedies into my present beauty therapeutic method I learned and experimented. Some of granny’s home remedies into making my own herbal mask are really great. 

Now what I like to share on this blog, the wonderful and natural beauty home remedies by using the traditional Chinese herbs, the dried herbs leaves of Chuan Xing Lian (Chinese Name). Botanical name is Andrographitis Herb

This inventive herbal mask was created in an anti-bacterial therapy way, for which I had tried on several pimples and acne skin cases has shown great improvement. 

It is quite easy to make, affordable and provided you can find the herbs of Chuan Xing Lian ~ "King of Bitter herb" Andrographis.

Firstly, the herbs of chuan xin lian need to be air dried or room drying, when dried finely blended into powder form.

Follow by mixing Mung bean powder and barley powder (can buy the ready made powder form type.). This helps in soothing, whitening and removes of excessive clogged oil on face. Barley powder is wonderful skin whitening and helps to lighten the dark spots, pimple marks and hyper-pigmentation. Green Bean or mung bean powder gives setting effect to mask, it is great anti-blemish ingredients. It exfoliates the dead skin cells, calming effect, natural antiseptic to acne prone skin type. 

For severe eczema problem on body, try to apply this herbal mask on to infected areas or body part, it has very cooling and soothing effect, relieves of itchiness, anti-inflammation and naturally relieves the outbreak infection areas and reduces redness.

To save time making the Mung Bean powder, you can find this Mung Bean Powder in the grocery shop.

Chuan Xin Lian Mung Bean Barley Therapeutic Scrub and Mask

Ingredients: 

• ½ tsp. Chuan Xing Lian Powder
• ½ tsp. Green Bean Powder
• ½ tsp. Barley Powder
• Toner or distilled water – 5 to 10 cc 

Method:

1. Washed and air dried the Chuan Xin Lian - Andrographis herb, till it’s totally dried. Blend it into powder form. 

2. Barley and Green beans blended into powder form too. 

3. Mixed all the ingredients in small bowl, pour in the toner or distilled water. Mix slowly into thick paste form.

4. Apply on clean face wait for 10 to 15 minutes. 

5. Wet the face and scrub lightly in circulation movement for 1 minute. (Not applicable to serious acne skin type, skip this)

6. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Extra Benefits: 

Additional tips: 

Use it as herbal healing mask and exfoliation scrub, after application, uses it as whitening scrub for oily skin, before rinse off the mask paste, lightly wet face with water, and scrubs the face in circle movement for about 1 – 3 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly with lukewarm water.

This herbal mask and scrub can be used 1-2 a week. Try it for a few time if any adverse reactions, stop using it. 

After every application of this mask and scrub, instant result shown on lightening of scars, pimples marks and blackheads is being soften, clear and clean....It is amazing for glowing skin scrub and whitening facial mask of the day.

What is Chuan Xing Lian for:

Chuan Xin Lian

Chuan Xin Lian also known as Andrographis herb is common herbs that used by Chinese herbalists to treat inflammation and infected problems, digestive problems and clearing heat, expels toxicity, herpes and most effectively to treat the formation of pus and eczema, boost immunity system, snake bites and throat infection problems. As for me, this is my wonder herb for my occasionally tonsillitis problem, a capsule of Chuan Xin Lian just relieves my painful sore throat. (more informations read here)

According to the researches and studies indicate that this herb is traditional Chinese herbs has the antibacterial and antiviral effect, non-toxic, it is natural anti-biotic for treating urinary tract infection, It resolves inflammation and swollen glands, clearing lung heat, diarrhea and dysentery, and digestive cardiovascular removing dampness and cooling blood too.

This herb is making into capsule form as herbal supplement commonly selling in the Chinese medical shop.

This herbs is very bitter, it is quite hard for those never like bitterness taste. To make an easy way of ingesting this bitter herb, purchase the empty Gelatin capsules, you can make your own Chuan Xin Lian capsule; I bought some empty Gelatin Capsules fromthe Chinese medicine shop. 

My home made custom blend Chuan Xin Lian Capsules. 

Most important, hygienic preparations come first, a pair of surgical gloves, facial mask, empty Gelatin capsules must be in clean and hygienic condition to make your own herbal capsules. 

As a way of my health purposes, this is my tonsillitis cure herbal capsules and Tea for years into my own hands. Also some feed back from my friends,after taking the capsules or tea for about 2 to 3 days, it really good for curing dry cough with sore throat problem effectively. 

Decoction of Chuan Xin Lian Tea has Anti-hypertensive effect. The whole plant can be used for making tea, for better effect add in the stems as well.

Caution:
* Pregnant women may not advisable to take Chuan Xin Lian
* Do not over doses as it may injure stomach Qi and function.
* Doses to take 500 - 3,000 milligrams, 2 to 3 times/ day. 

* Stomach ulcer person may not take this herb.

Note: 

Please consult your health care practitioner before using any of the herbal or alternative home remedies. 

Slimming with Stevia Rebaudian Ku Ding Cassia Seeds Tea

Stevia Rebaudian ~ Sweet leaf is useful therapeutic herb and medicinal plant as an alternative sugar substitute to sugar, or natural substitute to replace the artificial sweetener for lower blood sugar and diabetes. 

Dried Stevia Rabaudian Leaves

To infuse along with this Ku Ding Tea and Cassia Seed (Jie Ming Zhi) added with Stevia Rabaudian gives the sweetening flavor, and this is one of the good alternative healing for constipation and relieves of upset stomach. (for more information about Stevia Rebaudian Leaf)

Making Stevia Rebaudiana Ku Ding Jie Ming Zhi (Cassia Seeds) Tea.

• Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf with Kuding Tea and Jie Ming Zhi, this herbal tea is bitter-sweet in taste. 

Sweet leaf - Stevia Rebaudiana leaf instead of using sugar. This leaf is a 'dietary supplement' common used for diabetes as sweetener. All natural sweeteners from the natural herb plant of Stevia Rebaudian leaves which contains of sweet flavor. 

 

Preparation:

• 10 sweet leaf (dried stevia)
  
• 2 - 3 rolled leave of Kuding Tea
  
• 10g Jie Ming Zhi (Cassia Seeds)
  

Brewing this herbal tea can be done as infusion. Brew this herbal tea with an easy infusion method:

1. Use the loose dried Stevia Rebaudiana leaves, Ku Ding Tea, Jie Ming Zhi, place all the ingredients into the infuser. 


2. Add in hot water, simmer for 15 minutes.


3. Serve it warm. 


* It is best to take it after meal.

What is Jie Ming Zi

 

Scientific name: semen cassiae, Cassia Seeds

In Chinese name is Jie Ming Zi or Jue Ming Zhi, Cao Jie Ming

The Semen Cassiae seeds is a chinese traditional herb,  it is a bit bitter sweet in flavor, cold in nature and its meridian channel is to the liver, kidney and large intestine channels.  

It is commonly used in Chinese medicinal for reduce fire (heat) and maintaining good health, especially drain liver heat and nourish liver and kidney. 


Cassia Seeds medicinal benefits:

Cassia Seeds (Jie Ming Zi) contain the effective component which may adjustment immunity, benefits eyes as for eye ailments to improve blurred vision (add chrysanthemum gives certain curative effect on high blood pressure), adjust blood fats, reduces cholesterol and ease constipation for those with intense heat from the liver, it helps in loosen the bowels to relieve constipation, as also use for achieving lost weight in herbal formula. To purge heat and replenish yin (body fluids).

Cooking Cassia Seeds chrysanthemum porridge


Some of the traditional natural healing like cooking the Cassia Seed, jujube and dried chrysanthemum are put together to cook into soup, and keep the soup to cook with the rice into porridge to treat gastrointestinal tract problem, reduce stomach fat for natural weight lost, clear liver heat, improve eyesight, and lower cholesterol.

Cautions on Use:
For those with Qi (Energy) deficiency with loose stools should be avoided to add Semen Cassiae Seed (Jie Ming Zi) for this formula. It is best to fry it before use. Jie Min Zi has a natural laxative effect also contract the uterus.

Note:
Used as herbal drink and should not be decocted for a long time for those used it to relieve of constipation.

Green Papaya Ku Ding Tea Cure Painful Gout

Ku Ding Tea

Chinese name, as “Ku Ding Cha’, Ku means 'bitterness', Ding is its appearances is twisted rolled leaves into a narrow spike like, like a nail. literally as 'bitter-nail tea'.  

Ku Ding Tea is the wax tree species Ligustrum Robustum, and the holly species of llex. Grown in the Sichuan and Guangxi Provinces and Japan.
It is a traditional Chinese health Tea or the beverage consumed in china And its taste particular distinctive bitter and with a bit of sweet taste undertones.

In Chinese medicinal properties its ability is to disperse wind-heat, to resolve toxin, eye ailments for itchy eyes and red eyes, it also alleviate thirst, invigorate stomach and as for slimming and beauty herbs tea to control obesity. It promotes blood circulation and increase blood flow, detoxifying and has anti-oxidant effect similar to tea.



Using Green Papaya with Ku Ding Tea for Gout cures.


Papaya is a wonderful fruit in medicinal usage. Papaya contains an enzymes called 'Papain', papain is a good source of protein digestive enzyme to helps in dissolve and break down protein to form amino acid, it also in aiding the body upholds better overall health to alkaline condition. It has been proven its medical benefits, it is an active anti-inflammation agent.

As using food as medicine, this Papaya herbal tea drink has the certain medicinal properties to put off the uric acid that accumulated and build up in the body. This simple alternative home remedy can help in alleviate joint pain, body aches and pains, rheumatism, so as to alleviate the digestion problem, try Papaya Ku Ding Tea.


Using an unripe Green Papaya with Chinese Tea or Ku Ding Tea to cook it as herbal drink or brew into herbal tea for treating painful joints and gout. Ginger is also a good home remedy for gout and digestive tract problem, to relieve of stomach gas and body aches, you can add in 1 or 2 slices of ginger into the infusion.

Method of how to brew Green Papaya Ku Ding Tea:

• Use one unripe Green Papaya to act as a tea pot. 
• Cut open the top portion of the papaya and removes all the seed, 
• place in your Chinese Tea or Ku Ding Tea, add hot water into it.
• Open a small ventilation hole to the top cover of the papaya, covers back the top portion of the papaya, and brewing the tea.
• Steep the Ku Ding Tea leaves in the Papaya with the hot water at the 80°c to 90° for 15 minute. 
• Increase the steeping time after the second brewing. You may add more water if the Ku Ding Tea is too bitter.
• Drink the tea.

Note:  This Tea can be infuse at least 3 - 4 times continuously by adding hot water in steeping. The water temperature is very important for brewing this herbal tea. Repeating adding hot water to keep it warm for drinking.

As this recipe helps in treating arthritis, uric acid, lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Also helps to reduce the body weight naturally and effectively.






Disclaimer:
Most important is to understand what is right for your health condition, although herbs are safe for some people, if you wish to try it is advisable for you to consult with your holistic health practitioner or doctor first. When taking medication try to consult your doctor before taking any of the alternative healing herbs.

No matter what type of healing herbs or alternative healing method, we still have to be careful in consumption, start off slowly and minimize it to prevent overdoses with it.

Flora Sea Bird Nest Jelly

Making a cup of flora tea just come easily to me.  The dried strawberry kiwi fruity infusion with a handy glass tea pot or tea infuser. That's it. 

Brews a cup of flora tea seems a bit boring. Try out this Flora Tea with Sea Bird Nest how's it? Not yukky at all.

I have got some good flora tea of Strawberry and Kiwi, hibiscus blossom flavor which is given by one of my dearest friend from New Zealand. I really feel grateful and thanks to my friend's generosity and kindness for supplying this flora tea to me from far. 

Now it is about time for me to give a refreshing dessert to unwind myself to fuel my day.

Make it a bit unique, cups of flora tea can be created into a healthy soup or drink with Euchuema Cottonii Seaweed or sea bird nest. As usual, brews the flora tea of your choice, like adding this Strawberries Kiwi Flora tea to flavoring and covers the fishy taste of Sea Bird Nest, it really gives a great blend of fruity undertones and refreshing tea dessert. Plus a real soothing benefits of its flora scented flavor to this Sea Bird Nest flora tea Jelly.

A few of the flora scented flora tea like chamomile, chrysanthemum tea and goji berries also great choice of mixtures into the Sea Bird Nest for making dessert Jelly or Soup.

There are many health benefits of taking flora tea, as well as sea bird nest, it relieves digestion problems, improve proper bowel function, anti-stress activities to  refine stressed skin, and natural healing to pimple skin, for maintaining a youthful skin, healthy glowing skin complexion may try this recipe. 

In additional, try more variety of options like using Dried longan and Rosebuds, it helps to boost and improving of blood circulation, dried longan is the best blood tonic. Rosebuds and dried longan is great for ladies to regulate the monthly menstruation cycles and boosting energy level. 

There are a couple of good blend for dried longan, try to add rosebuds or rose petals, red jujubes and dried longan flora fruity tea with Sea Bird Nest which is really good for ladies. That does make you feel more energetic and boost your immunity system.

How to make Flora Tea Sea Bird Nest Jelly

Ingredients:

(Steeping flora tea for 15 - 20 minutes)

• Strawberry and Kiwi Flora Tea – 2 tbsp.
• Rock sugar – 2 tbsp.
• Hot water - 1 tea pot 

Ingredients B: 

• Eucheuma Cottonii Seaweed (Sea Bird Nest) - 100g
• Water - 2 glasses of water

Preparation:

1. Add in 2 glasses of water to boil.
2. Add in Sea Bird Nest and boil it till dissolve. 
3. Done, let it cool down for about 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the flora tea and stir well. Pour it to the jelly mold or small container with cover. Keep in refrigerator to chill and serve.

Healthy Tips:

Adds to your favorite fruit of choice - green apple, red beet juice or mango and honey into fruit blender, blend them together for healthy drinkable juice with raw Eucheuma Cottonii Seaweed (Sea Bird Nest). It is a great 'Energy boost drink' is especially good for teenager and menopause woman. 


caution: if you are pregnant, nursing women, or taking medication. It is important to prevent any complication or reverse side effect when trying any alternative natural healing. Always consult your healthcare practitioner before use. 


If you are interested to know more about Sea Bird Nest/Eucheuma Seaweed, please contact me for more information:

We supply unwashed / Washed Sea Bird Nest (see photo)

Contact: 

Person in charge: Senz

email: senzfates@gmail.com

Barley Eucheuma Seaweed Cooling Drink

 

 

Cooking barley drink is very common home remedies drinks for kidney and bladder ailments for years. This home remedies has been used in treating the urinary trace problems naturally, neutralize the acid in the urine, as a diuretic cooling drink for getting rid of excess body fluid especially for pregnant women, and help to reduce of body heat. It is also a rich nourishing drink for beautiful skin.  

A difference taste of Barley water 

Adding more or bundle of Pandan Leaves not only add fragrant to the drink, when cook with pearl Barley has the medicinal effect to cut down the uric acid, aid gout, cholesterol and fats.

Adding Lime or Lemon juice, honey to Barley water gives kidney a flush, for bladder infection.

Eucheuma Cottonii Seaweed ~ Sea Bird Nest to Barley Water

Adding Sea Bird Nest to the cooked Barley drink, this creates high fiber content and rich nutrients (Refer sea bird nest or Eucheuma Cottonii Seaweed nutrients)  healthy drink for treating ailments like water retention, sweling legs, lower limbs odema, urinary trace infection problems, overactive bladder problem, improves bowel movement and ease constipation, and this helps in vitalize the kidney as well.

Making this recipe is quite simple. When cooking a pot of barley water, think about adding a bit of Eucheuma Cottonii Seaweed (Sea Bird Nest) into the cooked barley. Remember do not over cook the Sea Bird Nest (to remain its nutrients and enzyme content).

Ingredients:

Ingredients A: (to cook Barley water with pandan leaves )

• 8 Pandan Leaves
• 1 cup of Barley
• 80g rock sugar
• Water 1800ml

(cook for about 1 hour)

Ingredients B:

Eucheuma Seaweed - 20g (washed and cleansed)

Preparation:

1. Washed, rinsed, soaked Eucheuma Seaweed overnight, or for cleaned and washed Sea Bird Nest only needs 5 - 6 hours of soaking time. Remember to change water several times with running water and continue soaking.

2. Drain water away. Cut Sea Bird Nest into smaller length or blend it with juice blender.

Method:

1. Place in ready cooked barley soup in the pot and bring to a boil.

2. When boil, stir in Ingredients B - the Eucheuma Seaweed (or blended) to cook for about 3 - 5 minutes.. Simmer it for another 5 minutes. Done.

3. You may cook it till dissolved. Add in a little bit of lemon juice makes the taste wonderful. When cold, it turns into Jelly form.

  

 3. Serve in hot or chilled as you desired.

Tips:

• How to keep soaked Eucheuma Cottonii Seaweed (Sea Bird Nest). Usually I soaked Eucheuma Seaweed in large amount and leave it in refrigerator (can keep up to 1 week) for later consumption. 

Pink Herbs Drink for Kidney problems

 

In Traditional Chinese medicine believed that deficiency of vital health of kidney yin or yang imbalance, by using holistic approach of alternative herbal healing is quite common nowadays.

Kidney is the root to diseases.

Kidney plays a major role of storage essence, governs birth, growth and reproduction, control reception of essential qi, produces and control of bones, engenders marrow and governs water transformation, and kidney "open up into the ear". It is water element and also source of fire for the body. As the kidney is the primary also basic of Yin and Yang for all other organs.

Kidney Yin governs the birth growth and reproduction,Kidney Yang governs the physiological processes of the movement and momentum of activities, transformation of water and hormone, metabolism of the water and urination, Suppose to warming process.

Deficiency of Kidney Yin and Yang, in general it affects the vital health.

How to know when Kidney Yang Deficiency, the following symptoms may occur like:

• Water retention and swelling legs

• Pale complexion

• Feeling cold limbs and back,

• Back and knees pain or soreness

• Infertility in women and impotence in men

• Clear urine

How to know when Kidney Yin Deficiency, the following symptoms may occur like:

• Dark urine

• Ringing in the ear or loss of hearing

• Backache

• Night sweating, dry mouth at night

• Thirty most of the time and constipation

• Overactive of urination

In the concept of the practitioners of TCM used the theory of traditional medicine healing to treat the internal organs of 5 zang 6 Fu of human body, as for treating disorder of the kidney, usually started with invigorate of Yin and Yang energies, blood and fluid flows to the kidney first, the patient’s physical and psychological state to recommend what type of herbs, the usage of herbal remedies or alternative healing with homeopathic remedies to most common kidney failure in advance. To treat ailments and adjust the imbalance and corrected the root of the problem for improvement.

In TCM main theory to cure the common ailments in response to these:

The liver disease adjusts the kidney first, the nephrosis

The kidney disease adjusts the lung first, pulmonary tuberculosis.

The lungs disease adjusts the spleen first, splenopathy

Any disease of the spleen adjusts the heart first,

For worry, emotional or depression adjusts the liver first.

Safely usage of herbal remedies in alternative healing may sound complicated, some maybe simple. Some of them content toxic and it may have posses reverse reaction too if not carefully used.

There are many types of medicinal herbals are quite similarly in its curative effect and usage.

Such as invigorate and treat kidney problems or kidney syndrome, common use of clinacanthus Nutans herba or Yu Xuan Cao (Sabah Snake Plant), Snake plant mean to use in treating “snake bite”, also named as “Shen Cao” 肾草 in  Chinese name that’s “kidney grass” commonly used in Malaysia for kidney syndromes and kidney diseases.

Another useful herb has the similar effect of treating the kidney problem. This herbs is “Shui Gui Cao”, 水龟草.  Shui Gui in Chinese name come from the shape of ovate looks like "a turtle" so as it resembles the water turtle (Shui Gui) Cao. It can be found here in Malaysia, which has possessed medicinal properties and it said to treat the kidney syndrome or kidney infection problems too.

                                     Shui Gui Cao ( Wandering Jew)

What is Shui Gui Cao:

Chinese botanical name: Diao zhu mei (meaning as a hanging plant)

Common name: wandering jew,

Scientific name: Zebrinae Pendula Herba, from the striped leaves it refers to zebra, Pendula means “hanging” in Latin.

Shape and illustration of this medicinal herb:

It has upper surface in dark green to purple and silvery green striped leaf blades with hairy petioles that sheath the stem. They are many species of this plant. It can be an ornamental plant as a hanging plant, considered as non-toxic and not poisonous so far no known record of toxicity. Avoid touching the watery sap of this herbs, as its irritant properties may cause skin inflammation or allergy.

Nature: Nature is cool.

Taste:

The taste of this herbal drink is slightly tasteless with the light herbal aroma; nice looking in purple pink color after boiled for few hours.

Medicinal effect:

This medicinal plant has been widely usage in traditional herbal cures for treating ailments like swelling and inflammation, used as natural herbal tea to treat Nephrities (kidney infection), engender liquid, lung heat cough.

It has the benefit of clearing heat and detoxication, cooling blood, diuresis effect.

Mainly treats:

Pulmonary tuberculosis cough, hemoptysis (coughing up blood or blood-stained), treat painful pharynx and larynx swollen, acute conjunctivitis, the bacillary dysentery (blood in stool), nephritis dropsy (swelling or accumulate of water) and nephrities (kidney infection), urinary infection, leucorrhea (white discharge or vaginal discharge) and poisonous snake bite. 

 Shui Gui Cao Herbal Drink

It is quite simple to prepare and decoction into herbal extract or herbal drinks. 

As usual to increase warming and promote of blood circulation effect, adding red dates, honey dates or black dates. Black beans can be added to increase the energy flow to the kidney. Cook it for at least 2 hours together to achieve good result in healing.

After drinking effect:

Increases of urination may occur. Refreshing and cooling.

Senz's Time and Passion

For a change, today’s blog is something about me. Not about herbs and remedies. Someone wrote me this: “after reading your blog, not sure what your free time is like in life.” This is one interesting question. 

What my free time is like in life? Sigh…Can’t think much about that. I only know how to take a look at our life style; life is about trial and error. When you make a mistake, always think through failures. Keep going, never stop for any reason. Always keep going for the better. It makes you realize metaphorically how this concept applies to everything in life.

We struggle through life, just trying to fit in. Nobody has a perfect Life. We have shit in our life. It is dull routine each day, Instead of driving the same route to work or to run errands each day, try to take a different path where you'll be exposed to new sights and sounds. Take the time to engage in an act of self expression each day. That’s all.

I find myself adrift on the sea of uncertainty; that's my symbol of life. it is not an easy life to me thought. And I forced to take steps toward to pursuing the path. Based on the pros and cons of pursuing the path that ahead for. There is always a way if I am willing to find it.

No one can make the choice for me. I follow my passion, just tired of having to lift my spirit for the umpteenth time. That’s how I take it as a challenge in life or for a change. Let’s talk about what's involved in taking a leap of faith and more importantly, there is no life without the discovery and pursuit of passion.

Sometimes, life seems tough, tired and lonely; work pressure, seeing others suffering with illnesses and so on. But when I think about it, life truly isn't so bad, it has negatives and advantages, the negatives are more frequent but there are always treasures to make me see differently. Life is simple, but it is not easy.

Sometime my own thoughts swirling in my mind why I have to work harder on some facets of life than others, I had to deal with struggles, hardships etc, what for me to draw upon all the positive energy is moving on. My efforts were in vain, I have to adjust in order to move on and accept new challenges otherwise life becomes something like living in a closed container. That’s Boring Life….LOL

It is alright there is always tomorrow; I try to change myself for a better tomorrow.