Bombyx mori, a TCM herb to make your skin look younger

What is bombyx mori medicinally(Silkworm, Jiang Can)?
Actually it means the dried hardened larvae of Bombyx mori Linnaeus., an animal in the family Bombycidae. This herb is a special medicinal because of its special manufacturing process – it is produced by naturally or artificially infecting Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuillant when they are 4 to 5 years old. Due to its surface is densely covered with white mycelium and conidia, it is also named Bai Jiang Can (literally white stiff silkworm). In addition, because this insect is raised only in silk farm and mainly feeds on mulberry tree leaves, it is also known as Bombyx Batryticatus and mulberry tree silkworm. The life cycle of bombyx mori, from Larva or caterpillar to moth, is so short but it brings us so much benefits. This is a lovely and honorable insect.

Main chemical constituents are protein and fat, multiple amino acids, and trace elements of iron, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, and others. And the white powder on its surface contains ammonium oxalate.

Bombyx mori extract benefits
In terms of skin care, there are a few Chinese herbs, like Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica), that are known for skin rejuvenation. As a matter of fact, bombyx mori is one of them that can make your skin look younger too. According to the information in Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic, it is able to get rid of dark spots and then get you the clear and fair complexion. No wonder nowadays girls love to use it to make DIY facial mask for treating melasma. And modern medical study also found that silkworm contained amino acids, vitamin E, and active element of mercerization, which could adjust hormone secretion, scavenge free radical, and then remove the melasma caused by endocrine disorders and the age pigment and other facial pigmentation due to anti-lipid peroxidation. What’s more, it also has other cosmetic effects, including accelerating the cell metabolism, improving skin microcirculation, eliminating skin dullness and sunburn, and increasing skin elasticity. By the way, bombyx mori l extract has been used as an aphrodisiac supplement in China to boost the sexual drive of men.