Do you know what’s going on in your body?
Do you wish you had a secret map to tell you?
Well if you suffer from acne, you just might!
There is an ancient practice called “face mapping” that connects your breakouts with other areas of the body and things that may be going wrong.
If you’ve heard of “reflexology”-the idea that pressure on certain points in the hands and feet can help other muscle groups and organs in the body-then you’re familiar with the idea.
Face mapping is sort of the same thing. Taking cues from Ayurveda and ancient Chinese medicine, it explains how certain parts of the face are connected to certain areas of the body.
How does this benefit you?
Well, if you usually break out on your nose, for example, you may want to check your blood pressure, or make sure you’re getting enough vitamin B. Adjusting these things may not only benefit your health, but clear up your skin, as well.
The Practice of Face Mapping
Holistic medicine believes that every part of our bodies communicates and affects every other part-that there is no real separation. In other words, if you’re suffering from acne, it’s likely there are other unhealthy things going on in your body that are manifesting in your face.
Over a period of thousands of years, Chinese medicine has connected certain parts of the face as being more affected than others by certain parts of the body. We can learn what these associations are, to give us clues as to what may be contributing to our acne.
The idea that the face can illustrate illness is not so far out. A butterfly rash, for example, can be a sign of lupus. Yellow eyes can indicate liver damage. Acne may be a sign of bacteria and excess oil, but it could also be a sign of an irritated digestive system or hormones that are out of whack.
Does the practice work? We don’t have any solid scientific evidence on it-only anecdotal. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try it for yourself. After all, those of us who struggle with acne know how frustrating it can be, so any potential solution is always welcome.
Determining the Cause of Your Pimples
Where are your pimples showing up? Determining that can help you figure out what else may be causing them.
- Above the eyebrows: This area is linked to the digestive system. Pimples here signal that you may need to take a second look at your diet. Are you eating too much junk food, or too much fat? It could be you’re having trouble digesting certain foods. Do you have any food allergies or sensitivities? Try adding some digestive enzymes to your meals, make sure you’re getting enough fiber, and drink hot water with lemon to help flush out your system.
- Between the brows: This area is linked to the liver. Problems are linked to fatty, greasy foods-maybe you indulged in a pizza or cheesy pasta the night before? Or perhaps you spent a night out with the girls and indulged in one too many cocktails. Spend a couple days consuming only light foods, and try helping your liver with dandelion tea, garlic and onions, apples, and artichokes.
- Nose: Your nose is connected to your lungs and heart. Make sure your blood pressure and blood cholesterol are in the normal range. A breakout could be a signal that you’ve been spending too much time in a polluted area. Get some fresh air, or consider an air purifier. Make sure you’re changing your sheets at least once a week. You could also be eating too many spicy foods-go bland for a few days and see if that helps.
- Temples: This area is linked to your kidneys, those amazing organs that clean out your blood every day. Pimples here may indicate that you’ve got toxic buildup. It’s time to drink more water, and add some flushing beverages to your daily diet, like cranberry and beet juice.
- Cheeks: Here we want to look at the respiratory system. Allergies are a key culprit, as are sinus infections and other sinus problems. Too much sugar can also trigger acne on the cheeks. Watch out for your oral care as well-pimples on the lower cheeks may indicate germs in the mouth. Step up your brushing and flossing. Try our oil free Rescue + Relief Spray to help calm inflammation and boost skin renewal.
- Chin: You can blame your hormones here. Women who get pimples on the chin at that time of the month are experiencing hormone fluctuations. There’s not much you can do about that, but if you notice pimples here at other times, check with your doctor to see if you need a hormone test. Meanwhile, keep your skin as clean as you can and blot away excess oil.
What About Left or Right?
There is also a part of ancient face mapping that connects each side of your face with different functions in the body. If your pimples show up mainly on the right side, for example, it may be that you need more exercise or that you need to cut back on sugar.
Pimples on the left side, on the other hand, signal a need for more cooling foods, like melons, cucumbers, berries, dark leafy greens, coconut, and avocadoes.
