Fo-Ti, Gou Teng and Stiff Silkworm Decoction

Why people make this decoction

Winter dries the skin and brings the itch, especially for older folks — thinner skin oils, plus the habit of bathing in hotter water, strips away what little oil remains and leaves the skin itchy. Nourilo once saw relatives back home rub plain glycerin (the kind used for enemas) on itchy skin with apparent relief, probably because it keeps the skin moist. This decoction is traditionally aimed at older people whose itch is tied to blood-deficiency and an over-active liver — the kind of long-standing itch that flares when emotions run high.

Method

1. Rinse all the herbs.
2. Simmer in 1.5 L of water down to 600 ml.
3. Drink across the day; repeat for several days.

Nourilo’s Tips

This decoction is traditionally helpful for many kinds of itchy skin. Fo-ti dislikes iron, so brew it in a clay pot or ceramic (Corningware) pot rather than iron. You can add a little lean pork if you like.