Facial Acupressure & Acupuncture

If you are looking for a safe, natural way to fight the signs of aging, facial acupressure and acupuncture might be for you. These ancient Chinese arts use fingertip pressure and thin, hairlike needles on key points on the face to help release facial tension and increase circulation, giving you back your healthy glow.

Theory

According to traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, acupuncture and acupressure work by releasing blocks to the free flow of qi or vital life energy. When your body is in a state of balance, qi flows freely along subtle channels called "meridians," helping each organ system in your body function optimally, according to the website Traditional Chinese Medicine World. Tension, stress, or injury can all cause qi to stagnate. This deep-level stagnation can lead to symptoms of illness, pain or a tired appearance. By stimulating key points along the meridians, acupressure and acupuncture restore the smooth flow of qi.

Benefits

Acupuncture and acupressure are both non-invasive ways to rejuvenate and firm the underlying structures of the face as well as the skin. Because each pressure point corresponds to different organ systems in the body, when a practitioner stimulates a point on the face, she also floods the corresponding organ with a fresh supply of qi. Facial rejuvenation acupuncture can also help correct emotional imbalances that might contribute to signs of aging, according to the website Japanese Acupuncture.

Research

Acupuncture can have a dramatic impact on facial issues. In a 2008 study, Virginia Wong and her colleagues, working in the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, used acupuncture to help heal a 15-year-old girl with Bell's palsy, a condition that causes paralysis in the muscles on one side of the face. The girl had suffered from Bell's palsy for seven years. Her symptoms included involuntary twitching and facial distortion. Acupuncture returned the girl's face to a more symmetrical appearance, and greatly increased the strength of her facial muscles by 60 to 70 percent overall.

Try This

Try acupressure self-massage at home by stimulating key points on the midline of your face to release tension and lift your spirits. One key point sits in the dent above your upper lip and below your nose. Apply firm pressure with your finger for two to three minutes to clear stuffed nasal passages. This point also works to balance you if you've suffered an emotional trauma, according to Michael Reed Gach, founder of the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, Calif., and co-author of "Acupressure for Emotional Healing." The point on the center of the forehead and level with your eyebrows, also known as the third eye in Eastern cultures, can help relax a furrowed brow. Press and hold this point for a minute or more to relieve tension and achieve insight and perspective into any situation you might be facing.

Considerations

For the best facial acupressure or acupuncture experience, consult a professional TCM practitioner. In addition to giving you a complete treatment, he will interview you and give you a physical exam to diagnose any underlying issues that might be affecting your appearance. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine maintains an online database that you can search to find a certified acupuncturist or acupressure practitioner near you.