Chinese Face Mapping: Chinese Medicine for Great Skin

A Centuries-Old Practice

Chinese face mapping is a unique system is based on Chinese Medicine, a centuries-old medical practice. In it, the body’s organs are linked to interconnected meridians (or channels) that regulate each other.

When an organ or organ system is not in balance, it will show through signs or symptoms in the body. Sometimes, these signs manifest on the face. Chinese medicine can then use the face – as well as other microcosms on the body such as the ear, the stomach, and the scalp – to diagnose and help internal issues in the body.

Discover What Your Face Is Saying About You

Upper Forehead/Hairline – Large Intestine and Urinary Bladder

Problems in the upper forehead indicate that the body is having a hard time breaking down food. This is your cue to drink plenty of water to flush out any toxins. Eat more antioxidant foods like berries, and drink green tea, matcha tea, and lemon water. Digestive enzymes such as those found in papaya and pineapples also help.

Stress can show up here too, as the intestines are linked to the nervous system; deep horizontal lines on the forehead can be a sign of anxiety, overthinking, or unresolved trauma. Meditation or yoga can calm down the nerves and improve gut function.

Lower Forehead – Mind and Spirit

Stress, depression, poor sleeping habits, or even poor circulation can pop up in the lower forehead. Go to sleep earlier, meditate, immerse yourself in an enjoyable show or book, or practice self-care – such as a massage or long bath. Or, grab a pen and paper and start a gratitude journal. Reach for nuts, avocado, blueberries, leafy greens, and dark chocolate (yes, dark chocolate!).

Corners of Forehead – Kidney and Urinary Bladder

Issues in the corners of the forehead point to dehydration and/or a diet high in salt and caffeine. Increase your intake of herbal teas and healthy waters such as spring and raw coconut water. Choosing tea over coffee and using sea salt instead of iodine salt will also help. Be mindful of carbonated drinks, as these beverages can be high in sodium. Be aware that many medications can also negatively affect the kidneys over time.

Between the Eyebrows – Liver

This is a signal to cut down on fatty foods, dairy, and excess alcohol consumption. Try healthy swaps such as almond milk in place of cow’s milk, and fresher fast-food alternatives like Chipotle instead of Wendy’s.

The liver is also the organ that processes your emotions. It is common for people who are chronically angry, impatient, or frustrated to develop a deep, vertical crease or groove between their brows. If this is you, try to get out in nature more, learn to let go, and not take things too seriously.

The eyebrows themselves have a lot to say! Full, wide, or long brows suggest a strong liver, a personality that can handle toxicity and physical demands well. Smaller, finer brows indicate a person with an easy-going demeanor. Curved brows indicate an ability to handle difficult people.

Eyes – Kidneys

In Chinese medicine, the kidneys manage bodily fluids and stress responses. Dark circles or puffiness under the eyes suggest dehydration or poor elimination. Make sure you are drinking plenty of quality water. Bone broth, black seeds, and mineral-rich foods such as nuts, dark leafy greens, and mushrooms are also beneficial.

Crow’s feet, or lines that slant upward, indicate those who tend to laugh and smile a lot; really deep crow’s feet can suggest a history of making difficult decisions. Lines that slant downward from the sides of the eyes can reveal a person who has dealt with a lot of crying and grief, especially if the lines seep over the cheekbones.

Nose – Heart

Stress, hypertension, and poor blood circulation are the common culprits here. The presence of blackheads can indicate heart congestion. Redness or puffiness can be linked to issues with blood pressure or blood insulin levels. Again, try to reduce stress with meditation, yoga, or writing down your feelings. This would be a good time to add more heart-healthy omega 3-rich foods such as nuts, avocados, fatty fish, chia seeds, and cacao. You might also notice some abdominal bloating or indigestion too; some maps link the nose to the stomach and digestive issues.

Ears – Kidneys

Dehydration or a diet high in salt or caffeine can impact the ears. Increase your intake of quality water and reduce caffeine, salt, and alcohol – particularly if your ears feel hot. Interestingly, a deep crease on the earlobe can point to possible heart problems.

Cheeks – Lungs

Allergies and respiratory issues are common factors when it comes to the cheeks. For this, smoking or smoky areas may also be a factor. This is the time to get out into the fresh air, to up your dusting and vacuuming game, change your air filters regularly. And if you smoke, this would be a good sign to quit. Redness in the cheeks can be connected to an inflamed stomach; increase your fluids to quell stomach heat.

According to some Chinese face mapping, the right cheek is connected to heat in the lungs. Meanwhile, the left cheek is connected to heat in the liver. Other maps link the upper cheeks to the lungs and the lower cheeks to the mouth. In Chinese medicine, grief is associated with the lungs, therefore lines or marks on the cheeks can point to a long period of grieving or unresolved grief.

Mouth/Upper Chin – Stomach and Small Intestine

Fast food and constipation are the usual instigators for issues, here. Time to bump up your intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, and high-fiber foods. Issues inside the mouth such as ulcers are attributed to stomach heat in Chinese medicine, and you just might experience corresponding ulcers in the stomach. Small cracks around the mouth can suggest a problem with the intestines. Dry lips can reflect a problem with dryness in the body. Try eating more cooked instead of raw vegetables and limit sweet foods to reduce heat and moisten the dryness.

Lines around the mouth are typically related to smoking but can be common among caretakers, as the stomach is associated with nurturing. These lines suggest over nurturing others at the expense of caring for yourself. Deep vertical lip lines are a big red flag for some much-needed self-care.

Marionette lines, or lines that extend from the base of the nostrils to the corners of the mouth, are known as purpose lines. Faint lines suggest one has a purpose but has not committed to it, while strong lines indicate a person living fully in their purpose.

Chin and Jawline – Small Intestine and Gall Bladder

Acne develops here due to hormonal issues (like high testosterone, for example). Fast food can also contribute to breakouts, as well as irregular bowels. Increase high-fiber foods such as vegetables, chia seeds, and flaxseed to help with constipation. Fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha can also help gut health.

The fact that the jawline connects to the gallbladder makes sense, and indeed fatty foods can contribute to gallstone formation. Reduce your consumption of fried, greasy, or oily foods to help avoid this. The gallbladder is the organ of indecision, so a tight jawline can reveal a person who waffles with self-expression or holds onto resentment.

Sides of Chin – Kidneys and Reproductive Organs

Extreme stress or hormonal imbalances are frequently to blame for issues. Increase your water and leafy greens, calm your mind, and make sure you are getting at least seven hours of sleep. Adaptogens such as maca powder or Rhodiola can help even out mild hormonal imbalances.

• Reduce wrinkles, lines, under eye bags, and sagging skin. 

  Facial acupuncture is best known for its ability to erase the signs of aging and improve the look and feel of the skin naturally. Many of the amazing results that people see from facial acupuncture stem from its ability to hone in on specific areas and treat them holistically. Chinese face mapping gives us a roadmap to follow to get the best results from our acupuncture treatment.

• Address underlying root issues according to the organ systems.

  Believe it or not, facial acupuncture is not just about the face! During a Wellnest Denver cosmetic acupuncture session, we address both specific problem areas on the face and powerful body acupuncture points that get to the root of the problem. Through our diagnostic face mapping, we can see which hormones need balancing, which organ systems are most stressed, or what areas need more nourishment. Then, we effectively target our treatment to help restore balance to those systems. The result is better skin and healthier body. 

• Bring mind and body into balance.

  As we learned above, you can often gain insight into someone’s personality, stress levels, and health history simply by analyzing the lines on their face. For instance, we can tell if someone regularly struggles with stress and frustration simply by their deep glabellar line (the space between the eyebrows). With facial acupuncture, we are able to help stimulate circulation and collagen production in this specific area to minimize the line. Then, we can use other treatment points to reduce the root cause of the wrinkle: stress. 

Facial acupuncture is such a comprehensive and holistic beauty treatment precisely because it uses diagnostics like Chinese face mapping to understand the bigger picture of your health. Curious what messages your face is sending? Book your facial acupuncture consultation!

An Important Thing to Remember About Chinese Face Mapping

Occasional blemishes, redness, or lines in any of these zones is no reason for panic! If you do have skin issues or deep lines that concern you, consider Chinese medicine and Chinese face mapping. Acupuncture is great at reducing stress and facial lines as it improves your body’s circulation and promotes collagen production. Chinese herbs are a great complement to strengthen organ function and regulate hormones.

Visit Wellnest Acupuncture Denver to learn how your face can benefit from facial acupuncture.