Flowing River Acupuncture - Find out why Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture might be right for you

To understand how this technique works we generally divide the explanation into two, The traditional understanding and the modern understanding.

Traditional Approach:
Historically acupuncture theory revolves around the meridian or channel system. Within this theory the meridian pathways run throughout the body and nourish the relevant tissues they pass through. When it comes to the face the two channels that dominate this area are called the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians. When first learning Chinese Medicine you often hear that the Yangming meridians should be full of Qi and blood. In practice this statement means that the tissues where these channels run should be full and vibrant, as such the face should have a natural healthy glow that signifies a deeper vitality. Due to lifestyle and the daily stressors the Yangming meridians will often become weak. Stressors may include poor diet, over work or exertion and chronic worry or overthinking. Through acupuncture treatments the Yangming meridians can be nourished and their vitality restored.

Modern Approach:
Modern research in this area revolves around micro trauma and the production of collagen. When needles are inserted into fine lines and wrinkles the skin is damaged and as such the immune system is activated. Repeated treatments begin to increase the production of collagen in the local area and thus reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well as improving the elasticity of the skin. Over time a more youthful appearance is the result.

How to use Facial Acupuncture:

1. Occasional treatment: The same way you may go to a spa every few months to receive a facial, Acupuncture can be used in the same way. The treatment is generally very relaxing and can be used as part of your healthy lifestyle as well as your skin care regime.

2. Regular treatments: As part of your skin care regime we would generally recommend treatments once or twice a month. Over time this will give much better results than the occasional treatments.

3. Intensive treatments:
For more detailed work and longer lasting results regular treatments are recommended, at first. This generally involves 1 or even2 treatments every week for 4 to 8 weeks. After this initial period treatments are then dropped to once a month.

What does a treatment involve:

When coming for FRA you actually receive much more. Needles are not only inserted into the face but also in other points located around the body. These points benefit the skin and face but are also chosen for your specific constitution. In traditional medicine this is what we call a root treatment. The root treatment will redress any underlying imbalances your body has. It’s not uncommon for a good root treatment to effect other health concerns you may have as it deals with bringing your overall health back into balance.

A common question we are often asked is, does it hurt? The simple answer to this is generally no. The needles used for FRA are extremely thin and insertion is most often painless.

During your treatment you will also receive facial cupping. This involves the use of suction cups on the face to improve the blood flow to the skin. This can help in a number of ways but is most often used to speed up repair of the skin from the micro trauma caused by the needles. The combination of these two modalities can produce a far better result than just using needles.

After the treatment you should notice the face looks more vibrant, but it may take 4-5 treatments before long lasting deep changes begin to occur. Due to the root treatment you should also feel relaxed with an overall sense of wellbeing. Again continued root treatments over a period of time will improve our general health and make us more resistant to disease.

Results will of course depend upon frequency of visits. The same way a facial at a spa once every few months wouldn’t make huge changes Acupuncture treatments would be the same. However due to the nature of the treatment the effects are stronger than a regular facial. With more regular treatments the main result you will see is a brighter and more vibrant complexion. Over time fine lines and wrinkles will also reduce and the muscle tone of the face will also improve.

Also remember these treatments will provide benefit beyond wrinkles and fine lines. Regular treatments will improve general health, not only physically but also emotionally. Most people are quite surprised by how healing a treatment can be to our overstressed nervous system.