Beauty with Needles, Not Chemicals...

History of Acupuncture for Beauty

For many people, appearance and how they look effects how they feel about themselves.  Thousands of years ago in Chinese culture, it wasn’t considered a vanity to want to present your best face to the world. Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors have been treating skin complaints and signs of aging for centuries.

The goal of achieving immortality and slowing down the aging process contributed to most of the last 5,000 years of trial and error using not only acupuncture and herbs, but also nutrition, qi-gong and tai chi exercises, meditation, massage, and many other Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques. Acupuncture as a means of facial rejuvenation have been linked to the Ancient Chinese empress and the Emperor’s concubines in the Song Dynasty (960-1280 A.D.).

Benefits of Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture

Facial acupuncture, commonly known as cosmetic acupuncture, facial renewal, facial rejuvenation, and acupuncture facelift, treats the person as a whole with an emphasis on the face. Facial rejuvenation treatments are not only focused on a persons outer beauty, but also harmonizing ones inner health, strength, and vitality.  This goal of looking healthier on the outside goes hand in hand with feeling healthier inside.

As we get older, it becomes more difficult for qi to flow upwards to “lift” and hold the face. This leads to decreased muscle tone and therefore over time wrinkles and sagging skin start to show. There are many factors that we encounter on a day-to-day basis that contribute to this, such as:

- Poor diet
- Poor digestion
- Poor circulation
- Emotional stresses
- Environmental factors.

Facial rejuvenation through acupuncture works by increasing circulation of qi and blood of the face, which then stimulates collagen production. Benefits of Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture are:

- Increased production of collagen and elastin
- Improved facial muscle tone and tightened pores
- Improved lymph and blood circulation
- Decreased appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,
- Improved facial complexion, reduces acne and rosacea

Looking at Beauty in a Different Mirror

Beauty in Traditional Chinese Medicine doesn’t yield to an ideal that is unnatural or unhealthy. Traditional Chinese Medicine goals are to teach people to love their faces and bodies. Everyone has facial features that indicate our life’s gifts and challenges. An example is strong eyebrows indicate strong characteristics for both passion and anger. Anger in excess can have health consequences, but the passionate aspect gives strength for achieving goals. Someone with this trait must learn to redirect anger into passion.

Food Therapy for Nourishing Beauty

In Oriental Medicine food therapy plays a significant role on how our body functions, processes and heals. Sweet black rice, longan berries, and Chinese dates work together to enhance beauty and longevity by promoting smooth flow of qi and tonifying the blood.

                   Sweet Rice Congee (Nourishes Blood and Qi)
Ingredients: Sweet black rice, longan berries, Chinese dates, and fresh ginger

Directions: In a large saucepan, add 6 cups of water, black sweet rice, longan berries, dates and 2 tbsp of raw sugar. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 hours, stirring constantly.  Chop ½ inch piece of fresh peeled ginger into thin slices and garnish over congee before serving. Makes four servings.

---