Summer is here, finally! After months of hiding out by the fire and only exposing our nose tips and cheek bones we are starting to uncover. Our skin according to Chinese Medicine is directly linked to the Lung, it produces the voice, and it provides proper moisturization to the skin. The lung qi is in charge of propelling the protective qi and the fluids over the entire body. It thus warms the muscles and the skin, it harmonizes the opening and closing action of the surface pores, and moistens the body hair and the skin. If the lung qi is weak it cannot nourish the body hair properly and can cause it to become brittle. Similar to the pores on the surface of the lung, the pores on the surface of the skin are in charge of “body breathing.” If the protective qi is too weak to properly close the pores, sweat pours out. If there is an excess of pernicious qi in the lung then the opening mechanism of the pores easily gets jammed which can cause the ventilation function of the pores to be disturbed, and there may be symptoms of inhibited sweating during a fever or on hot days. Our skin is the most important protective organ in the body. Outside the house, the skin shields us from the cold, rain, wind, and sun; inside it shields us from the warm or cold air (produced by air-conditioning) and hot or cold water.
We expose ourselves to these extreme temperature differences daily/weekly/monthly/yearly and as a result, the skin can get irritated, itchy, dry, or too greasy and spotty. The usage of fragranced lotions and cosmetics should be reduced because it can stress the skin and also the body. Today we are looking into alternatives such as, high-fat natural moisturizers (like pure coconut or almond oil) and getting a sufficient amount of water or herbal teas to hydrate our body from the inside out. In order to maintain the proper function of the skin we need to keep toxins away, and be as close to nature as possible. This can be hard being a Canadian. We are outside in the summer more than ever, with longer and hotter days maxing out our Vitamin D in the sun. Yet, with all that fun in the sun comes harmful UVA and UVB rays that need to be protected. Our easiest solution was and is to wear sunscreens which include ingredients like aminobenzoic acid and or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) that can cause allergic reactions, block our pores, and in some cases can cause liver damage. So we need to look at our options. There are many available to us in health stores and markets or we can make our very own special sunscreen. Add the smells that you like and enjoy all the benefits a natural sunscreen can give you… All year round!
First;
¼ cup Beeswax
½ cup Coconut oil (about 4-6 SPF), or Shea Oil, or Almond Oil
2 fluid ounces Raspberry seed oil (about 25-50 SPF)
1 fluid ounce Soybean oil
1 fluid ounce Wheat Germ oil
2 Tbsp Carrot seed oil (About 35-40 SPF)
2 Tbsp Aloe Vera gel
4 vitamin E capsules
15 drops lavender oil- Or your favourite essential oil
Secondly;
- Combine ingredients in a glass jar. A mason jar maybe or something similar.
- Fill a medium pot with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.
- Put a lid on the jar loosely and place in the pot with the water.
- As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally. Pour into another jar or tin for storage. Small mason jars are great for this.
- Use as you wish and enjoy!
Lastly;
- This sunscreen is somewhat, but not completely, waterproof
- It will need to be reapplied after sweating or swimming
- Many of the ingredients in this recipe have a natural SPF (this has not been tested by a regulatory organization)
- Add more beeswax to make thicker sunscreen, less to make a smoother sunscreen
- Coconut, vanilla or lavender essential oils for fragrance are my favourite
- Store in a cool, dry place or in the fridge
- Apply it like a body butter (It will be thicker if you use coconut oil)
It can be an excellent everyday lotion any time of the year and it has the added benefit of a SPF.
So, now that we’ve got our skin covered we need to also look at ways to protect our skin from the inside. Green tea has been known to protect the skin of UV rays via its catechins, these are molecules that belong to the flavenoid family. The catechin known as the epigallocathin gallate (EGCG) is the powerful one that gives us the most protection from the sun. Not only is it good for blocking UV rays from the inside it is also a magnificent anti ageing drink, and can help with weight loss. Drink up!!
Ok, you’ve slathered, you’ve sipped and now you need to eat! The body needs vital nutrients to help guard your skin from sun damage and also to keep the lung qi strong which gives you clean, fresh, and beautiful skin. The top foods are watermelon, which not only cools you down on hot sunny days it also blocks out some UV rays. Due to it’s amazing source of lycopene. Lycopene is known for its high antioxidants which help reduce the free radicals in your skin. Less free radicals equals less cell damage. Tomato’s follow closely behind watermelon in lycopene content. They too have been proven to help in reducing dangerous UV rays and also when eaten as a paste can reduce the risk of sunburns by up to 40%. Up next, the bell pepper (any colour) with its high lycopene and beta carotene content, two nutrients that guard the skin from UV rays. Lastly pomegranates, known particularly for protecting you against UVB rays. They can also provide you a great amount of anti inflammatory protection to the skin. Eat up!!
Mediterranean Watermelon Salad
1 Bowl Watermelon cubes
2 Yellow Peppers
1 Cup onions
1 Cup Cucumbers
1 Cup Tomatoes
Pomegranate Juice
1 Tbsp mustard paste
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
10-12 Olives
Parsley
Lettuce
Pistachios
Pour pomegranate juice into a bowl.
Add mustard paste, salt & pepper and whisk it well. Then add olive oil.
In another bowl, put the watermelon cubes, yellow bell peppers, onions, cucumber, tomatoes and olives.
Add parsley, salt and pepper. Mix them all well. Add lettuce leaves and pistachios. Add to the watermelon mixture. Toss it well.
Serve chilled.
Jennifer was raised on the leeward sun-splash of the Niagara ‘Scarpment where she learned at an early age, that going downhill in her driveway could be a lot of fun! As a child of the mountain, sledding, skiing, and snowboarding soon became her life. She moved on to the Rocky Mountains of western Canada, then to the freshest powder of Japan, and New Zealand, then back north to the Asian coastal life of beach/ island hopping for some well deserved Vitamin D. Finally ending on the Great Wall of China for a greater understanding of her passion- Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. As a healthcare practitioner Jennifer is grateful because every day she is able to share this wonderful medicine to all. Jennifer is inspired by all the people that she has met in her life, she has strived for something more and made a commitment toward better living. In East Asian Medicine, it is a key concept to understand that everyone heals differently. She strives to approach her work with compassion, dedication, optimism, direction and education. Her patients are her greatest teachers and she is honored to be a part of their journey toward a more vibrant life.
Jennifer Redding R.Ac
647 537 1151 jennifer@acufx.ca acutoronto.com transense.ca
Sources:
The Lung- From Yang Jizhou, The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhenjiu Dacheng) , ca. 1590. This paragraph appears in the chapter on the lung channel, and is marked as a quote from an older Daoist source, The Original Classic of Guiding the Breath (Daoyin Benjing)
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/1-10001-1/5-foods-to-help-protect-against-sun-damage.html
http://www.rd.com/slideshows/5-foods-that-reverse-sun-damage/#slideshow=slide5
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/healthy-eating/5-foods-that-fight-sun-damage?slide=6
http://greatist.com/health/6-food-groups-will-protect-you-sun
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