Grandma was right when she said, “I can tell, it’s written all over your face.” According to the ancient healing arts, our faces reveal much about what’s going on inside our bodies and minds. Long before allopathic medicine, our ancestors were being cared for in surprisingly specific ways based on technologies we now call “alternative,” such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda. An extensive range of practices dating back 2,000 years, TCM includes herbs, acupuncture, massage, qigong and dietary therapy to effect the body’s energy. Our life force, qi, travels along meridians in the body, branching off into each organ – like superhighways of information – determining how our bodies function. Blockages in these pathways can lead to illness by preventing qi from getting to its destination, or altering messages – like the telephone game in grade school where the statement at start is nothing like the sentence at the end. Dating back more than 5,000 years, Ayurvedic medicine is based on the Vedic texts of northern India that stress wellness as the balance of body, mind and spirit. This ancient art focuses on three types of energies, or doshas, believed to circulate through the body and govern physiological activity: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. When doshas are in-balance, we experience health. When out of balance, illness results. Diet based on doshas, exercise (yoga), herbs, meditation and other tools help to keep one in, or restore, balance. Despite their differences, what’s clear throughout both traditions is that the body’s systems – lymphatic, circulatory, digestive, neurological, etc. – are linked and the physical body is constantly providing us feedback through how we look and feel. Today, such knowledge is becoming mainstream through Face Mapping. Here, the nuanced characteristics of our eyes and face are used to determine where our bodies are imbalanced. Whether done by an MD, traditional practitioner or a specialized esthetician, Face Mapping tells what is happening inside the body by looking at where we experience breakouts, rashes, dry/oily patches, redness, etc., and offers approaches to address these imbalances:
Finally, oils and germs are transferred each time we touch our faces so being mindful can go a long way in reducing breakouts. While keeping our skin clean externally can clearly have an impact on its texture and appearance, grandma would agree that using non-toxic products and feeding our bodies, minds and spirits nourishing food (including positive thoughts) is the best way to face the world each day. Originally written for Fit Nation Magazine.
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I'm Mary Ann. I am a storyteller using skills, interests, education and experience to help others. Together, we'll explore your story and write a new ending for your journey along the nourished path. Categories
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October 2024
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