Summary of Modern Studies on Qihuang Yangyan (Young & Healthy Skin^™) Capsule

Chinese Use: Beauty aid.

This product is indicated for beautification. The treating principles include replenishing and activating blood, ascending yang, invigorating qi, facilititating defecation and expelling toxicity.

Skin and hairs are governed by the lung, which is closely related to the spleen-kidney. Spleen, the acquired root of the body, is the origin of blood generation; the spleen is responsible for transportation and governs the muscles. The lung governs the qi over the whole body, and the kidney is the congenital root, they are all nourished by the transformed blood-qi from the spleen. The kidney governs the yang of the whole body, the deficiency of which would, in return, lead to deficiency of the lung and spleen. As long as the functions of the lung-spleen kidney are normal, the qi-blood will be flourishing and the whole body, robust with lustre complexion. In the recipe, Radix Angelica sinensis is sweet-warm and moistened, pertains to the spleen channel. Being an essential blood tonic, it not only replenishes blood, but also activates blood circulation and moistens the intestine. Radix Astragali seu Hedysari is sweet-warm, pertains to the spleen-lung channel. It nourishes the interior qi, ascends the splenic yang, invigorating lung-qi. Both used together benefit qi and blood. Since blood is the mother of qi, and qi, the head of blood, when qi activates, blood flows, hence, both activate the blood to flow: Radix Rhei, when used after processed, the property of bitter-cold is lowered. It drastically clears the static dross in the intestine, activates blood flow, eliminates blood stasis. Eventually, it facilitates defecation and toxic expelling and serves, with the above two, as the monarchal ingredients. Rhizoma Cimicifugae and Radix Puerariae are pungent-sweet-cool, pertain to the spleen-stomach channels, all of them ascend the yang qi of the body, thus strengthens the action of ascending yang and invigorating qi. When concerted with Radix Rhei, they both ascend and descend, to assist the lung for dredging the water passages and the large intestine functions normally. Herba Cistanches invigorates kidney yang as well as moistens the large intestine to facilitate defecation. It serves with the above two as the ministerial ingredients. Radix Polygoni multiflori, Colla Corii asini, Radix Rehmanniae preparata, when applied together, replenishes blood and nourishes yin, Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae is bitter-cold, capable of activating blood and cooling blood, regulating menstruation. When concerted with Rhizoma Liguslici chuanxiong, pungent warm, they activate blood and qi; Cortex Cinnamomi is pungent-sweet-heat, capable of supplementing fire and promoting yang, propelling qi-blood. All of these serve as the adjuvant and servant ingredients. Thus, the whole recipe yields both ascending and descending actions, benefiting and reducing actions, resulting in replenishing blood, activating blood flow, ascending yang, invigorating qi, facilitating defecation and expelling toxicity.

Modern pharmacological Studies show that Radix Rhei, Radix Angelica sinensis, Radix Puerariae all possess action of lowering lipid level. The first one also is a cathartic, mainly contains anthroquinone glucoside, in which sennonside A has the strongest activity, aloe-emodin and rhein yield weaker action. The water or alcohol extracts of Radix Rhei yields action of powdered Radix Angelica sinensis yields an action of lowering blood lipids in experimental hyper cholesterolemia in rat and rabbit. When ferulic acid is added to high-lipid diet for rat, the serum cholesteral level can be markedly lowered and the immunity can be greatly strengthened. The ononine of isoflavone contained in Radix Puerariae lowers the serum cholesteiol, genistein lowers the level of triacyle glycerine, daidzin also lowers blood lipid: Radix Astragali seu Hedysari not only strengthens organic immunity, but also delays the advent of senility and antagonizes oxidation. Decoction of Astragalus monghoticus Bge. root is administered to senile rat, the collagen contents in the aorta and lung can be lowered to the level similar to young rat. When this Decoction is added to human fetal kidney, or baby mice kidney cell culture, the number of active cell can be increased. When rats are fed with alcohol extract of Radix Astragalus, the SOD activity of the whole blood is elevated. LPO markedly decreased. Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae and Radix Cistanchis all yield action on endocrine system. Among them, Tanshinone possesses the action of estrogen, an antagoning androgen. To mice, Radix Cistanchis is perfused to the stomach and it yields action of increasing the contents of liver and spleen DNA, micro elements including zinc, manganese, copper and iron in deficient yang animal model induced by hydro-cortisone. When Decoction of Radix Cistanchis is perfused to female rat, the luteo-trophic action of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary can be strengthened. Rhizoma Cimicifugae, Rhizoma Liguistici Chuanxiong also yield promotion of immunity, while oral administration of Cortex Cinnamomi can strengthen digestion, expelling stagnant qi in the intestiae. Colla Corii asini many amino acids. Among them, glycine can promote the absorption of calcium.

Excerpt from A Guide to TCM Products, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003

This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.