The Top Ten Villains of the Aging Process and how Cosmetic Acupuncture can tame them!

Article first published online on the bleuheronclinic.com/blog.html on July 3rd.

 

11.     Naso-labial groove. This is the line that extends from the edge of the nose down to the corner of the   mouth. Finer needles are inserted along the length of these lines to soften them.

22.      Frown line. These are the lines in between the eyes and can become very pronounced, especially when you are tired or stressed.

33.      Forehead lines. These are the number one culprit and the area most women target when they opt for cosmetic procedures such as Botox. An acupuncturist will use many fine needles and insert them along the length of the lines

44.      Crow’s Feet –also known as laughter lines. These are the little wrinkles that appear at the edge of your eyes and are caused by the movement of the muscles around the eyes when the face smiles. Small needles are inserted into every line to smooth them.

55.     Smoker’s Pucker. These are the lines that appear around the lips due to the repeated action of inhaling on a cigarette and taking in all those harmful substances including nicotine, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. Cosmetic Acupuncture as well as smoothening out these lines can help the body to rid itself of these harmful toxins. Regular acupuncture sessions can also help you to quit smoking for good!

66.      Baggy eyelids. A lack of elasticity, combined with the constant pull from gravity causes excessive skin to collect in the upper eyelids. An acupuncturist will insert some needles above the eye itself in order to draw energy upwards and keep muscles from slackening.

77.       Eye creases-also known as sleep lines, these are the fine lines that appear just underneath the eye and can become more pronounced when you are tired. They are formed when the muscle around the eye slackens and drops, creating creases where the area is sagging. Again, needles will be inserted into the lines and also above the eyes themselves to increase elasticity and combat excessive skin folds occurring.

88.     Thinning lips. As we grow older, the elasticity of the lips reduces in strength. Cosmetic acupuncture works by promoting a good flow of Qi and blood to the face, increasing elasticity in the area as a result.

99.      Liver Spots. These are hyper pigmented areas of the skin and are often the result of melanin accumulation in the epidermal or dermal layer of the skin, due to age or excessive sun. In terms of acupuncture, they can be due to a disharmony occurring within the Liver. An acupuncturist will thus treat the liver also while conducting a facial treatment.

110.   Pale pallor. As we grow older, skin loses that pink, healthy complexion as the blood flood slows.  The slower the blood flows, the less of it there is to maintain that fresh, pink glow. As mentioned above, cosmetic acupuncture will ensure that a good supply of Qi and blood is directed towards the face meaning that a rosy, youthful glow will once again permeate the facial area.

A course of at least 6 Cosmetic Acupuncture treatments is recommended in order to maximise results. Make sure you compliment your treatments by drinking plenty of water, avoiding smoking, caffeine and alcohol and applying sun cream to the face daily.

In search of golden sleep

First published online on blueheronclinic.com/blog.html on June 7th, 2012.

There are twelve hours in the day, and above fifty in the night.  ~Marie de Rabutin-Chantal

A good night’s sleep works wonders. By contrast a bad night’s sleep can leave one in a state of exhaustion and despair. Insomnia is a common complaint for many adults who are often driven to extreme measures in search of the Holy Grail of 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Ask anyone suffering from this ailment and they will likely tell you that there is nothing worse than staring at the ceiling for hours on end as their mind refuses to switch off in the dark of night.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is a corresponding clock for all of the major organs. Each organ will have a low and high-energy period of two hours. The Heart is said to house the Mind and if it becomes unsettled, it can cause stress and anxiety. The heart has its low time between 11pm and 1am so it really helps if you can be in bed by 11pm. In order to give your mind the rest it deserves.

The Liver has its high time between 1am and 3am.  This means its energy is at its highest as it works to detoxify the body from the previous stresses of the day.

The Liver is also said to house the ‘Hun’ or ethereal soul. This is the part of us that the Chinese believe to live on once the body has died. If the Liver is too worked up eliminating toxins-caffeine, alcohol, etc. it cannot ground the ‘Hun’ and it will in effect start to ‘wander’ which will cause vivid dreams and nightmares.

Avoid products containing caffeine after 4pm and try to eat your last meal before 7pm as going by the Chinese clock again, your stomach is at its lowest point between 7 and 9pm.  Any food ingested after 7pm will thus lead to gas and bloating, making it very difficult to fall asleep while eating at the correct time gives your digestive system a chance to properly process any food ingested.

There is an acupuncture point, which is easily accessible and promotes deep relaxation. It is called Yin Tang and it is located right in between your eyebrows. Massage this point when you get into bed and throughout the night, should you wake.

Meditation is also a great stress buster and doesn’t take long to perform. Try it even when you are unable to sleep.  Sometimes spending a few minutes getting up out of bed and concentrating on calming the mind through meditation can save you hours in tossing and turning.

Hopefully these tips will have you sleeping like a baby!Shhhhh!

Your guide to a Natural First Aid Kit

Read today in The Irish Times today that Ireland's only homoeopathic chemist, Nelson's on Grafton Street is to close with the loss of 8 jobs. It's a sad sign of the times I feel as homoeopathic remedies are great in relieving pain, stress, infection and anxiety while being kinder on the system than antibiotics and creams and mixtures that are loaded with synthetic chemicals. I find that kids respond really well to them too!

Keep these 12 remedies within easy reach as a natural medicine chest. Available from chemists and health stores.

1. ARNICA
These homoeopathic tablets are great for bruising, swelling, sprains, muscle and joint pain and nosebleeds. They help calm kids after little bumps and grazes and you can also buy a cream form to help speed up the healing process for bruises and spots.

2. CAMOMILE TEA

A gentle, calming remedy. Use for childhood and digestive upsets, colic, wind, constipation, diarrhoea and teething problems. Give children a couple of small spoonfuls of cold tea or add a cupful of strong tea to their bath to help them sleep. Soak a cotton flannel in cold tea and apply to minor sunburn, eczema or sore nipples as required.

3. LEMON BALM

It is great for calming nerves and also aids PMS, period pain, indigestion, headache and colds. You can grow your own or buy fresh or dried from health food stores. Use this recipe to make a tea from it whenever you are feeling a bit low for an instant uplift.

Add 500ml of just off the boil water to 75g of fresh leaves or 25g of dried lemon balm. Infuse for 10 minutes, strain and enjoy! 

4. ECHINACEA TINCTURE
Essential for warding off colds, flu, gum infections, sore throats, cystitis and for boosting immunity in people who continuously fight ailments. Take it at the first sign of illness-it can be taken with water or a little fruit juice to improve the taste. Caution-do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Not recommended for children under 12 months.


5. LAVENDER OIL
Has many healing benefits. Can be applied to spots, cuts, bites and minor burns. Soak a flannel in water containing 4 drops of lavender oil and apply to bruises and minor skin irritations. Sprinkle 3 drops on a tissue and inhale to relieve headaches, hay fever or travel sickness.

6. GINGER

This is great for relieving nausea and indigestion. It can alleviate migraine and helps to clear colds and blocked sinuses if taken early. Can be taken in capsule form or infuse a fresh piece of ginger root in boiling water.

7. CALENDULA CREAM
This is fantastic for skin irritations. It's a gentle antiseptic and anti fungal homoeopathic cream which promotes healing, fights infection and reduces inflammation. It's great for minor burns, sunburn, blisters, insect bites, stings, eczema, acne, corns and sores.

8. NUX VOMICA
Another homoeopathic remedy particularly useful for combating the woes of the morning after the night before and for when cigarette smoke or over eating has left you feeling queasy. Can help to combat morning sickness or travel sickness and can even help to overcome sleeplessness caused by working late, lack of exercise or indigestion. It is taken in tablet form. Can be used for babies who wake around the 3am mark and are unable to go back to sleep after feeding. Give a crushed tablet in the 30c potency once a day for up to 10 days.

9. PEPPERMINT
Use in tea and essential oil form. To help clear a headache, apply a small amount of diluted peppermint oil around the back of the head or below the skull. Peppermint tea is a great remedy for heartburn, indigestion and stomach cramps.

10. SAGE
Common sage is great for treating heavy periods, hot flushes, period pains and digestive upsets. Make into tea the same way as for the lemon balm and drink 3 times a day, discarding any left over brew at the end of the day. Use cold tea as a mouthwash for ulcers and inflammed gums and as a gargle for sore throats. Caution-do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding or if you have epilepsy.


11. TEA TREE OIL
A wonderful, natural antiseptic. Add 2 drops of pure essential oil to a small bowl of cool water and use to wash wounds, spots and itchy skin. Apply one drop neat on a cotton bud to cold sores, spots, insect bites and stings. To ease a sore throat, gargle with 2 drops of oil in15ml of vinegar added to a glass of hot water-take care not to swallow the mixture and spit it out after gargling!

12. RESCUE REMEDY
This is an excellent remedy for shock, panic or stress. Use Rescue cream on rashes and eczema.

Cosmetic Acupuncture-all you wanted to know!

First published online on blueheronclinic.com/blog.html on May 26th 2012.
 How does it work?

For thousands of years, the people of the Orient have known that beauty comes from within. A healthy person will radiate health and beauty. The Chinese discovered ways to change the energy flow within the body to begin the healing process for rejuvenation.

Cosmetic Acupuncture even more so than traditional acupuncture has at the heart of it’s ethos the fundamental principle of “where Qi goes, blood follows.”  It works to clear stagnant Qi, and increase circulation. This keeps the skin rosy and youthful, while also helping the whole body to look and feel younger by addressing the physical, mental and emotional patterns that cause disease and contribute to the aging process. It is far less expensive, more natural, non-invasive and safer than plastic surgery or Botox injections, and has no side effects, toxicity, inflammation, or recovery time.

So what are the many benefits of Cosmetic Acupuncture?

·        - It increases collagen production, which helps maintain the elasticity of the skin.

·         -It can eliminate aging epithelial cells, improve secretion of sweat and sebaceous glands and promotes       circulation.

·         -Increases the local tissue’s requirements for oxygen and promotes elimination of nitrogen and carbon dioxide

·        - Reduces stress evident in the face

·         -Tightens the skin and the pores, improves muscle tone and dermal contraction

·        - Improves the colour of the complexion

·         -Reduces bags under eyes and puffiness in the face by draining excess fluid.

·        - Eliminate fine lines and wrinkles

·         -Helps to lift drooping eyelids and brightens the eyes

·         -Improves hormonal balance, combating acne

·         -Moisturises the skin by circulating blood to the face

·        - Brings out a person’s innate beauty and radiance

·        - Slows the aging process

What can I expect from a session?

Cosmetic Acupuncture is similar to regular acupuncture in that a consolation is offered by the therapist and a diagnosis made based on the patient’s lifestyle, diet and prevalent problem. Points are needled on the body to address the specific ailments a patient may have. Then the hard work really begins! As the patient relaxes, a full facial massage is administered. This is necessary in order to stimulate the face for the insertion of the facial needles. These needles are even finer than regular ones and will be inserted directly into lines and wrinkles in order to attract Qi and blood to the area and smoothen out dry, inelastic skin.

Those who have regular sessions of Cosmetic Acupuncture are often pleasantly surprised at the effects of the treatment. After just one session, skin looks fresher and rosier. A course of at least six sessions is recommended in order to maximise the benefits of this all natural, non-surgical alternative to other cosmetic treatments.

Teething tips on an alternative scale

Teething-it's no fun for babies and even less for parents and carers! You may think there's nothing to be done but reach for the Calpol but before you open that press, have a read of some alternative methods to help your little one! There are lots of natural remedies out there and here are some I've found to be particularly effective. 

Teetha is a homeopathic remedy and can be found in gel form-this allows it to be massaged onto the gums, so you can pop some on a soother and onto baby's mouth.

Chamomilla is another homeopathic remedy and is great for when baby is very hot and bothered. This comes in tiny pellet sugar pill form and is placed on baby's tongue where it quickly dissolves.

Acupuncture can also help! There are two points on the hand which are easy to reach and have a great influence on pain. Look for these points on yourself and then find them on your baby.
LI4 or Hegu is found in the 'web' of flesh between the thumb and fore finger and approximately half way of the distance of the second metacarpal bone, or the bone in between the knuckle of your first finger and your wrist. The point is closer to this bone and you should feel a dull ache when you press on this. Just a word of warning for any pregnant mums-do not seek out this point on yourself as one of its other functions is to initiate labour!!
LI5 or Yangxi is found just a little bit further on from LI4, very close to the wrist. If you flex your thumb back towards your body, you should see a small hollow form right at the base of the thumb. It's known as the 'anatomical snuffbox' and right in the centre of this hollow is your point.
LI11 or Quchi is found at the elbow and is the main point in the body to clear heat. This can be handy when fever strikes your little one. It is found by bending your elbow, placing the fingers of your other hand underneath your elbow so that both arms are in a parallel position to each other and bringing the thumb just at the bend of the elbow into the soft fleshy part and pressing down hard.Locating and gently but firmly massaging these points a few times a day should alleviate symptoms.Hopefully these remedies will help soothe the savage baby and make daily life a little less stressful for mummies and daddies!

Treating acne with Acupuncture

First published online on blueheronclinic.com/blog.html on May 27th 2012.

Acne,  one little four letter word that strikes fear into the hearts of many.  It is mostly experienced by adoslescents and males are more susceptible than females.  It can cause massive self-confidence issues that can leave many physical and emotional scars. To add insult to injury, it’s not just teenagers that suffer from this affliction. Adult acne is more common than you think with gorgeous celebrities such as Cameron Diaz  and  Katy Perry admitting to a daily struggle against the debilitaing affliction. Diaz has admitted in interviews that “she tried everything from facials to meditation” with no success.

What causes it?Well, the truth is no one can say for sure. There are various notions regarding sebaceous gland secretions(sebum) blocking the sweat glands leading to blackheads and inflammation. It’s usually the face and neck which is affected, however, the chest and back are also susceptible to outbreaks in more severe cases.

Traditional Chinese Medicine puts the blame on an accumulation of heat in the body. There is almost always an element of Qi stagnation also, which may manifest symptoms of irritabilty, headaches and general moodiness.

So what can be done? Acupuncture can be very effective at treating acne as it works very well at unblocking stagnation in order to promote a smooth flow of Qi. This will help the negative emotional aspect of acne aswell as the cosmetic one.

And speaking of cosmetic,  Facial or Cosmetic Acupuncture can also make a huge difference, being a step further along the treatment scale.  Extra fine needles are applied to the face as well as the arms and legs for a deeper, more intense treatment. 10 sessions of this should be enough for most bodies to be detoxified from the occurence of acne.

A good acupuncturist, as well as treating the affliction will also dispense advice on nutrition and lifestyle choices which should help to combat the problem. As acne is often caused by an accumulation of heat,  your therapist will suggest cooling foods such as peppermint,  apple, barley, watermelon, grapefruit, millet, cabbage, clam, bamboo shoots, elderflower and potato. It is also a good idea to stay away from heat producing food such as alcohol, sweet and sugary foods, spicy foods, preservatives and coffee.

If you do suffer from acne, make sure to heed the above advice, as well as drinking 6-8 glasses of water a week, getting plenty of rest and make sure not to pick the pimples as this will increase the likelihood of permanent scarring.