Healing Through Face Mapping: Dark Circles Under The Eyes

Do you ever wonder why some people just don’t seem to age?  Is it all in our genes or do we actually have more control over our skin than just wearing sunscreen and using topical skin care products?

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, (TCM), we do have some say!  Lifestyle choices can be a major factor in annoying blemishes, wrinkles, jowls,  and dark circles under the eyes.  I will be doing a series of blogs on how to help you read your facial signs to revive your health and keep your facial features vibrant!

My mother has dark circles under her eyes, so I am very prone to this facial feature.  As shown in the facial diagram, the organs related to the area under the eyes are the kidneys.  The kidneys are a powerhouse of energy for us but are often over used.  Too much stress and over work can drain the kidneys.  Unfortunately, I didn’t understand self care until studying TCM and even after understanding, I have been bad at practicing it!  Beauty from within is what I preach, but often I find I don’t spend enough time on self care, which is why my dark circles still aren’t gone!  But do as I say, not as I do, is what I often tell my patients.  In each of these blogs about facial mapping, I will explain the organs and the emotions connected with them, and helpful tips on how to benefit those organs, which in turn, will help balance that area on your face for a more vivacious looking you! 

Kidney/Adrenal Connection

The adrenals are glands that lay on top of each kidney and produce hormones that help the body control blood sugar and regulate blood pressure, burn protein and fat, and react to stressors.  When our bodies face stressful situations, like work deadlines, kid care, social anxiety, etc, we release cortisol, which helps our bodies adapt under these stressors.  However, after long periods of stress, our kidneys become deficient and start to show us signs of aging.  

Some symptoms of adrenal fatigue and kidney deficiency include:

• Dark circles under the eyes
• Excessive thirst
• Amenorrhea (lack of menstrual cycle)
• Lower back pain
• Depression
• Anti-social, emotional withdrawal
• Insecurity
• Absentmindedness
• Hot flashes

So what can we do to boost our kidney health, heal adrenal fatigue and lessen the symptoms of kidney deficiency?  I always recommend 3 areas for my patients to focus on: Diet, sleep and stress relievers.

Diet
According to TCM, the kidneys benefit from darker colored foods.  Here are some I recommend.

• Kidney beans
• Black beans
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cranberries
• Seaweed,
• Dark colored meats, especially organ meats like kidneys and liver.

Sleep
Rest is so vital to rejuvenating the kidneys.  The kidneys store essential energy that our bodies need to use for other bodily functions, not just to keep up with our stressful schedules!  So having healthy sleep habits is one of the best ways you can babysit your kidneys.  I recommend going to sleep by 10.  If you can’t fall asleep, try IN:DREAM, our delicious herbal sleep formula.  Many times anxiety keeps us from being able to settle down at night.  IN:DREAM has several anti-anxiety herbs to lull you to sleep, like Jujube Seed.  If you have trouble waking up throughout the night, try adding IN:PEACE to your regiment to help reduce adrenal fatigue.  This leads me to my next suggestion!

Stress Relievers
When you reduce your reaction to stress, your body functions so much better.  Your adrenals can focus on other jobs like fat burning and maintaining a healthy blood pressure, which helps with cardiac health   Try using adaptogens throughout the day to reduce your stress and boost your energy.  IN:PEACE is a great herbal drink mix remedy with clinically proven ingredients to help your body adapt under stressful conditions. 

My mom also has dark circles under her eyes so I have a double negative here. I try to also incorporate yoga, taking walks in nature, and meditating, all of which benefit your kidneys.   

Be well!

Simone