Hara Healing Center in Carpinteria, CA
Your Full Service Wellness Center, offering Acupuncture, Massage, Chinese Herbs, Qi Gong and Yoga in beautiful Carpinteria Califormia.
Serving the Carpinteria, Montecito, Summerland and Santa Barbara communities.
Constitutional Facial Renewal Acupuncture™ was created by Mary Anne Wakefield as a safe, painless and effective treatment for renewing the face as well as the whole body. Fine lines may be entirely erased, deeper lines reduced and skin around the neck and eyes firmed.
Facial Acupuncture itself dates back to the Sang Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it was used by the Empress and concubines as an anti-aging technique. Today, facial acupuncture is a natural alternative to Botox, and more invasive cosmetic surgeries. Facial Acupuncture is also extremely beneficial for people with Bell’s Palsy, TMJ, neuropathies, and post-stroke facial paralysis.
In Constitutional Facial Renewal Acupuncture™, the practitioner treats the entire body, not just the face as a separate entity. Since the face mirrors a person's physical, emotional and spiritual being, each individual is a walking history book of the events of their lives. A healthy, shining face is connected to what Oriental medicine terms the Shen, or spirit, and each person is encouraged to take responsibility for their own process, in order to achieve optimum results.
In each Facial Acupuncture treatment, very fine, sterile acupuncture needles are placed at a variety of acupuncture points on the face, neck and around the eyes to stimulate the body’s natural vial force, or Qi. Since facial muscle groups are addressed, as well the acupuncture points, the face lifts itself, through the muscles’ natural toning and tightening action. The insertion of the needles also creates a positive micro-trauma to the area, stimulating blood circulation in the face, as well as collagen and elastin production. This helps to create a glowing complexion and improved facial color.
Benefits
Constitutional:
Improves acne (caused by hormonal imbalance)
Helps menopause, perimenopause, PMS and other GYN issues
Helps sinus congestion and headache
Improves hyper- and hypothyroidism
Reduces symptoms of toothache, TMJ, trigeminal neuralgia, and Bell’s palsy
Helps headaches
Treats diarrhea and constipation (most digestive issues)
Helps to eliminate edema and puffiness
Benefits eyes, ears and brain
Can help insomnia and dizziness
Helps depression and aids self-esteem
Facial:
Improves collagen production and muscle tone
Helps reduce bags and sagging tendencies
Helps eliminate fine lines and diminish larger wrinkles
Helps reduce double chin and lift drooping eyelids
Improves metabolism
Tightens pores and brightens eyes
Increases local blood and lymph circulation
Improves facial color
Reduces stress and promotes total health and well-being
Short and Long-Term Effects of Facial Acupuncture
After the first treatment, one usually observes an increased glow to the complexion, the result of increased Qi and blood flow to the face. The person’s face appears more “open”, there is a clarity in the eyes (“clear Shen”), and the patient appears to be more rested; wrinkles start to lessen and the skin appears more toned.
A significant difference in their appearance can be seen following the 6th to 7th treatment; even more marked changes in wrinkles, skin tone, etc. The impression of relaxation and calm is more pronounced; they appear as if they have returned from vacation. Lifting of the jowls, neck and the eyes has begun and is usually noticeable. With continuing treatment, constitutional issues like digestive complaints have been ameliorated or subsided.
By the end of a series, the patient should see a noticeable difference in their appearance and improvement in other areas of their health. These results may vary slightly, depending upon how well the patient has taken care of themselves during the process, and afterward. At this stage, ongoing support is provided with maintenance treatments and herbs.
Research published in the International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture, in 1996, states that 90 percent of 300 cases treated with facial acupuncture had remarkable results with the first treatment. Most noticeable results included fewer wrinkles, greater elasticity and greater tone of facial muscles.
Is Facial Acupuncture for Everyone?
There are very few contraindications for facial acupuncture, because, for the vast majority of prospective clients, it is a safe and beneficial treatment,
Contraindications:
1.Severe high blood pressure (it is OK when the blood pressure is under control and the patient is seeing a medical doctor)
2.Severe daily or weekly migraines (if the patient is having a migraine only once every 3 months or so, they can receive facial acupuncture treatments)
3.Be aware that it takes 3 weeks to recover from laser resurfacing on the face; wait at least a week after microdermabrasion.
Do not perform during:
pregnancy;
colds or flu;
acute herpes outbreak; or
acute allergic reactions
How Long is the Treatment?
Constitutional Facial Acupuncture™ involves the patient in an organic process, in which a series of treatments is necessary to achieve maximal effect. After an initial session, practitioner evaluates the patient’s response, and taking into consideration other variables such as stress, diet, lifestyle, genetic inheritance, proper digestion and elimination, sleep, emotional balance, and age, the following durations of treatment are customarily recommended:
Usually 12-15 treatments, although most patients see significant results after only 10 treatments. 20 treatments for smokers or people whose skin tends to have excessive sagging, ie: jowls, “turkey wattles,” very droopy eyes, etc.
Treatment Timeline:
1 treatment per week, approximately 90 minutes
Maintenance Treatments:
Within the normal parameters of aging, the completion of a series of treatments should be effective. However, the following maintenance treatments are often recommended:
Every 2 weeks for 1 month following the completion of a treatment series, then once a month for an indefinite amount of time.
The Use of Chinese Herbs
The Constitutional Facial Acupuncture™ treatment protocol often incorporates the use of Chinese herbal masks, tinctures and moisturizers. These herbal formulations can enhance the effects of the acupuncture treatments. Jade rollers, and gua sha tools are often used as well. They can enhance blood circulation, remove fine lines and age spots, and prevent premature aging, are used to massage moisturizer into the skin. The ancient empresses of China used jade as a precious stone to be worn, not only around their necks, but also to attract yin and nourishment into their skin. The stone served a double purpose of promoting beauty and for protection.
If you would like more information to see if you would benefit from Constitutional Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, please contact us to set up a consultation at
805-770-0909, or email, patricia@harahealingcenter.com.
**The information above was generously provided by Mary Elizabeth Wakefield and “Chi-Akra Center”. For more information, please visit: http://www.chiakra.com.