Skin As A Messenger For Our Organs

Whenever we are faced with treating skin conditions, and, in particular, allergic skin disorders, it is prudent to remember the appearance and location of the presentation is the body’s way of letting us know what the real problem is and where it lies. Understanding the message the body is giving us and choosing the appropriate formula to correct the imbalance(s) driving the skin condition is the only way to achieve exceptional clinical results for patients with skin disorders.

Facial reading or mapping (known as physiognomy)  is a common diagnostic tool within both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic Medicine, with each internal organ and energy meridian connected to a specific area on the face. Since the skin is very thin and delicate on the face, the first signs of any health problems will be revealed in that specific area of the body. It can therefore be applied to learn about the overall state of a person’s health and to detect illnesses.

FACIAL MAPPING

If something is affecting the skin, it might mean something internal is going on. Afflictions to look for include, pimples, rashes, creases/lines, or change of skin color/tone. Any of this could signify an internal issue that needs to be worked on for the skin and the body to be at optimal health.

Let’s take a closer look:

FOREHEAD: BLADDER, DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND SPLEEN

– Stress and ability to face challenges and deal with conflict
– Irregular sleep
– Sweat
– Toxin build-up from poor food choices and poor digestion
– Poor metabolism of fats/oils (gallbladder issues)
– Constipation or poor absorption of nutrients
– Spleen function and insulin resistance (result of overindulging in comfort foods or carb overload)

BETWEEN EYEBROWS: LIVER AND STOMACH

– Dehydration
– Stressed liver is overworked
– Excessive toxins/pollutants, alcohol, fatty foods, meat or dairy (may present as redness, flakiness, or excess  oil)
– Possible allergies

EARS AND TEMPLES: KIDNEYS
– Dehydration (from smoking, alcohol, poor quality salt consumption and lack of water intake)
– Inflamed ears (hot and swollen)
– Stress
– Excess oil production

UNDER EYES: STOMACH, KIDNEY AND LIVER

– Stress (e.g. adrenal fatigue)
– Lack of sleep (baggy, puffy skin)
– Dehydration (dark circles)
– Liver congestion

NOSE & UPPER CHEEK: HEART 

– Blood pressure
– Poor circulation and congestion (seen as redness and broken capillaries)
– Salt intake
– Indoor & outdoor air pollution

LOWER CHEEKS: COLON AND LUNGS 
– Allergies and asthma
– Poor air quality/pollution/smoking (presenting as spots, puffiness or broken capillaries)
– Digestive issues (poor food choices)
– High stress

UPPER LIP AREA: SPLEEN, LIVER AND STOMACH

– Excessive fat/sweet food
– Excessive alcohol consumption
– Poor stomach health due to lack of digestive enzymes/acid

CHIN: INTESTINES, KIDNEY AND REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 

– Greasy foods and digestive issues
– Insufficient “good” fats to provide adequate cholesterol production (precursor to most hormones)
– Dehydration (excessive caffeine and insufficient water intake)
– Stress
– Being under artificial lights and lacking skin-to-skin connection with the Earth
– Hormones (fertility, menstrual issues, ovarian cysts)
– Eating hormone-injected meats and dairy products

JAWLINE:  STOMACH AND REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

– Greasy foods & insufficient healthy fats
– Hormones
– Eating hormone-injected meats and dairy products
– Poor hygiene/dirt (dirty pillow cases and cell phones)

NECK: ILLNESS 

– Infection (weak immune system)
– Illnesses (e.g. Thyroid disease)
– Stress