When it comes to diagnosing and treating diseases, Western and Eastern medicines are like chalk and cheese. According to Western medicine, it is all about reactive care and while Eastern medicine is more about preventative care. The former deals with problems as they arise, zoning in on the symptoms and depending heavily on pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, the latter believes in digging deep to find the root cause and treat it long-term using herbal products, diets, and self-practice exercises.
When you visit an Eastern medicine specialist, you’ll not be given retinol or topical antibiotics for your symptoms. Instead, the specialist will give you a low-down on your overall health based on the method of face mapping and prescribe you some herbal medicine for your guts and advice on dietary changes. No blood tests, scanning, or fancy facials are needed.
This approach, as far-fetched as it may sound, is predicated on the tenet that what shows on your face mirrors what’s happening in your body and that skin disorders are caused by malfunctioning connective organs which must be fixed before the skin .”Face mapping goes back thousands of years,” traditional medicine specialist Danial Hsu tells , adding that lots of this holdover results from clinical experience. So, how can we tell which specific area of our face is linked to an inner organ, and how can we use that to our advantage? Here’s what we know so far.
Breakouts on the lower face explained
To keep your digestive tract running smoothly, switch from cold beverages to warm drinks and cut down on saturated fat and pungent food. Hormones are the main culprit behind the blemishes on your jaw and chin, dermatologist Dr. Amanda Doyle tells Health. An imbalance in your reproductive organs or the digestive system can also cause chin and jawline flare-ups. Breakouts around the lip and mouth area are also linked with hormonal imbalances. A fiber-rich, low-GI diet including broccoli, green tea, whole grains, pumpkin seeds, and blueberries might be helpful. If you want a quick fix, birth control pills are a good shout.
One might question the validity of face mapping, but since it has been around for centuries, there must be some truth to it. Besides, face mapping and pharmaceutical treatment are not mutually exclusive, so you can use both for your own benefit with expert advice. If you want a precise diagnosis and a scientific-based treatment plan for your skin condition, you might want to speak to a dermatologist.
Face mapping for the upper face
.” If you’re breaking out in solid red bumps across the forehead area, chances are you’re under a lot of stress or not having enough sleep. The forehead is associated with the nervous and digestive systems, so repressed emotions or anger can cause acne to form on your T-zone. Prescription? Perhaps more breathwork practices to calm your nerves and swapping junk food and soda for kombucha or turmeric milk.
Excessive consumption of alcohol can make your liver overloaded with toxins, leading to a variety of skin irritations, including adult acne. Breakouts on the cheeks are usually associated with dysfunction of the stomach, liver, lungs, and respiratory system, says Dr. Axe. Increased intake of kale, celery, or cucumber juice accompanied by a short tai chi or yoga exercise every morning is recommended. You might also want to change your pillowcase and sanitize your cell phone every day to prevent dirt and bacteria from latching onto your cheeks.
