High Frequency Uses and Benefits!

High-Frequency machines - a timeless tried and true machine, first developed in the late 1800's for wound healing. This non-invasive treatment has been improving skin conditions such as acne, hair loss and pore and skin tightening, for many years.

High Frequency is a well-known rejuvenating treatment respected in the skin care industry since the turn of the century. It's been proven to stimulate cell renewal and improve skin care product penetration and absorption by gently warming and oxygenating the tissues of the skin.

Its most significant use in the skin care industry is for its positive benefits in effectively reducing acne breakouts and calming the previous breakout down in less time. Treat and prevent stubborn acne, shrink enlarged pores, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, promote lymphatic drainage and product penetration, rejuvenate the condition of the scalp and nourish hair follicles for healthier hair growth.

The safe, gentle oscillating and oxygenating power of high-frequency electrical currents has been shown to enhance blood circulation, increase collagen and elastin production, eliminate toxins and acne-causing bacteria, encourage lymphatic drainage, and improve skin care product absorption. The primary action of high-frequency current is thermal (heat producing) and oxygen creating which assists in killing stubborn acne bacteria under the skin. Relieving even the most stubborn of acne conditions like cystic acne and reducing and shrinking the problem to lessen the severity and duration of the breakout.  Due to the rapid rate of oscillation, it also works to tone the skin and tighten pores, therefore, making it a perfect Treatment Enhancement to any facial.

This treatment is not painful, but you will feel a slight tingling sensation - this is to ensure the machine is providing you with the best results.

Speak to your Natural Art of Skin Care professional today for more questions an details.

By Rachel Lamont, Owner & Holistic Medical Esthetician

The Natural Art of Skin Care

The Wonders of Gua Sha in TCM

It's November and things are getting very busy at the Spa this month!  We have our Client Appreciation Christmas party on the 22nd, which is always a great evening!  It is an excellent time to come meet all of our providers, eat some great food, and take advantage of our 15% off sale on all products and services!!  We are also updating our spa menu and adding a few new exciting treatments, including our new Cellulite Cupping Therapy and we’ve added relaxing hot stones to our Supreme Pedicure!  Because I have had so many clients trying out the new Rejuvenating Acupuncture facial, and loving the gua sha portion so much, I think its a good time to dive into this subject and share all the ways this unusual technique can keep us happy, healthy, and beautiful!

Gua Sha is an ancient "scraping" technique and falls under the umbrella of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  A gua sha instrument is used to glide on lubricated skin, in one direction, until therapeutic petechiae appear on the skin from minor damage to the tiny vessels.  The skin turns red and spotty, which signifies the tissue has been flooded with blood.  

You may wonder why we would want to essentially bruise and scrape the skin?  Similar to cupping therapy, gua sha removes blood and qi stagnation, which is considered to be pathogenic in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  When the tiny vessels incur minor damage from the scraping, the body responds with a healing anti-inflammatory action.  The effects of gua sha have been measured up to four days after the treatment, with decreased inflammation of the area as well as a lasting boost to the immune system.  Because of these effects, it is often used to treat aches and pains, as well as colds and flus.  Gua sha most often produces an immediate reduction in pain and stiffness, as well as immediate reduction to cough, wheezing, fevers, chills, and vomiting. 

How will gua sha be incorporated into my facial and beauty routine you may ask?  We use a more gentle approach with our gua sha tool when it comes to treating the skin on our face.  Facial gua sha is considered to be the natural version of botox.  Because the face is a more delicate area, we use more light strokes to increase the microcirculation, that doesn't cause any damage to the tiny vessels of the face.  Just like the process on the body, facial gua sha will increase blood flow and reduce inflammation, as well as relaxing tight muscles that may be causing wrinkles on the face.  The skin will turn pink and plump following the treatment, leaving the complexion bright and smooth.  Gua sha is an excellent anti-aging treatment, as well as treating puffiness by increasing the lymph drainage of the face.  

Along with the changes to the look and feel of the skin, gua sha feels amazing, and is very relaxing.  Facial gua sha is included in all Rejuvenating Acupuncture facials, but can also be added on to any Acupuncture session.  This month, I'd like to share this awesome technique with all my clients, so I am offering a FREE Gua Sha Treatment Enhancement to any Cupping treatment!  Come on in, use up your benefits before they run out, and try out this exciting ancient healing technique!

Offer valid until November 30, 2018!

Cupping Benefits – Cold & Flu Season + Time to Detox

October has arrived and Calgary is in full-blown fall.  The temperature has dropped, and the wind has picked up, making this a great month to focus on the dreaded flu and cold season!  Because we all want to avoid getting sick this fall/winter time, and because the Spa’s annual Detox with our Holistic Nutritionist, Janna Hattingh, happens this month, I have decided to focus on Cupping Therapy!  You may wonder what these things have in common, and I am here to fill you in!

Many of my Acupuncture clients have already had the privilege of experiencing this ancient technique, and for those who haven't, it’s an experience unlike any other.  Cupping has been linked to lowering blood pressure, draining excess fluids and toxins, stimulating the peripheral nervous system, breaking down adhesion and revitalizing connective tissues.  There are many different styles of Cupping, ranging from flash cupping, for things like cellulite reduction, to moving cupping, for tight muscles and fascia, to stationary cupping, to flood an area with blood, to wet or bleeding cupping, which we use for issues such as tennis elbow, acne or eczema.

Along with the different styles, there are different materials used in Cupping.  Traditionally glass cups are used, with a high heat flame used to burn the oxygen inside the cup, thus creating a suction between the cup and the skin.  This is still commonly used, especially for cupping treatments that deal with blood.  There are also rubber cups, which I like to use over the belly or on the face.  Lastly, there are hard plastic cups with a pump used to suck out the air and create a very tight suction at the skin.  I like to use these when I'm working on sore back muscles or tight IP bands.

So, what is the idea around Cupping?  What does it do?  Well to put it quite simply, it’s a suction cup and it leaves a mark on your skin just like we used to do with cups around our mouths as kids.  How can this be beneficial??  The cup is increasing the flow of blood to the area being treated, which is detoxing, it helps reduce inflammation, relaxes tense muscles, and promotes healing.  The marks that appear on the surface of the skin is considered to be old, stagnant, toxic blood that is being pulled through the skin by the pressure of the cup.  When we have an injury, blood flow increases to the area to begin healing, but quickly becomes stuck and toxic.  When we place a cup over a sore muscle we are removing the old blood, and encouraging new fresh blood to flood the area and continue the healing process.  It encourages proper flow of blood around the whole body system and helps the lymph system continue to drain effectively by removing toxic waste from the body.  This is why adding a Cupping session or 2 into your detox program with Janna this month would be a great idea!  Keep things moving and cleaning while you learn other ways to detox the body!

So how can cupping help boost our immune system to prevent a cold or flu, and how can it help pass a cold or flu that has already settled in, faster?  Cupping is said to effect tissues up to 4 inches under the skin, so when we cup over the lungs, the tissue on and around the lungs is manipulated and stimulated, stirring up any fluid or substance that may be stuck there.  When our lungs are clear, the chances of an infection growing become minimal, and if there is infected mucus residing there already, the cupping will help dislodge and expel it.  In Chinese Medicine theory, Cupping is thought to open the pores of the body to allow more toxins to escape, this is why it helps in the early stages of a cold or flu, when the "bug" is considered to still be residing on the body surface.  The cupping opens the pores, and promotes detox, often through sweating, and the pathogen is able to exit the body before becoming more serious and travelling into deeper levels of tissue.  Our immune system is healthy when the opening and closing of our pores is being properly regulated, and Cupping is a great way to promote that function.

One of the last reasons that I really love Cupping, is because it is a totally non-invasive way to introduce a patient to Traditional Chinese Medicine!  The treatments last anywhere from 15-45 minutes, depending on the area of the body being treated, and most people find it very relaxing and therapeutic.  Because I want to be able to share this awesome technique with as many people as possible, help all our spa goers stay healthy this winter, and keep as many bodies in a healthy detoxed state, I am offering a free Cupping add-on to any Acupuncture session for the entire month of October!  Come use your benefits and try something new!

See you at the Spa,

Amy Nykoluk

What is your face trying to tell you about your digestion?

The face is the mirror of what is going on inside the body, and more closely, the digestive tract.  If you take a look at the face chart to the left, you can see that the governing vessel, conception vessel, stomach, gallbladder, small intestine, large intestine, urinary bladder, and triple warmer meridians all travel along the face.  A problem within any of those meridians, or organs, will always eventually become evident on the face.

Last month’s article touched on how certain organ disharmonies will present themselves in regards to skin and aging, but today I want to focus on our two main digestive organs in TCM, the spleen, and the stomach.  The stomach is considered to be the most important of all yang organs, and its paired yin organ is the spleen.  It is considered to be the root of all postnatal qi, or qi that we create in our bodies from food and water.  It is what gives us energy on a daily basis.  The stomachs' job is to break down the food through "rotting and ripening," while the spleens' job is to "transform" that matter into nourishment for our bodies, and "transport" it to organs and extremities.

In order for the yang stomach to function properly, it relies on healthy yin (fluids and cooling properties) to maintain a moist environment for fermentation.  This would be equivalent to our stomach acid and other digestive enzymes and fluids.  Our stomach relies on a fine internal balance, not too hot, not too cold, with an ample amount of digestive fire or energy to carry out its function.  If we eat too many hot or dry foods, such as spicy food, BBQ'd food, alcohol or greasy, fried food, will overheat the stomach and dry up the yin.  If too much cold and frozen food is eaten, such as frozen fruits, ice water, raw veggies, or ice cream, the digestive fire becomes weak and digestion slows.  When the stomach qi, or digestive fire is weak, we may experience low appetite, weakness, stomach pain, loose stools and puffy face.  If the stomach begins to overheat, we can see symptoms like constipation, excessive thirst, dry mouth and lips, heartburn, and acne on the chest and back.

The spleens' main job is to aid the stomach in digestion, as well as distribute nutrients to all parts of the body.  When our spleen has sufficient energy or spleen qi, we are able to extract nutrients from our food into "food qi," which is a vital part of the process of making qi and blood.

Just as the stomach had a preferred environment, the yin spleen functions best under dry, warm (yang) conditions.  If we eat too many rich, creamy foods, or cold and icy foods, the spleen qi will weaken, digestion will be sluggish, we may experience heavy limbs, a buildup of phlegm, lack of concentration, weak muscles, sagging skin and fine lines and wrinkles.  When the spleen qi is weak, the transformation process slows down and phlegm, fat, mucus, and plaques build up and deposit all over the body.

So what food CAN we eat to maintain a happy spleen/stomach balance, and optimal internal environment for proper digestion to occur?  

Whole grains - short-grain brown rice, oats, and buckwheat

Beans, pulses, and legumes - chickpeas, soybeans, adzuki beans, and peas

Vegetables - all winter squash, carrots, cabbages, peas, fennel, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, yams, shiitake and other mushrooms, green beans, and lotus root

Nuts and seeds - peanuts, chestnuts, and almonds

Animal foods - beef, chicken, duck, pork, lamb, beef and chicken bone broth, eggs, trout, salmon, catfish

Fruits - red dates, sweet cherries, peaches, red grapes, raisins, apples, figs

Beverages/Teas - warm liquids, ginger, licorice or fennel tea

Herbs/Spices - thyme, rosemary, chives, vanilla, fennel, cardamom, star anise, ginger root, nutmeg, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon.

The health of our digestive tract depends on maintaining an optimal internal environment for our spleen and stomach, so basing our diets around these foods listed above, and limiting foods that disrupt this equilibrium, will ensure that we look and feel our absolute best. Now that we have a basic understanding on how our nutrition impacts our digestive tract, we can start to look more in detail at how we can use TCM diet therapy and Acupuncture to improve the look of many skin problems, by healing the body from the inside out. 

Please check next month’s newsletter for an in-depth look at treating three of the most common aging complaints we hear from our clients at the spa.

Dr. Amy

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture

By Dr. Amy Nykoluk

Happy August to all our friends of The Natural Art of Skin Care!  Hopefully everyone is enjoying the amazing summer we’re having in Calgary - hot weather and a good amount of rain has made the city so green and beautiful!

As some of you may know, as of this past June we are now offering a Rejuvenating Acupuncture Facial at the Spa!  The response has been great, and I wanted to share a little more information on this relaxing and therapeutic treatment for those who may be interested in trying, or just trying to decide if this is the correct way to achieve their skincare goals.

We use Acupuncture for any and every health condition of the body, and this does not exclude age control!  Although prevention of disease, or unhealthy, aging skin is always our best defence, we can still use TCM modalities to return the body to a healthy state, and repair damage to the skin and muscles of our face, neck, décolletage, and whole body!  We use the needles to treat the local area, but also heal the internal environment, so the skin is supported from the inside out.  It is very important to treat the whole person, improving general health, so we can use the persons own internal energy, or qi, to heal.

We use the needles, and other TCM therapies to directly impact the dermis, or the "central nervous system" of the skin.  It is in the dermis that tissue is renewed, and collagen and elastin are formed.  The direct stimulation of the face and neck greatly increases the flow of blood and qi upwards, which is vital to keeping the complexion bright and plump. 

When we insert a needle into the skin in any location, the body looks at this "mini-trauma" and sends blood and qi to the area to heal it.  Collagen and elastin are formed to help heal the tiny injury, which gives permanent change to the skin in the area.  The more collagen and elastin we have and produce, the younger and firmer our skin will be.

Although The Rejuvenating Acupuncture Facial treatment will help everyone, it is very important to heal internal imbalances before beginning the protocol.  Every organ system is involved in the maintenance and health of our skin.  For example, the lungs control the opening and closing of our pores.  If there is too much heat in our lungs, say, from smoking, the skin will appear red, the pores dilated, and there may be sweating issues involved.  The spleen and stomach are our two main digestive organs, and digestion plays a very important, if not the most important role in young healthy looking and feeling skin.  The energy of the spleen travels upward, so if our spleen is weak, our skin will sag.  Our kidneys are involved in water regulation, as well as filtration, so when we eat too much salt, or don't drink enough water, our kidney system may begin to falter, and dark circles begin to appear, or the under eye becomes puffy.  If we heal the internal environment, regardless of focusing the treatment on the face, the skin cannot help but begin to show positive changes.  We will both feel better and look better.

Even though many people achieve dramatic results and improvements to the skin and overall health, it is important to remember that Acupuncture is a natural treatment, so it takes time to see changes.  Surgical results just aren't possible without surgery, so it is important to have a realistic goal when beginning these treatments.  Some of the benefits you can expect to see are;

- Improved overall complexion and texture of the face, neck, and décolletage

- Improvement to the elasticity and spring back of the skin

- Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

- Tightening of the jowls and less sagging

- Reduction of acne and rosacea

- Fading of age spots and pigmentation

As I mentioned earlier, these treatments are working on the internal environment, so the patient can expect to have other improvements as well, such as;

- Reduced anxiety and mild depression

- Reduced hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms

- Improved circulation and healthy blood pressure

- Increase in energy

- Improved digestive function

There is so much information to share on the benefits of TCM and Acupuncture, so come in and book a consultation to learn more about what you can do to improve the quality of your life and prevent and treat the signs and symptoms of aging! 

Watch for my monthly articles in our newsletter, as I will be getting into more detail on the Rejuvenating Acupuncture Facial every month, starting with next month’s article focused on digestion and nutrition.  Also, please check out our Instagram page - thenaturalartofskincare - for videos and posts that I will be sharing of my treatments, and tips and tricks for improving skin health!

Looking forward to seeing you all at the spa.

- Dr. Amy