making natural cosmetics

Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition is a book I return to time and time again. It's a fantastic reference book for acupuncture students, practitioners and anyone interested in holistic healing through diet and nutrition.

As a 5 Element Acupuncturist, I find the section on the Chinese elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water and the therapeutic uses of the 5 flavours particularly fascinating.

The author covers a vast array of dietary suggestions for a wide range of diseases/issues and the book contains 300 recipes detailing their healing properties in relation to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

From my perspective, facial acupuncture is a holistic treatment that not only works on the outside, but focuses on balancing the inside too. In this respect, Pitchford's book discusses foods and herbs that may aid a number of skin conditions including acne, eczema and psoriasis. And, in the 5 element section, he discusses the Metal element in relation to the lungs and their role in skin vitality, suggesting foods that can be eaten to nourish this element.*

It's easy to look up an issue in the comprehensive index and find particular recommendations for foods and their healing properties. For instance, a quick check on 'skin' leads us to, among others, Avocado: "...also known to beautify the skin".

We can only really touch upon a small part of this highly detailed book here, but suffice to say, it's a valuable addition to any bookshelf.

*I would recommend a visit to a qualified traditional acupuncturist to diagnose any elemental imbalances.

More and more men and women are looking to keep their lines and wrinkles at bay, without resorting to the knife. But why should they choose acupuncture over the immediacy of BOTOX®?

Also known as botulinum toxin type A, BOTOX® has been approved for cosmetic use since 2002. When it's injected into the face, it literally paralyses the muscles. This is due to the prevention of a chemical called acetylcholine being released from the nerves. BOTOX® is effective in reducing the wrinkles but, unlike acupuncture, often causes a lack of movement in the face.

It costs £100 - £300 for the treatment of only one area and generally lasts around 3-4 months. BOTOX® carries a large number of possible side-effects and this information is readily available on the manufacturer's website.

Cosmetic acupuncture, in contrast, will require a course of treatment to show pronounced results. However, the whole face is treated and as body points are also used, a patient's health and wellbeing can be greatly improved by undertaking a series of treatments. My facial patients often report that they feel healthier, sleep better, have brighter eyes and feel more balanced; those are the kind of side effects I like!

The acupuncture points and the way that they are used in a Facial Enhance session, for instance, have all been chosen specifically with this overall achievement of wellbeing in mind.

This treatment also works on lifting the face, particularly where the face begins to sag around the 'jowls' and the cheek area, rather than simply targeting wrinkles.

Cosmetic acupuncture practitioners charge anywhere from £50 - £250 per treatment, depending upon where they're based.

Many people are looking for an alternative, natural, anti-ageing treatment to BOTOX® and cosmetic acupuncture is perfectly placed to offer a much wider range of effects.

Visit Cosmetic Acupuncture UK to find a qualified practitioner in your area.

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Come on over and join us to get talking about this natural, anti-ageing treatment.

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