Autumn Health Preservation: Traditional Chinese Skincare Secrets

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

As autumn unfolds, the air tends to become drier, leading to skin issues such as dryness and oiliness for some individuals. If you are experiencing such concerns, fret not, this article will introduce various skincare methods from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, aiming to address these issues at the root and guide you toward radiant skin!

Dietary Adjustment

Hydration is Key

During autumn, as the air becomes drier, the moisture content in the atmosphere significantly decreases. In such climate conditions, our bodies are prone to dehydration. Dehydration can manifest discomfort in various aspects, with the skin often being the first to be affected. Thus, in autumn, it is crucial to hydrate adequately by consuming ample water.

Opt for plain water, the purest and most natural beverage that swiftly replenishes the body with hydration. Light tea infusions are also beneficial choices, such as green tea or chrysanthemum tea. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, aiding in combating free radical damage and offering excellent skin protection.

Chrysanthemum tea, known for its heat-clearing properties, is suitable for consumption during the dry autumn season. It is recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water daily to meet the body's hydration needs. If pure water feels monotonous, consider adding lemon slices or honey蜂蜜(fēng ) to enhance the taste and provide additional nutrients.

蜂蜜 (fēng ), noun, honey

Examples:

  1. She likes to drizzle honey on her pancakes.
    她喜欢在她的煎饼上淋蜂蜜。
    tā xǐ huān zài tā de jiān bǐng shàng lín fēngmì。
  2. The tea tastes better with a spoonful of honey.
    一勺蜂蜜让茶的味道更好。
    yī sháo fēngmì ràng chá de wèi dào gèng hǎo。

Embrace Yin-Nourishing Foods

In autumn, incorporate Yin-nourishing foods into your diet. Tremella is an excellent option, renowned for its lung-nourishing, cough-suppressing, and Yin-moistening effects, internally nurturing the body and enhancing skin hydration. Lily bulbs are another autumn delight, emitting a delicate fragrance whether stir-fried or cooked into porridge. They aid in lung hydration and heart clearance, maintaining bodily moisture amidst the dry season.

Snow pears, a well-known fruit, effectively moisturize the lungs, help alleviate coughs, nourish the skin, and prevent dryness. Chinese yam is a notable supplement in autumn, benefiting the spleen and stomach, nourishing Yin, and enhancing kidney function – aligning with skin maintenance. These foods possess lung-nourishing, cough-suppressing, and Yin-moistening effects, nourishing the body from within and bestowing healthier, radiant skin.

Limit Spicy and Greasy Foods

In autumn, reduce your intake of spicy and greasy foods. Spices like chili, ginger, and garlic exhibit strong stimulating properties, generating internal heat and exacerbating bodily dryness sensations.

Consuming such items during autumn can easily lead to inner heat accumulation, resulting in oral ulcers, throat inflammation, and related issues. Moreover, spicy foods can irritate the skin, causing redness, heat, and exacerbating dryness, itching, and related concerns.

Fried and oily foods are also unsuitable for excessive consumption during autumn. They accelerate internal heat production, intensifying the sensation of dryness within the body, consequently influencing skin conditions. During autumn, strive to minimize consumption of such spicy and greasy foods, opting for light and easily digestible alternatives to better protect your skin.

Lifestyle Habits

Prioritize Adequate Sleep

Sufficient sleep allows the body's organs to rest adequately, optimizing their individual functionalities.

During sleep, the body conducts metabolic processes, eliminating toxins and waste products. Simultaneously, sleep promotes blood circulation to the skin, furnishing ample nutrients and oxygen, aiding in skin repair and maintenance.

Insufficient sleep leads to fatigue, slowed metabolism, and lackluster, rough skin. Hence, in autumn, nurture healthy sleep habits, ensuring sufficient rest to maintain your body and skin in optimal health.

Avoid Excessive Skin Cleaning

Autumn skin tends to experience dryness, thus exercise caution to avoid over-cleansing. During this season, skin oil secretion tends to diminish. Frequent use of facial cleansers, body washes, and similar cleansing products may disrupt the skin's natural oil barrier, compromising its protection and exacerbating dryness concerns.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Remedies

For severe skincare issues, consider consulting a medical professional to incorporate herbal remedies such as Angelica, White Peony, Rehmannia, and Ligusticum Chuanxiong. These herbs possess blood-nourishing, Yin-moistening effects, capable of ameliorating dry, rough skin conditions.

Moxibustion艾灸(ài jiǔ) Therapy

艾灸 (ài jiǔ), noun, Moxibustion

Examples:

  1. She performed moxibustion on her back.
    她在背部进行艾灸。
    tā zài bèi bù jìn xíng ài jiǔ。
  2. Moxibustion can help improve blood circulation.
    艾灸可以帮助改善血液循环。
    ài jiǔ kě yǐ bāng zhù gǎi shàn xuè yè xún huán。

Moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medical treatment, aids in warming meridians, harmonizing Qi and blood circulation, dispelling cold and dampness, presenting excellent skincare benefits. During autumn, moxibustion on acupuncture points like Zu San Li, Guan Yuan, and Qi Hai, lasting 15 to 20 minutes per session, conducted two to three times weekly, yields favorable results.

Massage Practices

Massage serves as a simple yet effective skincare method, stimulating blood circulation, enhancing skin metabolism, and fostering skin maintenance. During autumn, engage in facial, neck, and hand massages for 10 to 15 minutes per session, practicing once or twice daily.

Sign up for a free trial now!

FAQ / Tips

As a first - time student, if you are not completely satisfied with our service, we offer a cancellation policy that allows you to cancel your subscription before the first month. In such cases, we only charge a one - month fee and refund the remaining balance to you as soon as possible.We strive to ensure that our customers are fully satisfied with our service and are committed to providing a hassle - free refund process.
Our Chinese learning method is focused on personalized and interactive one-on-one lessons with a professional teacher. The lessons are conducted live through our online teaching platform, which allows you to see and talk to the teacher. You can schedule the lessons at a time that suits you, and the teacher will tailor the lesson content to your specific needs and goals. During the lesson, you can ask questions and receive feedback from the teacher to ensure you understand and master the knowledge and skills being taught. We also have a student service team and academic coordinator team to assist you with your learning and provide any additional support you may need.Overall, our method is designed to be flexible, personalized, and interactive to help you achieve your language learning goals.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can send an email to: service @chineselearning.com.We have a team of professionals who will be happy to assist you with any issues as soon as possible.
We offer highly flexible class schedules that cater to your needs, with lessons available from 7am to 10pm Beijing time, seven days a week.This allows you to conveniently take lessons at any time and from any location that suits your schedule.
We provide a wealth of Chinese teaching materials and learning resources, including but not limited to textbooks, workbooks, listening materials, reading materials, video courses, and online courses.Our teaching materials and resources are carefully selected and designed to meet the learning needs and goals of different learners. At the same time, our teachers will provide personalized teaching and guidance based on the learning characteristics and needs of students to ensure that students can learn and master Chinese language efficiently.
We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for all new students.If you are not satisfied with our services within the first month, you may cancel your lessons and receive a refund for any unused lessons.We will only charge you for the first month of lessons, and refund the remaining balance to you promptly.Our goal is to ensure your satisfaction with our services, and we strive to provide the highest quality of instruction and support to all of our students.