• Face Reading in Chinese Medicine. By Deirdre Courtney MSc TCM, from The College of Naturopathic Medicine.
• The Dorn method, a gentle treatment that aims to address imbalances and alleviate pain in the body. By Brigitte Nath
• Natural therapy Pages - Aromatherapy for Stress and Anxiety

Face Reading in Chinese Medicine.
By Deirdre Courtney MSc TCM, from The College of Naturopathic Medicine.

Deirdre is a qualified Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner in Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Chinese Nutrition and Tuina. She lectures in Acupuncture for The College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) and is head of the Acupuncture department at CNM in Ireland. She has practiced internationally for over 20 years.

Did you know how much our faces reveal about us? One of the oldest manuscripts about Chinese Medicine ever found had on its first page “the facial map” The second page was a map of the facial meridians.

The face is said to be the blue print of who we are and of who we are becoming. All our facial features and lines tell our story, what we have been through and when. It also tells us about our personalities, our strengths and our weaknesses. When life events happen they mark our faces. Our face is our story. Coco Chanel once said “We get the faces we deserve”. Maybe she was alluding to oriental thinking which suggests that if we don’t look after ourselves physically and emotionally and eat the foods that are best suited to our constitutions, and spend time in the climate and environment that best suits us then this can be seen on our faces. In oriental thinking an inappropriate diet, too many toxins or drugs, too much stress and persistent negative emotions all affect our internal organs and if these organs are out of balance it can be seen in our faces. The good news is that when we pursue lifestyles that respect balance, when we nurture ourselves emotionally, physically and mentally, our faces, with all their stories, are beautiful.

When we express ourselves, lines develop on our faces. When we laugh the wrinkles at the side of the eyes crinkle, when we are sad or disappointed then the corners of the mouth drop. These lines merely indicate the emotion we are experiencing but when these lines are there all the time they indicate that a particular emotion may be habitual, hence laughter lines or frown lines may become more permanent. Amazingly sometimes when we change habitual emotional responses or release long-held in emotions lines can just disappear or just leave a faint resonance!

Expressive people will naturally have more lines then repressed (non-expressive) people who will have more discoloration on the face than lines.

We can divide the face into 3 areas, top, middle and bottom. The top area is related to mental activity, the middle to practical, and the lower to our emotional and instinctual worlds.

The shape and markings on the forehead are said to be our “inheritance”, the talents, abilities, interests and desires that are innate to us. The middle area relates to our “fertility and creativity” and the lower area reveals the “overuse of our bodies”

If you run a line down the middle of the face you will see that each side of the face is slightly different. The right side is how you want to be perceived in the world and the left side is the private you, who you really are.

The KIDNEY:
Too much hard work, juggling too many commitments, worry, lack of sleep, too much coffee all show in the kidney/liver area. This is the half moon-shape under the eye. If the area is puffy and blue, you are working too hard and depleting the adrenals. Similarly if the inner corner of the eye has a sunken dark blue tinge to it, then it is time to take stock and look at how to live in a less stressful way. If your ears are redder than the skin on your face it is also a sign to seek balance.

The LIVER:
If you look under the eyes and there is a dark brown or congested colour then this points to the liver being out of balance. The liver can become stressed and out of balance for several reasons, these include too much bottled up emotion, unexpressed frustration or anger, too many fatty foods (especially foods such as dairy, pork, fried foods) and alcohol. If the liver is very congested (fatty infiltration of the liver) there may be a deep vertical line between the eyebrows. If this is present the body’s fat metabolism and hormone system may not be working optimally. When there is little fat and alcohol in the diet and when we have a healthy and open expression of emotion then there is very little brown discoloration in the face (no liver spots) and we have fewer lines.

The HEART:
This is seen in our eyes. We call this the ‘Shen’. The Shen in Chinese Medicine is known as our spirit, it is the life force that shines from our eyes that shows we are truly alive. When our Shen is good, the eyes are moist and glisten. If when you look in the mirror the eyes that look back at you are dull rather than glistening then somewhere you have become disconnected from your heart and need to rediscover what really brings joy into your life.

The STOMACH and intestines:
The health of our digestive organs is seen in the lower part of the face, around the mouth and chin. If there are eruptions or spots or if the skin is blotchy around the chin this may indicate poor intestinal health such as an overgrowth of candida or too much sugar, yeast or dairy in the diet. If the lower lip is swollen or protruding the large intestine might be sluggish. If the top lip is cracked or red there is too much heat in the body. This may indicate too much alcohol, caffeine, spicy food or excess acidity. If there is yellowish discoloration in this area then the digestive fires might be weak and a better diet with some digestive enzymes may be needed. If there are deep transverse lines running along the middle of the forehead, this also indicates a need to boost our absorption of nutrients. These lines indicate spleen imbalance, one of the major causes of spleen imbalance is a tendency to worry. For a smooth forehead we need to let go of worry!

Sometimes we meet someone elderly and marvel at how youthful their faces appear and what a sparkle they have in their eyes. Invariably with further discussion we will find that that person has lived a life where they have come to know what foods and environments suit them the best and keep them in balance, a life where they have known what emotions they need to express to stay in balance and a life where they have followed their heart’s message and hence preserved the Shen.

REJUVENATE YOUR FACE FROM WITHIN is a talk that Deirdre will be giving on Saturday 10th September as part of a whole programme of natural health lectures open to the public at CNM’s Open Weekend in London. Please click for more details.

Deirdre will cover: How emotional states affect the body’s organs, how organ function impacts on the face, how to read health clues in your face, and food and lifestyle factors to make you look younger.

The College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) offers career training in Nutritional Therapy, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. Short courses and postgraduate courses are offered in a range of natural therapies. CNM has colleges across the UK and in Ireland. Courses available depend on location. www.naturopathy-uk.com 01342 410 505.

A welcome distraction, by Brigitte Nath

Brigitte Nath provides an introduction to the Dorn method, a gentle treatment that aims to address imbalances and alleviate pain in the body.

The Dorn method is a gentle, safe and very effective treatment used to correct misalignments of the spine and other joints. It consists of simple, easy to learn exercises and techniques which help joints and vertebrae slip back into their natural positions without ‘clicking’ or ‘crunching’.

Dorn theory states that imbalance within the body is the cause of numerous health problems. For example, the spinal column is made up of many vertebrae which not only support our upper body, but are also responsible for their own particular functions and may cause health problems if out of place. An imbalance of the hip caused, for example, by a difference in leg length can force the spine to sit crooked on an uneven foundation, leading not only to back pain but also problems elsewhere, such as headaches, neck and shoulder pain.

The Dorn method focuses on restoring balance to the body and long term health through a combination of three parts, consisting of the actual treatment, the promotion of better posture in day to day life, and a set of self-help after care exercises for people to practice at home.

Dorn has its humble origins in South Germany more than 35 years ago where it is now very well recognised and practised by thousands of therapists as well as some doctors and physiotherapists. The story goes that the Dorn method was developed by Dieter Dorn, a sawmill owner who injured himself while lifting a heavy log and consequently suffering lumbago. An old farmer, who was known as the ‘local healer’, came to Dieter Dorn’s aid. Relieving him of his pain, Dorn asked whether he could also learn the techniques the healer had used, to which the healer replied ‘you already know them’, implying how easy they were to learn and practice. After successfully helping many people with their health problems, Dieter Dorn then decided that it was time to teach other people the benefits of this treatment, and thus the Dorn method was born.

One of the key features to Dorn’s success and effectiveness is its approach to getting joints to move more readily back into their correct, natural positions and then stay there. A twisted or badly seated spinal column may have vertebrae which are being held out of place by muscles under strain, and any attempt to move the joint back into position will fight against the muscle. Rather than forcefully trying to move the vertebrae, Dorn works by cleverly ‘distracting’ muscles while corrections are made.

This muscle distraction is achieved by asking the client to actively participate in the treatment by moving the joint at the same time that the therapist pushes or guides the joint back into its proper position, using gentle thumb or hand pressure. This ‘dynamic’ movement provided by the client working together with the therapist enables logical, mechanical principles of counter pressure and levering forces to come into play, and this form of correction is usually readily accepted by the body.

Dorn can be used to help alleviate many common health problems such as back pain, sciatica, scoliosis, migraine, neck and joint pain, hip problems, leg length indifference, and more. It is also a holistic treatment, which means many other types of problems can often be relieved by working on the meridian and nerve system of the body.

There are very few limitations and contraindications to treatment, but some of the common ones include acute inflammation or fever, paralysis, acute migraine attacks, any recent accidents, post surgery of discs, cancer, acute prolapsed disc(s) and immobility.

Biography: Brigitte Nath is an authorised Dorn method instructor and therapist and holds regular workshops around the country. She studied the Dorn Method in her native Germany with Dieter Dorn himself. For more information about Brigitte or the Dorn Method, visit www.dornmethod.co.uk or call T. 0845 519 2744.

Brigitte will be hosting a workshop on Sunday 23rd October at camexpo from 15:15-16:45 for more information and to view the full workshop programme please click here.

This article was first published in International Therapist (January 2010, issue 91), the membership journal of the Federation of Holistic Therapists (www.fht.org.uk). Reprinted with permission of the FHT and Brigitte Nath.

Natural therapy Pages - Aromatherapy for Stress and Anxiety

Aromatherapy for Stress and Anxiety

Aromatherapy can be beneficial for stress and anxiety relief, with the help of some well-chosen plant extracts and essential oils. It aims to positively influence and rebalance the physical, mental and emotional aspects of our bodies - including the reduction of stress and anxiety in individuals. Stress and anxiety are on the rise in modern society, as lifestyles are increasingly time-pressured with an emphasis on performance in the workplace. The incidence of work related stress is a significant factor in absenteeism, and if not addressed could have more serious health implications for the individual.

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the use of essential plant and flower extracts to promote health and wellbeing. Aromatic plant oils can stimulate, balance, uplift, soothe and calm. These can be massaged into the body in a mixture with a neutral base or carrier oil, or they can be inhaled via the use of a room diffuser. They work by triggering the olfactory senses which in turn are connected to our brains – so offer a direct method of influencing the production of the so-called feel good hormones, such as endorphins. Aromatic plant oils have the ability, therefore to stimulate, balance, uplift and calm. Some essential oils which are commonly prescribed for stress and anxiety include:

• Lavender
• Geranium
• Chamomile
• Clary sage
• Bergamot
• Jasmine
• Sandalwood; and
• Sweet marjoram

Stress and Anxiety

A build-up of stress or anxiety can have a number of detrimental side effects, including elevated heart and blood pressure rates. If this is sustained over time this can have a cumulative effect which can result in more serious health implications. If you manage stress effectively it can be very beneficial to your world view and interaction on a personal level. The extended benefits include:

• Adapting to change more easily
• Increasing your energy levels
• Becoming more tolerant of challenging circumstances
• Being more open and relaxed; and
• Allowing you to enjoy improved sleep

How can Aromatherapy Help Stress and Anxiety?

Aromatherapy is a potentially relaxing and therapeutic remedy, and has proven to be especially helpful in alleviating stress and anxiety. It has been shown to lower heart and breathing rates, blood pressure and restore hormonal balance.

Essential Oil Blends for Stress

Into a bottle of basic massage oil (carrier oil is needed to dilute pure essential oils), you can add the following:

• 10 drops of bergamot oil
• 20 drops geranium oil
• 10 drops ylang ylang oil
• 5 drops frankincense oil
• 5 drops cedarwood oil

This blend will help you to relax the mind and forget about things for a while. Alternatively, you can use the following mix in order to relax aches and pains that are caused by stress:

• 20 drops lavender oil
• 10 drops rosemary oil
• 10 drops black pepper oil
• 5 drops peppermint oil
• 5 drops cypress oil

Again ensure that the oils are diluted in a bottle of carrier oil.
It is important to consult a qualified and trained aromatherapist as some essential oils are so concentrated that they have the potential to be harmful, and can burn the skin. They may also be harmful if swallowed.

Find out about other effective natural treatments for stress and anxiety.

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