Have you ever wondered how much time you spend looking at the mirror at your reflection every day?
As we age, our skin becomes saggy, dull, and wrinkly. While we can’t stop the inevitable aging, we can indeed remove its signs, such as wrinkles.
How to Achieve Wrinkle Prevention and Reduction
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the most efficient way to stay youthful and healthy in both mind and body is to nourish from the inner (internal organs and system), then to the outside (your skin, complexion).
For instance, you can reduce wrinkles, restore Qi deficiency, and increase blood circulation through simple acupressure massage, acupuncture, facials, and food therapy.
Where Do Wrinkles Come From
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, wrinkle production is based on internal and external factors.
Intrinsic factors, such as genetics, decreased female hormones, and liver or kidney deficiency, might be why some people are more likely to develop wrinkles.
Another reason is improper diets. It impacts gut health. The digestive system needs to absorb the essence of food to sustain the body’s energy (Qi) and blood circulation to function correctly.
Skin damage will occur if the blood is poorly circulated and unable to reach the facial area. Prolonged anxiety, emotional swings, and insomnia lead to liver deficiency, causing blood and Qi stagnation which produces wrinkles.
Environmental factors, especially from ultraviolet rays (UV light) gradual decrease of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, cause the skin to age. The gradual loss of subcutaneous fat will cause the skin to contract, loosen and become wrinkly.
For example, when you stand outside in the cold for a long time during the winter, the blood circulation on your face decreases, and your skin will then be fragile to aging.
Can You Stop Wrinkles from Developing
If you want to minimize wrinkles, it is crucial to maintain a good lifestyle and self-care.
1) Go to bed early. Sleep deprivation leads to liver deficiency and depression.
2) Use sun protection and keep your face and neck area warm.
3) Avoid soda. Drink warm water.
4) Choose the correct skin care products for your skin type.
How to Boost Collagen Production
If your wrinkles are due to qi deficiency and blood circulation, here is some good news:
Acupuncture treatments and acupressure massage can improve your wrinkles and health.
The most common acupoints for wrinkle prevention are Union Valley (L14), Three Yin Intersection (SP6), Great Ravine (K13), and Sea of Blood (SP10).
For facial acupuncture, traditional Chinese acupuncturists will use specialized beauty needles, which are thinner than regular acupuncture needles. The clinicians usually place the beauty needles about 0.2 to 0.5 mm below the skin’s surface.
By stimulating dermal cells through basal cells, it signals collagen secretion and elevates the wrinkle treatment.
What Happens After an Acupuncture Treatment
Acupuncture activates the overall Qi and blood circulation and facial meridians. Besides, removing wrinkles will give your skin a healthier, rosier glow. Your skin will become firmer in the following few days. After one to three acupuncture sessions, the effect can last up to half a year. Beauty acupuncture is painless, with fewer side effects than other cosmetic procedures.
Difference Between Acupuncture and Acupressure
Instead of using needles, acupressure uses massage techniques on acupoints to stimulate health improvements. Did you know that regular daily facial acupressure massage can also remove wrinkles?
How to give yourself an acupressure massage
For wrinkles on the forehead:
Press the following acupoints clockwise 10 times. Then anticlockwise 10 times.
Hall of Seal (EX-HN3), Spirit Court (DU24), and Great Sun (EX-HN5).
For wrinkles around the eyes:
Press the following acupoints clockwise 10 times. Then anticlockwise 10 times.
Bamboo Gathering (BL2), Silk Bamboo Hole (SJ23), Great Sun (EX-HN5), and Tear Container (ST1).
For wrinkles around the mouth area:
Press the following acupoints clockwise 10 times. Then anticlockwise 10 times.
Welcome Fragrance (L120), Earth Granary (ST4), Jawbone (ST6).
For dark eye circles or puffy eyes:
Place two fingers on the upper and lower eyelids.
Close your eyes.
Raise your eyebrows 10 times on each side.
Let’s continue our self-care rituals by making a face mask at home. This mask not only can lighten and smooth over wrinkles and scars, but it will also brighten your skin.
How to Make a DIY Anti-aging Mask:
1) You’ll need barley powder, honey, and sugar-free yogurt.
2) Mix the three ingredients.
3) If it is too thick, add a little water before application.
4) Apply the mixture to your face.
5) Let the mask sit for 5-10 minutes.
6) Rinse and pat dry.
Tip: Do not wait until the mask is completely dry before washing it off, or it might cause skin dehydration.
Food Therapy
Consuming enough nutrients is vital for skin nourishment. Collagen-rich food such as pig skin is a great option. Vegetarian-friendly food such as kelp, yam, and fig is beautifying.
Avoid high sugar or sodium content food to prevent aging acceleration.
How to Make DIY anti-aging dessert:
Black and white fungus soup
You’ll need: Black fungus, white fungus, dry red dates, honey, and water
Direction:
In a small pan, simmer the ingredients on medium heat until it turns into a sticky texture.
Add honey before serving.
While black and white fungus activates Qi and blood circulation, honey is a natural multipurpose Qi-toner with exceptional internal and external properties.
While it nourishes the lungs and dryness, invigorates the spleen, and replenishes Qi in the body, it also clears heat and toxins.
If applied to your skin, honey soothes redness, sunburns, and acne.
How to DIY Food therapy for supple skin
Stock up your fridge with the following antioxidant food with anti-aging properties. Add it to your meals.
1. Berries
Any berries, such as blackberry, cranberry, strawberry, and raspberry, contain high consternation of antioxidants of anthocyanin and vitamin C. Berries also neutralizes free radicals and ease aging.
2. Dark leafy, red or yellow-greens
3. Spices such as ginger, turmeric, cardamom
4. Green tea promotes collagen production
5. Nuts, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, are a natural skin moisturizer and reduce wrinkle formation.
6. Fish, particularly salmon, is rich in Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants.
*DIY soup with Chinese herbs
You’ll need chicken or bone broth, lean pork, ginger, and vegetables of your choice (you can use any Chinese melon, bokchoy, or chayote squash).
1) Clean vegetables. Set Aside.
2) Chop lean pork into pieces or cubes. Set aside. (You may add a little soy sauce to marinate.)
3) Bring water and broth to a boil.
4) Add pork and ginger. Let it simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes before adding the vegetables.
5) Add vegetables. Cook on low heat until the vegetables are fully cooked. Add salt and pepper to taste. Avoid overcooking vegetables.
6) Add any of the following to boost blood circulation and vibrant skin.
1. Dong Quai, also known as female ginseng
2. Barley prompts a healthy spleen, harmonizing the liver, especially for people with fatigue or loose stool.
3. Creeping Liriope, or dwarf lilyturf roots, repairs yin deficiency and nourishes the lungs.
4. White peony root or Bai Shao treats yin deficiency and nourishes blood and liver, especially for night owls.
5. Solomon’s Seals or Huang Jing can be absorbed by the three meridians of the liver, spleen, and kidney for balancing the yin qi.
6. Lady bells, or Dried Radix or Shashen, can be absorbed by the lung meridians and nourishes the lungs and yin qi.
7. Kernel or Bai Zi Ren promotes sleep and skin quality
8. Radix Rehmannia improves blood circulation and yin deficiency. If raw, the properties are even more potent as it repairs kidney deficiencies.
9. Chinese asparagus or Tian tung nourishes yin qi.
10. Solomon’s seal nourishes yin qi and the lungs and improves the overall complexion of the skin.
11. Goji berry balances both the yin and yang qi. It is beneficial for nourishing the eyes and for kidney deficiency.
12. Yam or Shan Yao removes dampness, invigorates the spleen, and nourishes yin.
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