Affecting approximately 125 million people – or about 2-3% of the global population –  psoriasis is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the world. 

This condition also affects several members of my family, so I have very intimate knowledge of how painful, uncomfortable and irritating it can be. Its especially hard to watch your children suffer and, in turn, extremely satisfying to be able to do something about it.

Have you ever felt that way? Do you or someone you love suffer from psoriasis and are you looking for something you can do to help them? If so, you're in the right place! The answer to the above question is YES and if you read on I hope you will be pleased to learn more.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is characterized by the chronic formation of skin lesions, red patches, papules and plaque. These formations may appear in localized areas of the body or throughout the entire body, depending on an individual's condition.

Psoriasis is known to trigger intense bouts of itching. The sensation can be so intense that it causes the individual to scratch infection-prone sores into his or her skin. Regardless of how bad it itches, you should never scratch your psoriasis, as it will only make the condition worse.

As with most autoimmune diseases and disorders, psoriasis is caused by an overactive immune system. The immune system is responsible for fending off potentially harmful viral and bacterial infections. It does this by producing key inflammatory hormones. Normally, it produces the right amount of these hormones, but there are times when it produces too much; resulting in conditions such as psoriasis.

Acupuncture Offers Good News for Those With Psoriasis

The good news is that acupuncture may offer relief of psoriasis and its related symptoms. Acupuncture can have very positive effects on the immune system. When we are sick or dealing with chronic illness, our bodies are not able to function properly. This can be due to the body’s natural energy being restricted or blocked. Acupuncture works by treating the whole body and releasing any abnormalities through acupuncture points. By doing so, the body is able to function as it should and the immune system is strengthened because of this.

With psoriasis, the Spleen 10 xue hai acupuncture point located just above the knee is a popular choice because it targets the immune system.

One study found acupuncture to be effective at treating psoriasis, particularly when western medicine has been exhausted. “Our experience indicates that acupuncture is induced an effective therapeutic modality for psoriasis, particularly when the western medical management is unsuccessful. We speculated about the possible involvement of the cutaneous reticuloendothelial system in the clearance of the skin lesions,” wrote the study's researchers.

Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health!

Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1357925

Do you ever feel kind of stuck in your body? Like you know you are eating (most of the) right things and you're (mostly) drinking enough water and exercising but your skin feels kind of bumpy on your arms and you just feel thick inside?

Energetically these are signs of stagnation in the body and sometimes the body needs a little extra help to keep things moving. My first recommendation is always Acupuncture, but my next one is an easy step that YOU can do at home in just a few minutes a day. It can help improve your circulation overall, enhance the natural detoxification abilities of the skin (our largest detox organ!), help to clear your skin and decrease those little bumps AND even shift cellulite.  Oh, what is it you ask? Skin Brushing!

Truly, helping our bodies to detoxify is an important part of any wellness regime and caring for our skin is a simple and excellent way to stimulate our body’s natural detoxification mechanisms.

How To Skin Brush:

1.  Starting from the feet, brush the soles as well as the upper side using a long-handled natural brush. Using long, sweeping strokes, brush up the legs, covering all of the skin’s surface area, concentrating on the thighs and buttocks.

2.  Put one arm up in the air, allowing gravity to help drain the lymph to the armpit, and sweep down the arm with gentle strokes, drawing towards the armpit.

3.  Brush the torso by brushing towards the heart, and when doing the lower abdomen, brush up the right-hand side, just on the inside of the hip bone, across the transverse colon beneath the ribs and down the left-hand side, then gently across the pelvic area to complete the circle. Repeat.

4.  When working near the breast area, brush over the top of the breast, always aiming for the armpit – and remember, be gentle over sensitive areas.

Skin brushing should be performed once a day, preferably first thing in the morning or before a bath or shower and on a dry and naked body.

After brushing your body, rinse off in the shower while alternating temperatures from hot and cold. Alternating temperatures will bring more blood to the outer layers of the skin and stimulate blood circulation, further invigorating the skin.

We sell skin brushes in the office, or you can buy them on Amazon.com. Its important to get a brush that has soft natural fiber bristles, and my favorite are the ones with a detachable handle - little more versatile for different body areas.

I guarantee if you try it for 10 days you will be AMAZED by how your skin feels and by the renewed energy you experience due to increased Qi and Blood flow in the body. If you're looking for one simple thing to make you feel better and BE healthier, I highly recommend adding this to your regime.

Until next time, Be Well!

~Rebecca

Do you find yourself struggling to keep your skin clear? Moist? Balanced? Even though you feel like that should kind of be over by now? If so, you're not alone.

Skin issues can happen at any age. Whether you have dry, oily or sensitive skin, it can get complicated.

Although there are many products on the market that promise to “cure” your skin ailments, natural alternatives have proven to be effective and one of the safest options for skin treatment. 

Here are 5 different oils that are easy to add to your skin maintenance routine and can help with some of the frustrations you may be facing:

Moringa Oil

Moringa oil has been around for thousands of years and was originally used by ancient Egyptians. This oil contains antioxidants and fatty acids that help prevent the skin from sun damage and aging while being a natural moisturizer. 

Argan Oil

Argan oil is used today as an effective anti-aging treatment. Regular use of argan oil can help tighten the skin and increase oxygenation and nutrients in the cells. 

Rosehip Oil

Because of its high content of Vitamin C and Omega fatty acids, rosehip oil is an excellent treatment for restoring the skin and helping heal scar tissue. This oil will help your skin feel replenished and brightened. 

Hemp seed oil

If you struggle with oily skin and blocked pores, believe or not, this dry oil can help. Hemp seed oil has a high content of Omega fatty acids that can reduce pore size and eliminate acne. This oil is also used to treat psoriasis and eczema because of its anti-inflammatory properties. 

Coconut oil 

Coconut oil has many uses and benefits. Not only is it used for skin treatment, but can also be used to whiten your teeth. If you spend a lot of the time in the sun and have dry skin, coconut oil can be used to replenish and moisturize your skin. If you’re looking to whiten your teeth, doing a coconut oil rinse has been proven to remove bacteria and plaque. 

Beyond what you put On your skin, there are other alternative options to improving your skin below the surface that carry through to what you see over time. Here are some easy steps to add to your daily routine. 

Alternative treatments for healthy looking skin:

Avoid food allergies: Most people who have skin issues also have food allergies that can worsen their skin. Common foods to avoid include gluten, dairy and artificial additives. You can eliminate each food group one at a time to test if it improves your skin. 

Replace meat and dairy: By replacing these inflammatory saturated fats with unsaturated fats, you will increase your intake of nutrients that can aid your skin. Unsaturated fats to add to your diet include avocado, olive oil, nuts and flaxseed. 

Probiotics: Taking a daily probiotic supplement has been proven to reduce symptoms of dermatitis, a disorder causing itchy, red skin. Probiotics add healthy bacteria to your gut and improve your digestive tract system, which in turn improves the overall health and function of your body. 

Remove sugar: Remove sugar and processed foods from your diet. Besides not having a rich nutritional value, processed foods can affect and worsen allergies and skin disorders. 

Herbal tea: Herbal teas have been shown to reduce inflammation that comes with eczema. Teas to try include chamomile tea, nettle tea or drinking Aloe Vera. 

Acupuncture: Acupuncture can stimulate the production of endorphins in the body, which then can improve function of the immune and endocrine systems. Improving these systems can greatly affect the skin and restore it to better health. 

Like most common health issues, a healthy diet, exercise and reducing stress can be of great help. Environmental factors can have a large impact on skin and overall health of the body. By following a daily routine that includes eating natural foods, exercising regularly and eliminating excess stress, you can see your skin start to improve as well!

I encourage you to ask questions and leave comments below if you want more information, or contact me anytime to ask more about skin health, Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture and more. Until next time, have a wonderful Summer!

~Rebecca

Now is the time of year when the sun becomes irresistible.  As tempting as it is to spend as much time as possible in the warmth of the sun, there are a few precautions to take to protect your skin from harmful rays. 

Our skin is the largest organ in the body. It reflects our health and age. Today, there’s much concern about sunbathing leading to an increase in skin damage and skin cancer.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays can increase the production of free radicals that can adversely affect the integrity of collagen in the skin. Over time, our skin becomes wrinkled, cracked, aged, and brittle. For smokers, the effects are multiplied.

Research suggests that skin cancer is cumulative over a lifetime. It begins with overexposure and serious sunburns during childhood.

We can’t live without the sun. Our bodies require sunlight in order to manufacture Vitamin D needed for calcium absorption, among other things. So, we shouldn’t hide from our shining star. Here are a few helpful tips and precautions to take when you’re soaking in the sun this summer. 

Use sunscreen - Choose a sunscreen with a high SPF number for greater protection. Apply it onto your skin 15 minutes before you go outside. Don’t forget your nose, ears, and neck.

Time is key - Avoid sun exposure when the sun is at its highest peak in the sky, typically from about 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Gear up - Wear a hat with a wide brim, t-shirt, and sunglasses that filter ultraviolet rays.

Drink up - By keeping your body hydrated you can avoid dehydration and provide moisture for the skin to prevent dryness, cracking, and aging.

Pop a pill - Vitamins such as A, E, and some antioxidants help prevent skin damage from the inside. Cod Liver oil and Flaxseed oil have also been used to support skin health.

Brush it off - Before you take a shower, use a dry skin brush. This can open pores and slough off dead skin, allowing your skin to breathe easily and work more efficiently.

Keep healthy - Some medications we take may have reactions and side effects when we’re exposed to sunlight. Acupuncture may be able to provide an alternative to these medications, keeping you healthy, safely and naturally.

If you want to enjoy the sun this summer season and not worry later, practice good sun sense.

You and your skin deserve it!

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.

Most of these require the use of a cloth masque - you boil a tea and then soak the tea in the cloth masque, apply cloth masque to face.  If you don’t have a cloth masque, you can easily make one with an old t-shirt or just use gauze.  

**To use a T-Shirt - cut out a circle that is the size of your face and under chin area - you can extend all the way to the collar bone to encompass the “decollette” area if you like. Soak in tea, apply!

**To use gauze - pick up some large squares or a roll of gauze in the first aid department of the drug store.  Open enough packages, or cut enough strips, to cover the face.  Soak in tea, apply!

Anti Aging Facial Masque Ingredients and Indications:

• Chinese Yam (Shan Yao)- Wild Chinese Yam is ideal, but any yam has mild hormone balancing effect.  Excellent for hormonal imbalance acne, dry skin, redness, irritation, fine shallow lines.  Boil, steam or bake yam and mash into paste - apply as masque to dry skin or fine line problem areas.
  

• Dried Rose - look for whole bud dried roses to encompass the rose hip, where a high concentration of anti-oxidant rich Vitamin C is found. Boil for 20 minutes into tea, use tea for base with cloth masque. Overall blood moving meaning it will brighten the complexion, mild detoxificant, excellent for skin clarification, acne, general base for any combination masque you’d like to make.
  

• Chrysanthemum Flower - boil for 20 minutes into tea, apply with cloth masque. This herb is detoxifying, heat and wind clearing energetically. Use for areas of redness, inflammation, acne. Wild chrysanthemum flower is best, but any white or yellow chrysanthemum will do.
  

• Goji Berri - Yin Tonic Chinese herb. Boil berries for 20-30 minutes, use tea as base for cloth masque or can concentrate drops of tea through cloth onto specific areas of dry skin/fine line concern.  Same indications as Wild Yam but slightly more moving - complexion brightening - action.  Can also mash cooked fruit into masque for problem areas.
  

• Ginseng - King herbal for anti aging.  Especially good for sagging, puffiness, deep lines, general loss of lustre in the skin. Use Korean or Chinese Ginseng for Yang Deficiency - overall sensation of cold, fatigue, low energy. Use American Ginseng for Yin Deficiency - overall heat sensation (menopause), dryness, redness.  Combine both if you feel “neutral” in temperature. Fresh Ginseng is best, but dried also works well.  
  
• Fresh Ginseng - steam in double boiler 1 hour, mash into paste and apply to whole face for overall anti aging, or to specific sagging/wrinkling areas.
• Dried Ginseng - boil for 2 hours, use tea with cloth masque to concentrate on problem areas. Can also mash remaining root and apply as compress.  Dried ginseng can be boiled and used 2x.
  

 They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Did you know that the face can be the window to your health?

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), your face’s appearance can offer valuable information about issues that could be affecting your overall health. The shape of your face, the color of your complexion, and marks such as lines or lesions can all help us determine a diagnosis and treatment plan.

To get an idea of what we sometimes look for, take a look at yourself in a mirror under natural light. There are five colors that appear in the face: red, black, yellow, green, and white.

Everyone’s skin tone is different, and usually one color is dominant, though several other colors can be visible. What colors do you see? Do you have visible veins, and if so, what color and where are they? Is your skin moist or dry?

A healthy, lustrous complexion and normal color indicate a good balance and flow of Qi (“life energy”) within your body. If the complexion is off-color, looks lifeless or “withered,” or is too moist or too dry, it may indicate an imbalance of Qi.

Each color is associated with specific conditions, syndromes, and organ and meridian networks. White, for example, is associated with the Lungs, so a pale appearance could indicate a Lung Qi deficiency and breathing problems.

Another important factor in facial diagnosis is that different regions of the face, such as the nose, the eyebrows, and the mouth, correspond with specific organ and meridian networks. For example, the nose correlates with the Spleen, the brows with the Liver, and the lower lip to the Large Intestine.

Since the face and your overall health are so closely related, you may discover positive changes in your complexion as your body regains balance and harmony through acupuncture and TCM.

Join Rebecca for these FREE classes at New Seasons in February!  Email class@newseasonsmarket.com to sign up.  

If you've attended the class and you're looking for class notes, please scroll down to the bottom and the click the button to download.

Look younger, feel better. Isn’t that what we’re all hoping for as we age? We may not be able to truly bottle Youth and Vigor, but the universe (internet) continuously tells us that we can regain our youth if we only do X, Y & Z.

Everyone’s version of X, Y & Z is different and their reasoning is different too and you know what - many of them are good.  There’s no denying that healthy living will slow the hands of time and improve appearance, and I heartily believe in making healthy lifestyle changes.  But sometimes, you just want something that WORKS.

I personally believe that Acupuncture is that “thing.”  Yes, if you want the best benefits from an anti aging perspective, you need to take care of yourself.  Yes, you will get better results from Acupuncture if you are eating well and exercising (but that is kind of true of everything natural-health related). And YES - with 3,000 years behind it, Acupuncture has a proven track record of success in many areas, anti aging and longevity “science” if you will, included.

General Acupuncture for health, energetic balancing and stress reducing will help you slow the hands of time.  Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture - a specific system of Acupuncture for the face - can turn back the clock and take years off your appearance.  Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture always includes treating the whole body - you can’t energetically divorce the face from the rest of you - but it pays special systemic attention to the energetic channels of the face and to the muscular structure of the face to reshape patterns of aging, reduce lines and wrinkles, improve complexion and provide a natural acupuncture facelift for lack of a better term.

The bottom line - Acupuncture works. And here is why:

If you want to more, please peruse my website, facebook page or pinterest page. Better yet - contact me!  You can contact me via email anytime or schedule an appointment or free consultation (phone or in person) online 24/7.

You can also catch me in person at New Seasons in February for a lecture on Chinese Medicine Facial Rejuvenation and Anti Aging - see dates below.  Email class@newseasonsmarket.com to sign up for these **FREE** classes or call the wellness class hotline at 503-280-5177.  I hope to see you there!

Until next time,

~Rebecca

This advice is so simple, classic and timeless it has always been on of my favorite basic beauty "to do" lists.  It is something I learned when I took my first Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture certification course back in 2006.  Yes, this is a list about attitude as much as it is a list about at basic home care for avoiding facial wrinkles, but you know what - it works.

If I were to rename this list, I would call it The Zen of Being Beautiful and all of this advice is right in line with my Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture training and teachings. To truly look and feel beautiful, it has to come from the inside and then be nourished by your activities outside - that is the heart of Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture treatment.

This list is so synergistic with my work, I had to share.  It comes from the book Inner Peace, Outer Beauty: 

In my Facial Rejuvenation treatments I seek to naturally lift, firm and tighten the skin while removing facial fine lines and wrinkles by strengthening the constitution, calming the emotions, nourishing the skin and re-sculpting the face with acupuncture, gua sha, cupping, facial massage, and natural Chinese herbal facelift treatment masques and products as needed.

I have to say that I love this advice because if you follow this advice AND do natural facial lift treatments like Facial Rejuvenation, the results are so incredible its hard to describe.  The difference is visible, but more than that it is something you feel - my patients often report feeling more confident, beautiful, sexy, more themselves.  Facial Acupuncture seems to help them navigate the world of aging a little more gracefully because they feel supported and nourished as their bodies age and change. 

Just like the quote above - everybody gets wrinkles - but truly some are due to natural aging, and some are due to expression which does make them a reflection of our thoughts and feelings.  If you change your thoughts and feelings to be more positive, you can change those expression lines too.  And if you need a little help, Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture may be just the thing to help you turn back the clock and learn more about caring for your skin as the natural course of aging progresses along.

If you want to know more, please call, email or book online! Facial Acupuncture is unique and deeply healing and relaxing - everyone should try it at least once you know! 

Until next time,
~Rebecca