Facial Massage for Reducing Wrinkles (2) – Facial Tsubo (Acupressure Points)

What are tsubo?  They are also called acupressure points, acupuncture points, acupoints. In Oriental Medicine, there are 14 meridian systems over the entire body, and energy travels through them.  There are 365 tsubo on the human body, and they are “the locations at which it is easy for the flow of energy in the meridian systems to become sluggish and to stagnate.”  Stagnation of energy flow manifests in the tsubo in different ways such as pain, stiffness, and numbness.  When specific tsubo are treated, the flow of energy is restored, and malfunctions will dissipate.

Let’s pamper your face!  Use your favorite facial cream or serum. (Recommended products from my friend who is expert in skincare.) Do not use body lotion for the face if it has fragrance.  The facial skin, especially the eyelids, is much more sensitive than other parts of the body.  If you don’t have face cream at hand, use pure extra virgin olive oil instead.

As I explained in the last post, I referred to “Eliminating Facial Wrinkles” in the book about tsubo therapy by Katsusuke Serizawa, MD.

Around the Eyes (BL-2, TH-23, GB-1, BL-1)

Massage the upper and lower edges of the eye sockets from the inside out.

Cheeks (ST-2)

Massage in the directions of the arrows from ST-2.

Forehead (GB-14, ST-8, GB-7)

Massage and stroke with the fingertips from GB-14 toward the temples and to the hairline in the directions of the arrows.  Massage in the areas of ST-8 and GB-7. 

Around the Mouth (ST-4, CV-24)

Massage at the corners of the month ST-4, and CV-24 in the directions of the arrows.

Neck (BL-10, LI-17, CV-22)
Raise your chin as high as possible, and use four fingers to massage tsubo on the neck.  Massage in the directions of the arrows extending to the base of the neck.

I didn’t intend to introduce tsubo (acupressure) therapy as a treatment here, so I didn’t explain exactly where each tsubo is located although I indicated the numbers.  If you are curious, you can look up the locations in Atlas of Acupuncture Points (you need to know about the anatomy).

Use Caution with Muscle Pain Relief Products

I recently heard that over-the-counter muscle pain relief products could be toxic.  I looked it up myself, and found many muscle pain relief products contain methyl salicylate (and menthol) and can be harmful if misused or overused.  Believe it or not, there is one case of death from overuse of Bengay.  

Methyl salicylate is naturally produced by wintergreens known as wintergreen oil, or synthetically produced.  It is toxic in pure form (like many medicinal properties), and found in high concentrations in deep heating liniments.  It mainly works as a “counterirritant,” which heats up and cools the skin, so you feel more of the sensation rather than the pain you originally had.  It may be effective more for acute pain than chronic pain.

Some of the muscle pain relief brand names (generic name: menthol/methyl salicylate topical) are: Bengay, Icy Hot, Mentholatum D, Salonpas Pain Patch, and many sold as “muscle rub.”

Like any other over-the-counter products, it is safe as long as you follow the directions, but harmful or deadly if overused (like taking too many sleeping pills).  I am just trying to caution you because it might be very easy to use a muscle pain relief product too much or too often when you are constantly in pain.  You must:   

• Read the entire information, Warnings, and Directions of the product before using it.  
• Check if your medication (especially, blood thinning medications, NSAIDs, and steroids) may interact with menthol/methyl salicylate topical.  
• Don’t use it with a heating pad, or under a tight bandage.
• Use it temporarily, and see your doctor if the problem persists.    

*If you use “natural” products containing wintergreen oil, same caution should apply.

Relieve Coughing with Essential Oils

I was just thinking, oh good, I didn’t get bad allergy this year.  I spoke too soon!  Within a few days, I started to get sore throat and the tight sensation in the chest  during night.  Now, I remember I had uncontrollable coughs in the middle of the night and slept with cough candies in the month for several nights last year.  This year, I did differently.

In the last post, I described properties of several essential oils.  One of the properties of eucalyptus essential oil is expectorant, and it's in commercial vapor rubs. 

First, I rinse the nasal cavity with a Neti pot with warm saline solution and 1 drop of eucalyptus oil at least twice a day.  (Update: I found 2 drops may be better although it causes sneezing.)  I made a salve with organic body butter I had and eucalyptus oil.  Before going to bed, I put it on the neck, chest, under my nose, and feet (see below).  The first night I woke up with coughs from tickles in the throat, I put the salve around the throat, and I could go back to sleep without more coughs. 

Next day, I found a recipe and made a different rub with coconut oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil, and tea tree oil.  It is liquid because coconut oil melts in the warm room temperature (I didn’t care for the smell either, so I would use unscented body butter).  Again, I put it on the neck, chest, under my nose and feet. When my throat tickled at night, this time, I massaged gently with the oil along the throat, where it tickled.  The tickling stopped immediately, and I could go back to sleep.  Since then, I haven’t woken up at night from coughs.  The tightness in the chest is gone, but I still feel tickling in the throat at night, so I keep putting on the oil before going to bed.  

The reason I put the salve on the feet is that reflexes on the feet correspond to the parts of the body (reflexology).  The toes and the front and back of the upper feet correspond to sinuses, nose, throat, lungs, chest and lymph.  It also feels really good to massage feet.  I will discuss more about reflexology some other time.

Self-Massage Tools

The Stick

When I was training for marathons, I bought The Stick at the expo of one of the races.  It is a massage tool.  I was told that no matter how hard you roll it, it wouldn’t harm your muscles, and it is true for me.  But, don’t roll it on the bones; it does hurt.  There are many types, but I have a Sprinter Stick pictured below.

I use it on my quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, IT bands, hips, buttocks, and wherever it’s sore.  It’s a good tool to loosen up the muscle (tibialis anterior) right outside of the shinbone (tibia). 

I’ve had really good results.  When muscles feel tired especially after a long run, I use it, and it seems I get less sore later.  Of course, it doesn’t feel anything like getting a massage, but to relieve tightness and soreness, it is a quick fix.  I would recommend this to anybody including teenagers who are active in sports.

Thera Cane® / Body Back Buddy™

Thera Cane

These tools are for massaging trigger points.  The Thera Cane was mentioned in The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies, but it’s probably because the Body Back Buddy wasn’t available back then.  After some research, I bought Body Back Buddy recently just because it has more knobs.  I never used a Thera Cane, so I can’t say which is better.  It works fine as I know where my trigger points are, but I’m still learning how to maneuver it as it is cumbersome and a little heavy.  A Thera Cane may be easier to use.  

I bought this especially to treat trigger points in my shoulder blades.  As a massage therapist, I use arms all the time, so I get trigger points in the middle of the shoulder blades (infraspinatus).  I know the benefits of massage, so I try to self-massage every day. 

Even if you can’t afford to get a massage as often as you would like, you can use these tools to take care of yourself.  Happy Massaging!

Moist Heat Packs

I like using moist heat packs.  It’s not just warm, but moist.  When it’s moist, the heat penetrates more quickly and deeper.  Primary effects of heat are:

• Increased supply of oxygen and nutrients and elimination of waste (Vasodilation)
• Relieves pain (Analgesic) 
• Relaxes muscle fibers by lengthening
• Increased circulation
• Increased metabolism, respiration, and nerve and muscle response
• Moving blood toward the area treated (Derivation)
• Brings white blood cells to the area treated (Leukocytosis)

It also helps you calm down (relax the nervous system), so I always recommend it to my clients even at home whenever a heat application is appropriate.   

Here is the important information about when to use heat or ice as using it incorrectly aggravates the condition. 

Homemade Sugar Scrub with Coconut Oil

When I participated in the Caregiver Wellness Event at the VA hospital in Gainesville, FL to offer free chair massage, I got a jar of homemade vanilla brown sugar body scrub.  It was handmade by the VA Caregiver Support Program of North Florida/South Georgia to hand out to caregivers at the fair.  It smelled absolutely wonderful, and I’ve used it every day since then.  It definitely makes the bath time more pleasurable and skin so smooth.  It also smelled so delicious that…. I ate it!  I just couldn’t resist the temptation.  It tasted so good! 

Their basic recipe is 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup coconut oil, ½ tsp vitamin E oil, and fragrance or spice.  They used organic unrefined virgin coconut oil.  It’s all natural, so it’s safe enough to eat it, too. They made theirs with real vanilla beans!  No wonder it brings out wonderful vanilla scent.  They also made ones with cinnamon and pumpkin spice at another fair for caregivers, but I didn’t get a chance to try it.  It must have smelled (and tasted) good, too. 

Sugar scrubbing is a perfect way to treat your body and mind.  Not only does it exfoliate the skin while locking in moisture with oil, it stimulates the blood and lymphcirculation and also nervous system to lift your mood. It can be used as a form of aromatherapy.

Coconut oil used in this sugar scrub recipe softens, moisturizes and is easily absorbed by the skin.  There are other beneficial properties in the coconut oil:

Massage Products & Safety of Personal Care Products

I am very conscious of what I eat and what I put on my skin and hair.  I eat and use organic products as often as I can.  That’s why my massage products such as oils, lotions, and butters are either organic or natural without harsh chemicals.  I believe it is unethical to use something for my clients if I wouldn’t use it for myself. 

I was first introduced to natural personal care products such as soap by my husband.  And then, I became more aware of natural cosmetics thanks to a dearest old friend of mine in the Netherlands.  She has a PhD in biochemistry and reviews beauty products on her blog, Mademoiselle Nature.  That’s where I learned that mineral oil used in many cosmetics is derived from petroleum, and doesn’t provide any benefits like plant based oils do.  I also noticed that the regulations in the EU are much stricter than in the US.  The EU has banned almost 1,400 ingredients in cosmetic products such as parabens and phthalates, while the US has banned/restricted only 11 (By the way, Canada has banned/restricted over 500).  It’s hard to remember all other harmful ingredients, but I strictly avoid products with parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, phthalates and artificial fragrances.