The benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) reach far beyond treating acute and chronic diseases. Since ancient times, Chinese medicine doctors have used acupuncture and various Chinese herbal formulas to improve skincare and enhance beauty.
Why Is Lung Health Important for Skin Care?
In Chinese medicine, five significant organs (the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen) connect the entire body. Skin is considered an extension of the inner organs.In TCM, the lungs are more than just a respiratory system—they are deeply related to the large intestines and hold a strong role in breathing in and out, the necessity of living a healthy life. The skin is seen as an external reflection of the lungs as an internal organ.
The lungs cannot nourish your skin correctly if their energy is blocked or the qi (vital energy) is too weak. Therefore, Chinese medicine skin care usually starts by treating issues of the lungs.
How Do Environmental Factors Affect Skin Care?
Due to the delicate nature of the organs, they can be affected by several environmental factors that, in turn, impact skin health.Lung health, for instance, can be affected by heat, cold, dryness, and wind.
Poor diet or lifestyle habits can result in consuming too many foods with “heat,” including spicy or deep-fried food, excessive alcohol, caffeine. Smoking also creates heat. Too much heat interferes with the balance and harmony in the lungs, resulting in skin symptoms such as redness, dryness, hot flushes, acne, eczema, or psoriasis. In addition, spending too much time in the sun can result in severe skin damage.
Cold and dry air can irritate the airways of people with lung disease and can cause dry, itchy, and cracking skin. Excessive consumption of cold foods and icy beverages can also have a similar impact on the skin.
Does Facial Acupuncture Work?
For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine doctors have used herbs and acupuncture to treat and prevent various skin issues and achieve beautiful, young-looking skin.What Natural Herbs Help Clear Skin Care?
For a great skincare routine, there are some universally beneficial herbs.Chinese herbalists usually recommend chamomile tea to calm and reduce facial redness, tea tree oil to relieve mild or moderate acne breakouts, honeysuckle to relieve rosacea, and calendula oil to soothe eczema.
They also recommend herbal teas that include tulsi, echinacea, olive leaf, and green tea for clear skin.
- Turmeric for reducing inflammation.
- Oregano for maintaining a healthy microbial balance.
- Chaga, an antioxidant, for protecting the body from oxidative stress or pollution.