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Whole
Life Times
January, 2002
By Dr. Xiuling Ma
YOUR
FACE TELLS THE STORY
Erase The Signs Of Agingy
As
we grow older, signs of aging such are inevitable. In the
past, cosmetic surgery seemed the only possible solution to the
fine lines, puffy eyes, and drooping jowls that can crop up as the
years pass by. Yet there are viable alternatives to the scalpel.
Acupuncture
face-lifts are an alternative to surgery for those willing to experience
the power of Qi (pronounced "chee") for beauty.
More than a cosmetic procedure, acupuncture is a process of rejuvenation
and revitalization that helps the entire body to look and feel younger.
External beauty is a result of health and internal fitness.
With acupuncture, the underlying causes of aging are
addressed by restoring health to the body as a whole.
Acupuncture
is based on the Taoist belief that two life forces, the yin and
the yang, merge to produce a vital energy force called Qi.
Qi travels throughout the body along 14 pathways known as meridians.
Acupuncture techniques have been in practice for nearly 5,000 years,
and the use of acupuncture for cosmetology is not a new idea.
As early as the Sung Dynasty (960AD-1280AD), acupuncture practices
for facial beauty were employed for the Empress and Emperor's concubines.
The Chinese detected and implemented ways to change the energy flow
within the body to initiate healing processes for outward beauty.
According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine maxim, "Where
Qi goes, blood flows." Evident for even those unfamiliar
with the principles of Chinese Medicine, it is widely known that
increased circulation will help the body to look and feel better.
During
an acupuncture face-lift, sterilized and disposable hair-thin needles
are inserted into the meridians of the face and distinct extremity
points such as the hands and legs. This assists the flow of
Qi, or energy, to the face. Whereas some insertion points
might be the same from person to person, many points are dependent
on the patient's composition, body type and requirements.
For example, particular areas of the face are connected to internal
organs. Saggin skin can be caused by a weakness in the spleen,
and dark circles under the eyes are often linked to a stomach or
liver weakness. Exterior reflects interior. By inserting
needles in points relevant to these organs, the interior is balanced,
energy is promoted, and blocked circulation is released to treat
the underlying causes.
Acupuncture
face-lifts may entirely erase fine lines and decrease deeper wrinkles.
Bags around the eyes can be firmed, sagging reduced, puffiness eliminated,
droopy eyelids lifted, and double chins minimized. Increased
blood circulation moisturizes the skin and elevates color to the
face, collagen production is promoted augmenting muscle tone and
elasticity, and age spots are reduced giving the face an overall
youthful glow.
There
are two groups of people who can benefit from acupuncture face-lifts
as a natural way to anti-aging. People in their thirties can
use it as a preventive course of treatment to avoid the appearance
of aging signs. And people in their forties, fifties, and
older can use acupuncture to erase five to fifteen years of aging.
The
course of treatment usually consists of 12 one-hour weekly sessions.
Depending on the individual, appreciable and enduring results are
seen in about six weeks. Still, every person responds differently,
depending on the individual lifestyle, diet and condition prior
to treatment. With continued maintenance after the initial
course of treatment, the effects are much longer lasting.
A
1996 report in the International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture
reported that among 300 cases treated with Facial Acupuncture, 90%
had marked effects with one course of treatment. The effects
included: the skin becoming delicate and fair, improvement of elasticity
in the facial muscles, leveling of wrinkles, a ruddier complexion,
and overall rejuvenation not confined to the face.
Acupuncture
not only helps how the face looks-it also helps the whole body to
feel better. The efficacy of acupuncture comes from its manipulation
of the body's energy system by balancing and removing blockages
or adding energy when appropriate. Unlike Western Medicine,
which treats the body in parts, Chinese Medicine treats the body
as a whole. For example, mostg people would go to a plastic
surgeon for a face-lift and an orthopedic specialist for a joint
problem. With acupuncture, a person can be getting a face-lift
course of treatment at the same time she is being treated for the
knee pain suffered in a tennis game.
Acupuncture
is not a replacement for a surgical face-lift and will not provide
an overnight solution; the improvements are subtle and occur over
time. Still, acupuncture face-lifts can be an excellent holistic
alternative to traditional surgery. With acupuncture, the
underlying causes of why someone is aging are treated rather than
masking the symptoms with a surgical face-lift and allowing further
decay and dysfunction to continue within the body. Treatment
with herbs and acupuncture is not only substantially less expensive
than a traditional surgical face-lift, but far safer. Facial
toning with acupuncture is risk free from such potential dangerous
side effects as numbness, scarring, and even disfigurement that
can be associated with surgery, which also usually includes extended
periods of recovery with swelling and discoloration. In acupuncture,
there are no side effects or pain. Many people who have had
complications from a traditional surgical face-lift seek acupuncture
treatments to ease and erase those damaging side effects.
Acupuncture
face-lifts are contraindicated for individuals with low platelet
counts and bleeding or bruising disorders. It is also not
recommended during pregnancy. Treatments cost approximately
$100. A licensed acupuncturist should perform acupuncture.
Not all acupuncturists have experience in face-lifts, so those interested
should seek a practitioner with training and experience.
*****
Dr. Xiuling Ma, Ph.D., O.M.D., L.Ac., is a professor Emperor's College
of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, Samra University
of Oriental Medicine, and is the chair of the department of Classical
Chinese Medicine at American University of Complementary Medicine.
Dr. Ma maintains a private practice in L.A. and is authorized to
treat patients at both Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Daniel Freeman
Hospital. www.acuherbsonline.com
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