About Face: Ancient medicine for modern skin problems
March 12, 2004
Jennifer Brophy believes good skin comes from the inside out. Rather than using alpha hydroxy acid, microdermabrasion or any of the other latest procedures, Brophy applies ancient techniques, such as acupuncture and chi nei tsang, to her clients wanting brighter, tighter and more beautiful skin.
Inside a private room at Flying Beauticians, a day spa in downtown San Francisco, she explains that after four years of treating infertility and women’s health with Chinese medicine, she noticed improvements in her clients’ skin. That observation led her to develop the Five Element Face Lift.
Chinese medicine is based on the principles of yin-yang, or balance, and the five elements — wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each individual has a unique composition of the five elements, and an imbalance in one or more of them can result in poor health.
“When there is a storm and rain, the earth may not be able to hold the water so there is a flood,” Brophy says. “In Chinese medicine, the kidney is the water element and when that is out of balance it can cause problems, such as edema or hypertension.
“Nature is within us.”
Balance is attained through diet, exercise, stress management and Chinese medical techniques, such as moxibustion, cupping and herbs, as well as chi nei tsang massage and acupuncture, which Brophy stresses in the Five Element Face Lift.
Standing over a client, who lies atop a massage table, Brophy starts by gently rubbing the woman’s abdomen. Chi nei tsang, she says, detoxifies the internal organs. Used by Taoist monks 5,000 years ago to strengthen the digestive and reproductive systems, the massage system is also thought to unblock the energy flow. Brophy applies increasing pressure around the navel, explaining that this is where the energy center, or chi, is located.
Afterward, Brophy inserts thin needles into key areas of the client’s body. Acupuncture rejuvenates the skin by encouraging collagen and elastin production, she says.
For the best results, she recommends one to two sessions per week for three-to-five-weeks, followed by once-a-month treatments. The initial session, which includes a health assessment and diagnosis, costs $150. After that, it’s $125 per session.
Brophy says, “People should notice decreased puffiness under the eyes and less tension in the forehead. It’s not Botox, so it won’t paralyze the muscle, but it will help the muscle relax. Acne and redness take longer to treat.”
A native of Deleware, Brophy moved to California to study holistic health at San Francisco State University. She took an introduction to Chinese medicine taught by Dr. Angela Woo, a member of the Acupuncture Board of California, and was hooked. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Brophy interned with Woo and eventually received a master’s degree and license in acupuncture. She is also a certified massage therapist.
“I was interested in the Taoist philosophy right away,” Brophy says. “Dr. Woo’s course happened to be one of the first classes I took. I think it was meant to be.”
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