Many of us might associate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with bitter prescriptions and painful treatments. However, do you know that TCM can also offer beauty benefits? Acupuncture is gaining attention worldwide as an effective fix for many beauty issues, ranging from skin problems to weight loss.
The theory behind acupuncture for beauty concerns
Acupuncture for the skin is based on the same principles as acupuncture for aches and illnesses.
Shellie Goldstein, a New York-based acupuncturist, told Vogue, “We look at your internal well-being to decipher what’s going on. From the inside, we will make that change, and it will be reflected on the outside.”
This change is done by inserting fine, sterile needles into specific points on your body. Each resulting “micro-trauma,” as Goldstein calls it, leads to a healing response. In short, acupuncture treats underlying disharmonies within your body, thus addressing your beauty problems.
Here are five ways that acupuncture can help you resolve your beauty issues:
1. Say goodbye to a swollen face
Ever woke up in the morning to find a puffy face? Acupuncture may be the beauty solution you’ve been looking for.
TCM practitioners believe that a puffy face is a symptom of digestive problems, allergies, or poor lymphatic drainage, which can be improved with acupuncture. Acupuncture will stimulate a healing response in the respective body system, addressing the root cause for the puffiness.
2. Brighten up your dull complexion
Acupuncture can raise your energy level and stimulate blood circulation, lymphatic drainage, and collagen production to bring out the radiance from your flat complexion. Acupuncture needles and massages are used to give you that lit-from-within glow.
3. Get rid of acne
Hormonal fluctuations and internal heat can cause acne. Acupuncture can help to rebalance the body and clear up your acne. “We look at acne as a reflection of internal heat, and the digestive system,” Goldstein explains to Vogue. “We can adjust premenstrual breakouts through acupuncture as well by treating the heat that arises” in the body at certain times of the month.
You can also treat other skin issues such as rosacea, eczema, wrinkles, and sagging by acupuncture.
4. Stimulate hair growth
This may be relevant to you if you suffer from hair loss or hair thinning. According to TCM, these issues may result from disrupted blood or energy flow to the scalp. Apart from improving blood circulation and energy distribution, acupuncture can stimulate your hair follicles to help with these hair issues.
5. Lose weight
There are a variety of reasons for weight gain, and acupuncture seeks out the specific cause to help you lose weight effectively. Generally, the treatment brings balance back to your spleen and liver systems. In addition, other parts of your body may be treated. Your endocrine system and kidneys, which can cause water retention issues, may be targeted.
Alternatively, your spleen and thyroid gland may be targeted to rebalance your sugar and hormonal levels. If your weight gain is due to premenstrual syndrome (aka PMS) or menopause, the treatment may target your adrenal and ovary glands too.
Acupuncture for beauty treatments are available in Eu Yan Sang TCM Clinics, Raffles Chinese Medicine, Pulse TCM Clinic, and Grand Hyatt’s Damai Spa – check out these places if you want to give it a shot!
