People have been fighting the effects of aging for centuries. Cleopatra in ancient Egypt was known to take baths in milk to smooth and soften her skin. The early Greeks were said to use algae and mineral-rich seaweed for anti-aging and weight loss treatments, while the Romans would slather themselves in olive oil after a good sweat session in their famed sauna-like bathhouses. But ancient Chinese medicine could probably be considered the gold standard, developing some of the most effective methods to conquer aging, or at least postpone it for many years—Acupuncture Cosmetology and Chinese Acupressure Massage.
Acupuncture has proven itself through several thousand years to treat a wide variety of illnesses for millions of people. Even in 960-1127 BC during the Tzun Dynasty acupuncture rejuvenation was used for the empress and other high-ranking members of society. The Ancient Masters understood that using the body’s flow of energy stimulated the processes necessary for longevity and youth. The effects of acupuncture manipulate the body’s energetic system, or Chi, thereby balancing and increasing energy in certain meridians, or pathways, in the body.
The process of the body aging, including the skin, is largely due to the slowing down of our cells’ responses to commands from the brain and central nervous system. With age our skin starts to lack moisture and lipids; circulation and metabolic processes in the epidermis become sluggish; facial muscles are flabby; and the skin is thinning. As a result, wrinkles develop.
Furthermore, the physical condition is always related to the emotional one. Negative emotions and mental stressors, commonplace and unavoidable in today’s hectic pace, can affect one’s appearance and the health of one’s skin. Sleep deprivation and the stress of meeting a baby’s every demand shows in the haggardness of a new mother’s face. A more striking example can be found in a before and after comparison of soldiers’ faces that recently went viral on social media. The effects of prolonged exposure to combat and the stresses of living in war zones were starkly obvious in the after images of these soldiers’ faces.
It’s very difficult to put our best faces forward when the proverbial deck is so clearly stacked against us. The secret of Acupuncture Cosmetology is that the hidden reserves within the body are opened up naturally and energetically. This non-surgical method is based on the rules of Chinese Medicine and involves applying very tiny acupuncture needles into biologically active points in the area of the face as well as in the body along energetic meridians. Through the acupuncture points the command for collagen production is sent to the brain. Collagen is one of the most vital and abundant proteins in the body, essential for strengthening and protecting organs, blood vessels, ligaments, and the skin. With the release of collagen, the contours of the face tighten up, wrinkles become smooth, the color of the face improves, elasticity and tone of the skin returns, and the dreaded second chin reduces or disappears.
Other potential benefits include:
- Help to eradicate dark eye circles
- Elimination of acne by better hormonal balance
- Elimination of swelling
- Smoothing out of crow feet, smile lines, puppeteer lines
- Reduction of emotional stress
- Restoration of the energy (Chi) circulation in the body
- Renewed sense of well being
- Improvement to overall health
As a complement to acupuncture, Chinese acupressure massage helps to get rid of stress and anxiety while restoring health and beauty. Acupressure facial massage, and also microcurrent stimulation, activates blood and lymph circulation and helps to dilate the skin’s artery network. The technique also provides more nourishment to the connective tissues (muscle, tendons, skin, etc.), detoxifies, and increases the elasticity and turgor, or rigidity, of the skin. One special method of Chinese facial massage helps to tighten the skin, which eliminates signs of tiredness and lack of sleep.
Methods of traditional Chinese medicine are totally different from those of well-accustomed procedures available in beauty salons and the offices of plastic surgeons. Acupuncture helps to avoid numerous side effects associated with plastic surgeries like pain, swelling, scars, long rehabilitation periods, etc. The biggest difference between Botox, microdermabrasion, plastic surgery and Chinese cosmetology is that the Chinese methods emphasize treating the Whole person. They work on both the physical and psycho-emotional levels, helping to improve self-esteem and the sense of well being.
Just as every body is unique, the specific treatment plan is custom-designed for you depending on the status of your energetic meridians, so length and variety of procedures with vary person-to-person. And as with any health-related procedure, there are associated risks, depending on an individual’s age, personal health, skin sensitivities or allergies, and more. All of these potential risks should be discussed with the practitioner before undergoing any of these methods.
That being said, the effectiveness of acupuncture and acupressure massage increases significantly when used in conjunction with herbal or homeopathic therapies, as well as improved diets, regular exercise and more water. For example, tinctures and masks help hormonal status during menopausal period, offering relief from some or all of the unpleasant symptoms associated with this transition and slowing down the process of aging.
Instead of going under the knife, consider going under the needle! Acupuncture Cosmetology, acupressure pressure massage, and the other ancient methods of Chinese medicine can offer you natural alternatives to looking younger and feeling your best.
Helena Amos, M.Ac., L.Ac., is an acupuncture and natural medicine practitioner since 1986, having received Masters degrees in Acupuncture in England and the US. She received specialty training in Cosmetology Acupuncture in Europe and with the best teachers in the USA, and has been doing it for nearly 15 years. Currently, she is the owner of the Acupuncture and Natural Medicine Clinic in Rockville, MD, and is available for complementary consultations. Call 301-881-2898, email her at [email protected], and visit www.rockvilleacupuncturemd.com for more information.