Facial Gua Sha is a facial massage technique using a special tool, and it is a best kept secret of the ancient Chinese aristocracy that literally erases lines before your eyes.  Today I'm going to instruct you in how to perform the two most basic strokes to erase the "11's" between the eyebrows, review the basics of what it is and why it works (note that the video above shows a little more than just the forehead, but the instructions here are just for that most critical part).

It is best done by an experienced provider with specialized gua sha tools, but the most basic strokes can be done at home using simple tools and can still yield impressive results.

How To Erase Forehead Furrows, a.k.a. "11's"

The whole face, neck and decollette area can be treated by and improved with Facial Gua Sha and when performed by a professional you not only get the Botox-like effect of decreasing muscle contractions and smoothing the face, but also improvements in overall circulation, Qi flow, lifting and sagging.

At home, however, you can easily learn the basic strokes to work against what is usually our most prominent muscle contraction - the dreaded "11's" or forehead furrows. These lines are actually due to muscle breakdown related to repeated contraction and gua sha is a perfect tool to counter and reverse this action.

Here are the basics you need to perform this DIY Facial Gua Sha technique:

1. Get a Gua Sha tool - a simple ceramic soup spoon or an actual gua sha tool. Make sure it is smooth, clean and has no sharp edges, chips or cracks
   
2. Facial lotion, cream or oil - I use ZenJen's Jojoba Blend both personally and professionally, but any medium to thick cream or oil will do.
   
3. A Mirror - A hand mirror will do, but it's ideal to have a wall mirror with good light so you can use one hand to hold the skin and the other hand to hold the tool.
   

Now that you're armed and ready, here's the How To:

1. Wash & Dry Your Face - using a gentle cleanser or just water and a washcloth to compress if you don't have any makeup to remove.
   
2. Apply Facial Cream or Oil - we don't want the tool pulling the skin overly much so we need something on the skin for the tool to glide over.
   
3. Position yourself in front of the mirror with good light.
   
4. Gua Sha! There are just 2 basic strokes you need to work against the 11's - (1) is to go from the bridge of the nose up towards the hairline. Of you hold the handle of the soup spoon, use the wide edge of the spoon itself to push in to the muscle (gently!) and slowly glide upwards. Use the non-dominant hand to hold the skin at the beginning of the stroke so the skin doesn't pull and you can push to the muscle underneath. Repeat this down to up in parallel lines from the bridge of the nose to the outside of your furrow line. Return to the center and repeat on the opposite side. (2) is to move outwards on an angle across the furrow. Keeping the non dominant hand holding at the base of the stroke, start back at the bridge of the nose and pull outwards in and angle over the furrow. You'll feel the soup spoon or gua sha tool fall into the furrow line and as it does, you can gently pull outwards and smooth it out. Start at the bottom and work in parallel lines moving the strokes upwards towards the hairline over the entire furrow. Repeat on the opposite side.
   
5. Massage with Hands - repeat a few massage strokes both up and out with the hands over the area you just worked on. You will see some mild redness but should not see any marks. If you see marks you worked to deep - lighten your strokes and pressure next time.
   
6. Feel the Smoothness! and watch those lines lessen over time.
   

This process should only take a few minutes and it is an ideal routine to add in to a nightly cleanse & moisturize ritual. Since you're more likely to be "taking off the day" and cleansing the face at this time, and using a heavier more nourishing moisturizer, you should be all set to go only needing to add a Gua Sha Tool and few extra minutes to your routine! 

You should also be able to feel an immediate change in the depth of these lines after treatment. You may not be able to see it right away, but you should feel it and with repeat application you will see it too! If you don't feel an immediate change don't be discouraged - it takes some practice to get it right.

#1) Manage Your Weight

Being either underweight or overweight can significantly reduce your chances of getting pregnant. One study involving the analysis of 2,112 female participants found that women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25-39 required twice the length of time to become pregnant as women with a healthy BMI of less than 19.

#2) Eat More Liver

Some people might turn their head at the thought of eating liver, but it's actually a delicious dish that can prove helpful in boosting your fertility. In fact, a report published by the Weston A. Price Foundation found liver to contain more nutrients, gram for gram, than any other food. Whether it's beef or chicken, liver contains vitamin A, vitamin B, protein, folic acid, iron, purines (precursors for DNA) and more.

#3) Eat More Seafood

Seafood  –  fish, oysters, clams, mussels, lobster, crabs, etc. – are an excellent food for boosting your fertility. They contain large amounts of zinc, iron, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin D, omega fatty acids (the good type of fat), and other essential nutrients, many of which are directly linked to the body's reproductive system. When choosing seafood, however, it's recommended that you opt for smaller-sized fish to minimize your consumption of mercury. Because of its large size, tuna carries a heavy dose of the toxic chemical mercury, and therefore should be consumed sparingly.

#4) Acupuncture

You might be surprised to learn that acupuncture can improve your chances of conceiving. Back in 2002, a team of German researchers performed a study to determine the effects of acupuncture on fertility. Researchers split 160 women who were trying to conceive into two groups: one group received acupuncture, while the second group did not it. They concluded that 42% of the women who received acupuncture got pregnant, whereas only 26% of the control group got pregnant. Does this mean acupuncture will guarantee a pregnancy? Not necessarily, but this form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is proven to help couples conceive in less time. 

#5) Cut Back on Processed Foods

Many women who struggle to conceive eat far too many processed foods. While a fast food burger and fries may seem appetizing, it forces heavy amounts of saturated fat, sodium and even sugar into your body while offering little-to-no real nutritional value. Fertility experts say women should focus on a more natural diet if they want to conceive.

Contact me today to learn how you can get on track to better health.

Do you suffer from allergies or asthma? It's a little-known fact that these two conditions are directly linked to each other. Asthma, which affects roughly one in 12 people according to the CDC, is characterized by spasms of the small airways and inflammation. Furthermore, about 90% of children under the age of 16 with asthma have allergies, while 70% of people between the ages of 16 and 30 have allergies, and 50% of adults over the age of 40 have allergies.

Many people who suffer from allergies and asthma simply mask their symptoms with drugs rather than seeking a treatment for the root cause. Both of these conditions involve an overreactions by the body's immune system to what it believes is a foreign invader. When you are exposed to an allergen (e.g. ragweed, pet dander, etc.), your immune system produces and abundance of inflammatory hormones, which subsequently cause the symptoms of allergies and asthma to manifest.

There are several alternative treatment options available for allergies and asthma, however, one of which is making dietary and lifestyle changes. We live in age in which far too many people choose to pick up convenient fast food as opposed to preparing and cooking fresh meals. There's nothing wrong with an occasional fast food burger, but basing the bulk of your diet around processed foods such as this will take a toll on your body. The lack of nutrients and increased intake of preservatives can disturb the immune system, causing greater sensitivity to allergens. A better choice is to consume a diet rich in lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

Herbal medicine is a time-tested alternative treatment for allergies and asthma. Some of the most popular herbs used to treat these conditions include stinging nettle, ginkgo biloba, green tea, and reishi, all of which contain heavy concentrations of antioxidants. These antioxidants are believed to fight harmful chemicals in the body known as free radicals, which if left unchecked, may irritate existing conditions like allergies and asthma.

Acupuncture is also known to improve the symptoms for allergy and asthma sufferers. This Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involves stimulating the body's life force (Qi) by placing small, thin needles directly under the skin. When a person's Qi grows stagnant or experiences other problems, he or she is more susceptible to disease and illness. Therefore, correcting this problem through acupuncture will naturally deter allergies, asthma and other common problems.

Contact Rebecca today to learn how you can get back on track to better health! Be Well, Stay Well, All Ways Well.

Arthritis is a condition characterized by painful inflammation and stiffness in the joints. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 52.5 million U.S. adults suffer from either arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, or lupus. (source). If you have arthritis, you should try the following tips to alleviate your symptoms. Click the AcuNews link above for a printable version of this article.

#1) Maintain a Healthy Weight

The first step in reducing the pain and inflammation of arthritis is to manage your weight. Individuals who are overweight will experience more arthritis flareups, and with worsening symptoms. The excess weight places pressure against the already inflamed joints, causing additional pain and stiffness.

#2) Take a Joint Supplement

Whether your arthritis is minor or severe, you should get into the habit of taking a daily joint supplement. Glucosamine and chondroitin are powerful compounds which have been proven to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. These two compounds are building blocks of cartilage, and taking a supplement containing them will protect strengthen your own body's cartilage while subsequently protecting your joints.