By Aliya Tnaliyeva,  Dr.Ac. & Reiki master

“If a wrinkle is caused by imbalance in the organ controlling that part of the face, then by reducing the appearance of the wrinkle we can also improve the health of the underlying organ” (Whitelotus Beauty).

I discovered cosmetic acupuncture back in the winter of 2021, when my former supervisor suggested I take a course that would be helpful both for the clinic and the spa by my house, where I moonlighted on the weekends. “By diagnosing the face, you diagnose the body. By diagnosing the body, you treat the body. By treating the body, you treat the face,” stated my course providers during the training. As a Reiki practitioner, I couldn’t help but focus on the underlying emotions at the root of each wrinkle or blemish’s appearance. For example, the hormonal acne we often experience during PMS will always come out on the chin. This is because this area of the face corresponds with the reproductive organs. Liver processes anger, that’s why those stubborn frown lines appear between the eyebrows. When resentment builds and we keep our feelings bottled up, manifesting as a blockage in the large and small intestine channel, the organs responsible for forgiveness and letting go of old things, the jaw tends to tense up. Thus, I learned that the face truly is a beautiful map of the interconnectedness of the health of the whole physical, energetic, and emotional body. 

Of course, the tone of the skin is also affected by the things we consume in our daily diet. Vitamins play a major role in keeping healthy skin. Below is a list of vitamins that give your skin the nourishment it deserves.

• Vitamin A is known to be beneficial for red cell production.
• Vitamin C may help diminish the appearance of acne scars, as it acts as an antioxidant .
• Vitamin E fights free radicals in the body that are caused by smoking, junk food, pollution, etc.
• Vitamin D supports skin cell self-repair, and it can reduce the amount of excess oil we produce, which can lead to acne. As we all know, exposing ourselves to sunlight is one of the best ways to get Vitamin D,  however it is important to note that too much suntanning can also lead to skin damage.
• Vitamin K helps in treating certain skin conditions like stretch marks, spider veins, scars, dark spots and the stubborn circles under your eyes 
• Minerals such as copper and selenium assist in building a healthy epidermis layer in facial skin.

Before each treatment, I usually check with the client whether they are open to the concept of Reiki or universal energy balancing, and if so, I would then perform a Reiki cleansing ritual in the beginning to help them let go of any difficult emotions. People have reported feelings of sadness or fear that they felt at the start quickly changing to a sense of peace. That makes complete sense to me, as Reiki is a high-vibrational light that simply dissolves lower denser energies.

So what does a typical facial rejuvenation treatment entail? 

• Your acupuncturist will assess all of the information in your intake form, ahead of your appointment to determine the root cause of the issue, which will be taken into account when creating a differential diagnosis.
• Your acupuncturist will read your pulse and tongue to determine your current state of health and balance. 
• We run a traditional TCM diagnosis to address underlying patterns of the skin condition. And after making sure you are completely comfortable with needles on the limbs, we would begin your facial acupuncture.
• For this treatment, we use our thinnest, most delicate acupuncture needles and rejuvenation tools, such as an extra small silicone cup and a jade or rose quartz gua sha. The needling is quite painless, and as a result you will notice more collagen production and the reduction of fine wrinkles on the face after just a few treatments.
• The small silicone cup that is used for facial massage is different than the ones used for stationary cupping, which have a stronger suction and are used on the back, shoulders, and limbs. This small facial cup will gently increase blood circulation and relax your facial muscles after the treatment, and does not cause any bruising.
• Gua sha has been used for centuries to improve blood circulation and restore brightness to the skin. We understand the importance of post-treatment home-care and carry these tools at our clinic in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can incorporate it into your skincare routine. 
• Throughout your treatment, we use high quality skincare from Phyto5, a natural and holistic line made with natural essential oils, based on the TCM theory of 5 elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, water. The 5 elements theory is one of the main systems in traditional Chinese medicine to understand a person’s nature and personality type in order to treat their medical condition.
• At the end of each treatment, we massage the face and neck with a hydrating oil to achieve a smooth and bright skin luster. I love to use Frankincense oil for this, as it has a deeply rejuvenating effect, especially on mature skin. It can also soothe acne prone skin, as the astringent quality of this oil has an overall toning and balancing effect.

So, whether you are already a long time acupuncture lover and looking to try something new to deepen your full body healing, or are new to acupuncture and wanting to try something to revitalize your skin, facial rejuvenation might be for you! Feel free to call us with any questions, to determine which service would be best for you.