Skin Health in Calgary: A Holistic Approach - Face & Body
Taking care of your skin is more than just a surface-level task—it’s about nourishing your body from the inside out.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine offer holistic ways to enhance skin health, promote rejuvenation, and maintain a glowing complexion. In a place like Calgary, where the dry and windy climate can take a toll on your skin, regular maintenance becomes even more essential.
And then there is Calgary winter to deal with…
The trifactor for damaged skin - cold, windy, dry
How Acupuncture Supports Skin Health
Acupuncture stimulates circulation and promotes the flow of nutrients to the skin. This helps reduce inflammation, improves elasticity, and encourages a healthy glow. By targeting specific acupuncture points related to skin health, this practice can:
Boost blood flow and oxygenation: Regular acupuncture treatments increase circulation, which delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to the skin, helping to heal damaged areas and promote overall radiance.
Reduce inflammation: Many skin issues, like acne, eczema, and rosacea, are driven by inflammation. Acupuncture helps to reduce inflammatory processes in the body, leading to calmer, clearer skin.
Improve skin tone and elasticity: Acupuncture needles stimulate collagen production, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin firmness.
Herbal Medicine for Skin Rejuvenation
TCM herbal medicine complements acupuncture by providing internal support for skin health. The right combination of herbs works to balance the body’s systems, detoxify, and nourish from within. Herbal formulas can be personalized to address specific skin concerns, such as dryness, redness, acne, or premature aging.
Some common TCM herbs used to promote skin health include:
Key Individual Herbs for Skin Rejuvenation
Goji berry - good as a snack or tea and great for your skin
He Shou Wu (何首乌 / Fleeceflower Root / 하수오)
Function: Nourishes the Liver and Kidneys, tonifies the blood.
Use for Skin: Prevents premature aging, enhances skin tone, and strengthens hair and nails.
Goji Berries (枸杞子 / Gǒu Qǐ Zǐ / 구기자)
Function: Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin, enriches the blood, and promotes skin hydration.
Use for Skin: Promotes a glowing complexion, hydrates the skin, and helps reduce fine lines.
Bai Zhu (白术 / Atractylodes Rhizome / 백출)
Function: Strengthens the Spleen, drains dampness.
Use for Skin: Improves digestion, reduces puffiness and acne by addressing dampness, enhances skin tone.
Dang Gui (当归 / Angelica Sinensis / 당귀)
Function: Nourishes the blood, promotes circulation, and moistens the intestines.
Use for Skin: Improves skin elasticity, enhances complexion, and supports skin healing.
Huang Qi (黄芪 / Astragalus Root / 황기)
Function: Tonifies Qi, raises Yang, and strengthens the Wei Qi (defensive Qi).
Use for Skin: Strengthens the skin’s defense against external pathogens, promotes wound healing, and enhances skin vitality.
Zhen Zhu (珍珠 / Pearl Powder / 진주)
Function: Calms the Shen, clears heat, and brightens the complexion.
Use for Skin: Promotes smooth, youthful skin, and reduces pigmentation and scarring.
Ling Zhi (灵芝 / Líng Zhī / 영지 / Reishi Mushroom)
Function: Tonifies Qi and Blood, calms the Shen, boosts immune function, and clears heat and toxins.
Use for Skin: Reduces wrinkles and fine lines, improves hydration and elasticity, alleviates stress-related skin issues, and promotes clearer, healthier skin.
Bai Mu Er (白木耳 / Bái Mù Ěr / 백목이 / White Wood Ear Mushroom)
Function: Nourishes Yin, supports digestion, enhances hydration, and promotes blood circulation.
Use for Skin: Improves skin hydration and moisture retention, reduces inflammation, promotes collagen production for better elasticity, and helps soothe skin irritations.
Ling Zhi (Reishi Mushroom)
Regular Maintenance is Key in Calgary's Dry, Windy Climate
Living in Calgary means facing dry and windy conditions that can sap moisture from your skin, leaving it dull, flaky, and prone to irritation. Regular acupuncture sessions, combined with herbal treatments, help restore hydration by improving circulation and supporting internal balance.
Consistent care becomes vital for several reasons:
Combatting Dryness: The dry air in Calgary can strip your skin of natural oils, leading to cracking and irritation. Acupuncture helps regulate the body's moisture levels, and herbal medicine can replenish lost fluids, ensuring your skin stays hydrated.
Reducing Sensitivity: Harsh weather conditions can make the skin more reactive, increasing redness and irritation. Acupuncture’s calming effects help soothe sensitive skin, while herbs provide internal balance to minimize these reactions.
Preventing Premature Aging: Wind and dryness accelerate the formation of wrinkles. Regular treatments ensure better circulation and increased collagen production, which keeps the skin more resilient and youthful.
Also see our blog on K-Beauty
JD AcuCare - a holistic program for your skin, focusing on both the face and body
Internal Organ Health and the Skin Connection
In TCM, skin health is not just about external factors; it’s deeply tied to the functioning of your internal organs.
1. Lung (肺 / Fèi / 폐)
Connection to Skin: The lungs are said to govern the skin and body hair. When the Lung Qi is strong, the skin is moist and healthy, but if it is weak, dryness, eczema, and other skin issues may arise.
Skin Signs: Dryness, rough texture, eczema, psoriasis, pallor, sensitivity to the external environment.
TCM Focus: Nourish and strengthen the Lung Qi and ensure proper moisture in the body.
2. Liver (肝 / Gān / 간)
Connection to Skin: The liver stores the blood and regulates its smooth flow throughout the body. Proper circulation of Liver Qi and blood ensures skin vitality and prevents stagnation that could lead to conditions like acne or rashes.
Skin Signs: Acne, rashes, itchiness, red or inflamed skin, hives, eczema.
TCM Focus: Smooth the Liver Qi, move Liver Blood, and detoxify the body.
3. Spleen (脾 / Pí / 비)
Connection to Skin: The spleen is responsible for transforming and transporting food into Qi and Blood. Weak Spleen Qi can lead to dampness, which manifests as oily skin, puffiness, or acne.
Skin Signs: Oily skin, acne, puffiness, cellulite, sagging skin, and dark circles under the eyes.
TCM Focus: Strengthen the Spleen, eliminate dampness, and improve digestion.
4. Kidney (肾 / Shèn / 신)
Connection to Skin: The kidneys store Jing (essence), which is considered the foundation of the body’s vitality. When Kidney Jing is depleted, the skin ages prematurely, becoming dry and wrinkled.
Skin Signs: Premature aging, wrinkles, dark circles, dry skin, loss of elasticity.
TCM Focus: Nourish Kidney Yin and Yang, replenish Jing, and prevent premature aging.
5. Heart (心 / Xīn / 심)
Connection to Skin: The heart governs the blood and the Shen (mind/spirit). When the Heart Qi and Blood are sufficient, the complexion is vibrant. Emotional stress or poor circulation can lead to dull, uneven skin tone.
Skin Signs: Dull complexion, paleness, redness of the face, rosacea, emotional stress affecting skin health (e.g., stress-related acne).
TCM Focus: Calm the Shen, invigorate Heart Blood circulation, and improve the complexion.
6. Pericardium (心包 / Xīnbāo / 심포)
Connection to Skin: The pericardium protects the heart and is associated with emotional well-being. Emotional distress can cause skin conditions like rashes and eczema.
Skin Signs: Stress-induced skin issues such as eczema, hives, and rashes.
TCM Focus: Calm and protect the Heart, relieve emotional stress.
7. Small Intestine (小肠 / Xiǎocháng / 소장)
Connection to Skin: The small intestine separates the clear from the turbid. If this process is impaired, it can result in heat or damp-heat manifesting in the skin.
Skin Signs: Red, inflamed acne, heat rashes, and blemishes.
TCM Focus: Clear heat and damp-heat from the Small Intestine, support healthy digestion.
8. Gallbladder (胆 / Dǎn / 담)
Connection to Skin: The gallbladder is responsible for decision-making and courage, and it also plays a role in the smooth flow of Liver Qi. Gallbladder stagnation can result in issues like acne and oily skin.
Skin Signs: Acne, greasy skin, excess oil production, and yellowish complexion.
TCM Focus: Regulate Gallbladder Qi, clear damp-heat.
9. Stomach (胃 / Wèi / 위)
Connection to Skin: The stomach is responsible for digesting food and fluids, transforming them into Qi and Blood. Stomach heat or dampness can lead to skin problems such as acne and inflammation.
Skin Signs: Inflammation, acne (especially around the mouth and chin), oily skin, and rashes.
TCM Focus: Clear Stomach heat, harmonize digestion, and eliminate dampness.
10. Large Intestine (大肠 / Dàcháng / 대장)
Connection to Skin: The large intestine is responsible for eliminating waste. Constipation or poor bowel function can lead to skin congestion and breakouts.
Skin Signs: Blemishes, acne, dull and sallow complexion, clogged pores.
TCM Focus: Promote healthy elimination, clear heat and toxins from the Large Intestine.
11. Urinary Bladder (膀胱 / Pángguāng / 방광)
Connection to Skin: The urinary bladder controls water metabolism and the excretion of fluids. When there is fluid retention or stagnation, it can manifest as puffiness and edema in the skin.
Skin Signs: Puffiness, edema, and water retention.
TCM Focus: Promote fluid circulation and eliminate dampness.
12. San Jiao (三焦 / Sānjiāo / 삼초)
Connection to Skin: The San Jiao (Triple Burner) regulates the flow of Qi and fluids in the body. Disharmony in the San Jiao can lead to skin issues related to fluid imbalance, such as dry or greasy skin.
Skin Signs: Imbalance between dry and oily skin, uneven texture.
TCM Focus: Harmonize the flow of Qi and fluids across all three burners.
Maintaining skin health requires a multifaceted approach for most Calgarians. Regular acupuncture sessions, combined with personalized herbal medicine, offer an effective way to keep your skin glowing while supporting overall wellness.
If you're ready to embark on a journey toward healthier skin through acupuncture and TCM, book a consultation today to learn how these ancient practices can work for you.