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Traditional medicines -

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Kampo (traditional Japanese medicine), and Korean beauty offer a number of tools and treatments that can offer antiaging benefits, correcting skin concerns, while also contributing to your overall health.

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Emotional health reflects in the skin -

Did you know our emotional health can also impact signs of aging? From a TCM perspective, emotional health is skin health.

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Triggers -

Are you able to recognize triggers when you’re beginning to feel stressed? Does your breathing become faster? Do you feel your heartbeat accelerate? Identifying these nervous system triggers can help you recognize the signs you need to de-stress.

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Regulating the nervous systems -

In Far East traditional medicines, our emotional well-being is rooted in a regulated nervous system. This can only occur if we’re eating well and sleeping well, too. Make sure you’re hitting the sheets early and getting consistent, regular sleep.

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TCM dietary guidelines -

Many traditional Far East medicines use a methodology similar to TCM dietary guidelines to determine which foods will serve you best. While a practitioner is best suited to devise a personalized diet plan for you, there are some general rules everyone should follow.

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Seasonal, balanced diet -

This includes eating a seasonal, balanced diet full of variety, prioritizing eating cooked food over raw to support the digestive process, avoiding overeating, and ensuring you chew your food thoroughly. 

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Warm beverages -

TCM also urges patients to consume warm beverages, such as herbal teas or plain, warm water, as cold drinks may interfere with the digestive process. Eating hydrating foods is also essential. Maintaining good hydration is very important to support bodily functions and skin health.

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Inside out -

TCM views beauty as a reflection of internal health. For traditional Far East medicines, beauty is an inside-out job.

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Tech neck -

One major TCM secret for better skin starts at the neck. Tech neck, stiffness due to poor posture from being on phones or computers all day, causes the neck muscles to strain.

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Reduced circulation -

In addition to reduced mobility in the neck and shoulders, tech neck can also contribute toward reduced circulation to the face, jawline, and neck.

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Signs of aging -

This can contribute to signs of aging, including the propensity for wrinkling, reduced skin elasticity, accumulation of fat, and density loss.

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Neck mobility -

Keeping the neck free of tension should be part of our daily practice to prevent common issues such as jaw tension, sinus congestion, headaches, and facial edema.

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Promote healthy circulation -

Supporting neck health can improve fluid circulation, healthy blood flow, and qi (vital energy in TCM) circulation.

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Neck health -

You can improve your neck health with daily gentle stretching and massage, as well as applying warmth to the area to release tension. This simple strategy can make a significant difference in your mobility and skin’s appearance.

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Facial acupressure -

Facial acupressure can also promote blood circulation, relieve tension, and promote healthy, lymphatic drainage in the face.

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Some points to try -

Apply gentle pressure with your pointer finger to the following points: Large Intestine 4 “the master beauty point” (located between the thumb and index finger – avoid if pregnant), Stomach 3 (located below the cheekbone), and Gallbladder 20 (located at the base of the skull). Hold the point for 30-60 seconds, release, go to the next point, and repeat a few times.

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Acupuncture -

You can also visit a TCM practitioner for regular acupuncture aimed at overall health, which would certainly reflect in your skin’s health. Some clinics specifically offer cosmetic acupuncture, as well.

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Bringing more Qi -

Traditional medicine’s approach to natural cosmetic treatments isn’t to force your face to be something it's not, unlike Botox injections or other permanent or semi-permanent alternations, but rather to use traditional techniques to bring more Qi (vital energy) to a given area.

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Gua Sha -

Gua Sha is a simple and effective tool that you can use to lift and tone your skin. Typically performed with a flat stone, Gua Sha applies gentle pressure in a gliding motion across the skin to reduce edema and improve skin texture, engaging in light sculpting to give a more glowing appearance. It can be used on any part of the body.

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Tools -

While you can make an appointment with a practitioner for a Gua Sha session, you can also do it yourself. Make sure you have an adequate tool to conduct the practice. If you don’t have the proper stone, you can also use the back of a spoon.

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How to do it -

Use facial oil or serum that is suitable for your skin condition to help the tool glide across your face. Starting at the neck, place the tool at an angle just above your collarbone and gently move in an upward motion toward your jawline. In terms of pressure, less is more. You’ll want to repeat the motion five times as you make your way around your neck.

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Moving to the face -

After working on your neck, you can move to your face, following the natural curves of the skin, and ensuring that you are never tugging the skin. You can use actives, such as retinol, to see even greater benefits of Gua Sha. There are many free tutorials online that can help beginners.

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Avoid cold -

Just like traditional medicines avoid ingesting anything that’s cold, the same methodology applies to the outside. Although dunking your face in ice has been a popular TikTok trend over the last year, from a traditional medicine perspective, applying warmth and encouraging circulation is much more useful.

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Sun protection -

One of the key secrets to youthful skin is adequate sun protection. In East Asia, sun protection is not just limited to hats or glasses, sun protective clothing that includes face and hand coverage is increasingly popular.

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Apply SPF -

Sun protection is not just for the summer. Although you might not feel the need to wear sun-protective clothing, make sure you’re applying SPF regularly to avoid melasma (hyperpigmentation) and sun damage.

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Scalp health -

Another area traditional medicines give a great deal of importance to in terms of beauty health is the scalp. A head and scalp treatment can help to relieve tension in the head, neck, and shoulders, all while boosting circulation to promote better skin and hair.

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Hair as a marker of age -

Since hair health, including density, strength, and appearance, can be a marker of age, it’s important to give it the necessary attention. This isn’t only about finding the perfect cut or color.

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Massage included -

In many hair salons in East Asia, a scalp, neck, or shoulder massage is usually included in your salon service. This is because hair health starts with adequate blood flow to the head.

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Other techniques -

There are many other techniques that are used in traditional medicines. Exercises like Tai Chi and Qi Gong move and generate energy through specific movements that promote strength, balance, and flexibility. Treatments such as cupping, Tui Na (pictured), and other techniques can also be explored.

Sources: (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology) (Lanshin)

See also: The most popular anti-aging facial treatments

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