古代中国人的健康美容历史

小竹

关关雎鸠，在河之洲。窈窕淑女，君子好逑。

这是收入在公元前一千多年中国最早的诗歌总集《诗经》的诗句。柔润，圆滑，匀寸的身材是中国古代妇女眼中的传统健康美。古代中国的传统医学却有一个对健康的广义解读：人体的健康是在于我们与宇宙的自然和谐。三千多年前中国古典著作《三海经》已记录了180多种动植物药材，其中有一些美容草药像薰草，瑶草可使皮肤容光焕发， 魅力大增。大约公元前1700-1000年前，有了中国古代妇女用紫蓝色的花液美容化妆之说。在春秋战国时期，居住在中国北部的匈奴妇女用红色的花草液制成胭脂涂在嘴唇和面颊美容。渐渐地汉族妇女也用起了胭脂，胭脂成了美容的代名词。中国最早的药典《神农本草》记载30多种美容草药， 有一些嫩肤增辉的草药。到唐朝时期，传统中医美容日渐成熟，出现了中医美容专科。 明朝时期的《本草纲目》已收入了500多种美容草药和40多种美容处方。

中国第一部医学著作《黄帝内经》写于二千五百年前，建立了中医理论的基础体系，完整解释的体表与内脏的密切关系，比如心与面容，肺与皮肤，肾与头发， 肝与唇和指甲通过经络连通并气血调节平衡。这也是中医美容的根基。中医美容有五种途径：草药， 针灸， 推拿， 膳疗，气功。通过舒经通脉，活血化淤，保护内脏健康来达到自然美容的目的。

Natural Beauty and Health (1): Ancient Oriental Way

Guan-guan go the ospreys,

On the islet in the river.

The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady,

For our lord a good mate she.

This song was collected in an ancient Chinese book of odes called “Shi Jing” written as early as 1000 B.C. An ancient beautiful Chinese woman was appreciated as having soft, smooth, proportional small features. This is beauty, but a narrow definition of beauty from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective. A broad definition of beauty in TCM view is healthy existence: a healthy body naturally and harmoniously encompassed with our universe. For example, normal aging is beauty because it is natural process in the human body.

According to an ancient Chinese book called “Classic of Mountains and Seas” written 3000 thousand years ago, 180 species of animals plants were recorded. Some cosmetic herbs like Xun Cao and Yao Cao were described as making skin glowing, and body more attractive and seductive. A record from 1700 - 1000 B.C. described that ancient Chinese women used purple, blue flower juice condensed solution for facial make-up. The first Women Appearance House was established by royal families in 1000 – 770 B.C. Between  475 B.C to 220 A.D. Xiongnu women, a group of nomadic people once lived in Northern China, used red juice extracted from herbs, called “Yan-Zhi”, on cheek and lip for beauty. Yan-Zhi was gradually adopted by Han Chinese women. In today’s China, the word “Yan-Zhi” is still used to refer beauty. In the earliest Chinese medical material dictionary entitled “Shenlong Ben Cao”, more than 30 cosmetic herbs were recorded. Some herbs could make skin rejuvenating and healthy radiant appearance. During Tang Dynasty (618-907), Traditional Cosmetic Medicine had matured. Physicians were specialized  in cosmetic medicine. During Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), more than 500 herbs and 40 formulas related to cosmetics were described in a dictionary of Chinese herbs called “Ben Cao Gang Mu”.

The most important book called “Yellow Emperor's Internal Classics” written in 200 B.C. set down the theoretical basis for TCM. The intimate relationship between parts of appearance (face, hair, nails, lip, ears, eyes and nose) and internal organs was explained. For example, the heart is related to face, lung to skin, kidney to hair and liver to nails and lip. They are connected by meridians and balanced through flow of emery (Qi) and blood. The healthy skin and beautiful appearance reflect health of the internal organs.

This is a foundation for Traditional Cosmetic Medicine. Five major methods were developed and applied to cosmetics: herb medicine, acupuncture/acupressure, tuina massage, diet therapy, and Qi Gong therapy. The methods are used to balance meridians, enhance the flow of Qi and blood and maintain health of the internal organs in order to achieve natural beauty of body with a healthy looking.