Essential Oil Acupressure for Rosacea

Q:  What can I do for rosacea?

A:  Rosacea (named for rosy cheeks) is a red skin irritation on the face. It can be anywhere from light and mild to very noticeable and uncomfortable.  A doctor must diagnose whether or not red skin on the face is actually rosacea or something else.

There are some really nice things we can do with essential oils for this condition, and they involve using the oils with acupressure on the arms and legs – not applying essential oils to the face which may irritate the condition even more.

In Chinese medicine, rosacea is often energetically related to too much heat in the stomach and the lungs rising up to the face.  This can be from many different things, so be sure to talk with a qualified Acupuncturist to determine how this might apply to you.

Here are 5 essential oils to choose from that will help to clear heat:

• Lemon
• Peppermint
• Palmarosa
• Clary Sage
• German Chamomile

While there are more essential oils to choose from, I picked these five because they tend to be fairly common and easily available on the market.  See if you have one or more of these oils on hand.

We’re going to blend between 1-3 of these oils together, dilute them into a carrier oil, and apply them to some acupressure points on the arm and also on the foot.

In the video, I chose to work with a nice blend of Lemon and Peppermint diluted in Avacado carrier oil, however you could use any plain carrier oil you have on hand.

For single use oil – meaning you’re going to mix a very small amount to use right now – use ½ tsp carrier oil.  To this add 2 drops of Peppermint and 2 drops of Lemon for a total of 4 drops essential oil.  Stir that together with your finger, then it’s ready to apply.

You can also make a 1-oz. size bottle if you plan to use this blend often over a period of time.   For this, fill the bottle with carrier oil, then add up to 20-24 drops of the essential oils you are using.

For example, if I was going to use Lemon and Peppermint, I might split that in half and add 10 drops of Peppermint and 10 drops of Lemon to 1 oz carrier oil. Shake it well and place a label on it with the purpose, oils used, and date.  Stored properly, this will keep for approximately 1 year.

APPLYING THE OILS – ACUPRESSURE TECHNIQUE (demonstrated in the video)

On the arm, we’re going to be using the Large Intestine and the Lung Meridians. The area we’ll focus on goes from the elbow crease down into the muscle on the thumb (thenar eminence).

Take some of the diluted essential oil blend and apply it to the whole top section of the lower arm.  Use your fingers to glide along this area, going from the elbow towards the hand, ending between the thumb and the index finger, which is acupoint Large Intestine 4 on the outside and Lung 10 in the middle of the thenar eminence.

The acupoints to focus on at the elbow crease are Large Intestine 11 and Lung 5. Applying the oil to these areas is going to allow the acupoints and the meridians in the arm carry the cooling, clearing-heat energy of the oils through these meridians and into the face.

Because heat rises up, as in rising from the body up to the face, focus on using a downward stroke direction with an image of pulling heat down from the face to the hand and out. Be sure to lightly squeeze the acupoints and meridians along the edge of the arm.

Do this anywhere from 8 - 24 times, and if someone’s face is severely red and irritated, you could do this up to 50 times.

If, for any reason, the oil starts to get dry, it’s fine to apply a little bit more. When you’re done with one arm, repeat on the opposite arm. You can also do this to yourself.

Moving on to the foot, we’re going to apply these same oils focusing mainly on the inner foot and ankle area.

We’ll use a strong point for heat in the face, which is Stomach 44. It’s located in the webbing between the second and third toes.  Apply some of the essential oil blend there, and also to the inside of the foot, right along the edge of the arch.  Come up the foot, and then circle around the inner ankle. In this area, we’re using acupoints Spleen 4 and also Kidney 3, which can both be used for cooling the upper body.

The acupoints in the feet are helping to clear heat. The Stomach Meridian begins in the face and travels all the way down to end at the second toe. It is strongly associated with rosacea in the face so even working down at the foot, we’re affecting the upper body.

Stimulate Stomach 44 acupoint anywhere from 8 - 24, or even up to 50 times. You can also just leave your finger resting gently on the point until you feel a Qi sensation, which might feel like a magnetic pulsation or an energetic movement of some kind. Try this energetically for up to 2 minutes.

Next, focus on the inner side of the foot and glide along right in the middle of the arch.  There’s a place where you’re going to just come to a nice, natural stop at the edge of a bone. This is acupoint Spleen 4. Finally, glide around to the inner ankle.  Right in the middle between the ankle and the Achilles tendon is acupoints Kidney 3.

Glide along this area anywhere from 8 – 24, or up to 50 times. How I decide on the number is that is if someone has very mild red in their face, I would do this 8 to 24 times. The more severe the redness is, the higher number of times, going up to 50.

HOW OFTEN TO DO THIS

Repeat this treatment one time every day to both arms and both feet.

USING HYDROSOLS ON THE FACE

Make a hydrosol spritz. Get a little finger mister bottle and fill with hydrosols and Aloe. Hydrosols are the water by-product of essential oil distillation. There are some really nice companies out there that produce them. See the end for links to my favorites.

Some good choices for cooling are Melissa and Rose, and these are both very nice on facial skin. One of my favorite hydrosol companies, Oshadhi, has an Aloe 10:1 product that blends beautifully with hydrosols.  You can also add any pure aloe gel as long as the consistency is thin.

Hydrosols smell beautiful, and they are much milder than essential oils.  You really don’t want essential oils or carrier oil on your face when it is red and irritated. For the hydrosol and aloe blend, spray it lightly on our facial skin.  It should feel nice and cooling.  If for any reason it feels irritating, discontinue use.

QIGONG EXERCISE TO COMPLEMENT THE TREATMENT

After the acupressure treatment and hydrosol facial spritz, it’s time to end with QiGong. This exercise is called Two Hands Draw Down Cool Rain.

Connect with your breath.

As you inhale, bring your hands up over your head.

Exhale, and moving with your breath let your hands lower down. Imagine that you’re hands are gently guiding cool rain over your body. It’s taking all that heat and cooling it off.   

Inhale up. Exhale down.

Repeat this exercise 8 - 24 times, or for up to about 5 minutes. You can use this for high blood pressure also. QiGong feels so nice and so relaxing. Just move with your breath.

Recommended Resources for Hydrosols (Hydrolats)

Oshadhi

www.oshadhi.co.uk

White Sage Landing

www.whitesagelanding.net

(Enter Code CMCM when ordering from White Sage Landing.)

Featuring Essential Oil and Oriental Medicine Instructor Cynthia McMullen, LMT, MQT, SM

Overview of Cancer in Traditional Chinese Medicine

According to Western Medicine, cancer is a group of almost 100 different types of diseases marked by uncontrolled growth of cells in the human body and the ability of these cells to migrate from the original site and spread to distant sites. Western doctors typically use a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, diet, and exercise in order to control the extension of cancer cells. When it is not able to be controlled, cancer will cause death.

Over 1.6 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States in 2016. It is now the second leading cause of death nationwide, just behind heart disease. Over 500,000 people will die from cancer this coming year in the U.S.

Many patients, especially in more recent years, have turned to alternative medicine for cancer treatment. While ignoring your Oncologist’s advice is not recommended, the wide-range of alternative modalities leaves many options available to look into.

Even some of the most ancient healing systems, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), have treatment recommendations. Modern practitioners of TCM translate ancient beliefs into treatment plans for “diseases” that Western medicine has adorned with a name. Practitioners of TCM look at the constitution of the body in terms of the meridian systems, emotional state and flow of qi in order to prescribe one or a combination of treatments to a patient. Each patient will have a different treatment plan based off of excess or deficient amounts of qi in their body. These treatments may include diet modification/herbs, body work, qi gong, moxibustion, and cupping.

Diet and Herbs:

TCM practitioners use diet and herbs for many treatment plans, not just those for cancers. Foods, tastes and flavors are directly connected to the five elements and their properties, as well as their effects on the human body. Deficiencies or excess amounts of qi that cause an elemental imbalance will inform the therapist what to prescribe their patients. Be sure to find a therapist who has a long history of working with food and herbs prior to a consultation.

BodyWork:

There are many modifications to TCM body work modalities that any good therapist should know in order to make their massage a relaxing and beneficial experience for a client who is undergoing cancer treatment. All massage therapists will modify variables such as pressure and duration of massage. Massage therapists who use TCM in their practice may also include modifications to their massage patterns in order to work specific meridians and acupressure points that may complement a specific type of cancer treatment. While body work is not a primary treatment method for cancer, it is certainly a wonderful complementary care modality.

Qi Gong:

Most people have not ever heard of qi gong, but individuals who are conscious of and sensitive to their energy flow may find this modality very beneficial. Qi Gong, like yoga, uses dynamic postures and focused breathing in order to move energy along specific meridian channels on the body. Visit the National Qigong Association at www.nqa.org for more information.

Moxibustion:

Artemesia Vulgaris, or “Moxa”, is an herb that grows in China, California, and other locations on similar latitudes. Moxa is used regularly by TCM practitioners in order to treat yang deficiencies throughout the body. Moxa can be dried, rolled up into balls, and burned in a room to be diffused, or actually burned on the skin on specific acupressure points. In TCM, moxa warms what is cold. Moxa should NOT be used when the body is experiencing too much heat, which sometimes occurs with cancers. For example, moxa is contraindicated for high blood pressure and burning overactive tumors.

Cupping:

Cups are used for a wide-range of conditions. Most recently, professional athletes around the world have used cups in order to maintain circulation and performance-level muscle tension; however, cupping will usually be contraindicated for cancer treatment. While it does draw out yang heat, the effects on the body’s fragile elimination systems may uphold contraindication.

Citings:

American Cancer Society

www.cancer.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

www.cdc.org

Online Medical Dictionary

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Cancer

Oriental Healing Arts Center of Alaska

(class notes)

www.akinstitute.com  

Traditional Acupuncture: The Law of the Five Elements, 2^nd Edition

Dianne M. Connelly, PH.D.

Abdominal Cupping Treatment

Overview of an excellent Abdominal Cupping Massage our students learn. Digestion is so important to our overall health, and this treatment has numerous therapeutic benefits including weight loss, bloating, constipation, and more. We offer this as a specialty treatment in our professional clinic, and also in a supervised advanced student clinic.

Cynthia's Top 10 Essential Oils for First Aid

Using Essential Oils On Your Face

Cynthia answers the question "How much essential oils should I use on my face? Is it the same amount that I use on my body?"

Cynthia's Top 10 Essential Oils - Five Element Style

I'm doing a series of Q&A videos on Essential Oils. Have a question you want answered? Comment & let me know. And tell us - what are Your top 10 oils?

Acupuncture & Massage to Quit Smoking

Natural Therapies to Quit Smoking

Acupuncture & Herbs
Massage Therapy
Meditation
See Video at end for demonstration of Acupressure Massage w Essential Oils

Many people turn to acupuncture when they want to quit smoking. This is because acupuncture can be a gentle and effective way to

·         reduce cravings

·         detoxify the lungs

·         stabilize emotions while quitting

Acupuncture is a therapy that works with your desire to quit and helps manage the change as easily as possible. It is not a magic bullet to rely on to do everything for you.

Auricular Therapy, which is Acupuncture needles inserted into special points in and around the ear, is a powerful treatment for over 185 symptoms and diseases.  We use this extensively to help quit smoking because it is known to work so well.

     

YOU DO have to be ready to quit. YOU DO have to be willing to shift to the identity of being a non-smoker. YOU DO have to make necessary lifestyle changes to support yourself.

On a biochemical level, addiction to cigarettes creates an imbalance in the way that serotonin and dopamine are regulated in the brain. You need a constant fix of nicotine in order to keep a relative balance in the neurotransmitter levels. When nicotine is removed, then serotonin levels plummet which causes irritability, fatigue, anxiety, and sometimes depression. Acupuncture has been clinically shown to regulate these vital brain chemicals without causing unwanted side effects.

Herbs:  Depending on your personal circumstances, health status, and medications, Acupuncture is often combined with Chinese herbs.  There are some excellent formulas that help to moderate withdrawal symptoms, diminish cravings, and calm emotions.

How Treatment Works: 

1. It’s best to get a full assessment intake with a special “Clearing Treatment” first. Needles are inserted into very strong points along your spine. This helps clean and balance your Qi before specific treatment begins.
2. We recommend coming in more frequently at first, such as 2-3 times per week, and then taper off as you change and cravings are decreased and much easier to get over.
3. It is always important to Not Smoke for at least 1-2 hours before you come in. Auricular Therapy works best when you are actually craving a cigarette – not after you’ve just had one and the craving is satisfied. Don’t worry, though. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how well the needles stop the craving.

Yes, Get Massage.  The way that massage promotes the relaxation response while at the same time helping your body to naturally detoxify is a huge benefit while going through this entire process. We have a student clinic, professional massage therapists, and even the instructors at our school who can add in specific essential oils and energy work to help you achieve success.

Meditation can also be a profound resource for people trying to quit. Mindfulness exercises help with developing space around the cravings and observing them in a neutral state of awareness. This helps to take a lot of the momentum out of the energy of addiction. It gives one a deep inner resource to draw upon when difficulties arise.  We offer classes that include meditation, and we can teach you how to easily do it on your own.

To schedule, contact us at:
main reception: 907-279-0135
community acupuncture clinic:  907-929-4525