What is "Holistic" Skincare?
What is meant by “holistic” as far as skincare is concerned?
The American Heritage Dictionary gives the following definition of ‘holistic:’
emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of the parts.
In other words, the body cannot be looked at as a collection of isolated parts—visible and invisible/outer and inner—but as a whole entity where everything is interdependent.
This particularly translates in the fact that our skin is affected by whatever is going on within our body, both physiologically and psychologically. Now, how is that possible?
The full answer to this question can only be found in the principles of energetic medicines, of which Ayurveda from India and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are great exemplars.
All energy medicines have a common premise:
the body is not simply matter, but matter and vital energy.
It is vital energy that makes matter vital. Ayurveda and TCM province detailed explanations of how this very subtle but essential vital energy is gathered by the body, stored and redistributed to all parts of the body according to chakras (energetic centers) and acupuncture meridians and along set pathways.
It is the constant flow of vital energy throughout the body that keeps all of the body parts (organs, glands, tissues, etc.) connected by a flow of information that travels with vital energy, in the same way as radio waves bring music or voices to your radio station, whether stationary at home, or traveling in a car.
Another fundamental premise of all energy medicines is the requirement for vital energy to flow without any blockage.
Vital energy-based treatments are always about ensuring a proper flow of vital energy and removing any potential blockage.
The major differences among the various energy medicines are in their preferred approaches to ensure that our vital energy is free-flowing.
The myriad of interconnections between our skin and all other parts of the body makes of our skin not only an organ, but a reflexive organ. Indeed, the skin will react in predictable and generally visible ways to any variance from the norm as far as the inner parts of the body are concerned.
In fact, it is this property that allows for the treatments known as “reflexology*”—the modality that consists of working on certain parts of the body each of which connect to particular major functions of the body—for the sake of removing potential energy blockages within the body.
The most common reflexology practice is the massage of the bottom of feet, but the same can be done on other parts of the body, in particular, the face.
The face is particularly interesting from a holistic point of view as it includes reflex zones where each is energetically connected to specific physiological functions corresponding to ten pairs of organs and the hormonal system.
The premise of holistic skincare is particularly well served by energetic skincare products. Certainly, the application of energetic products which include high-grade natural essential oils with energy balancing properties results in an immensely important by-product to facials. This action provides energy balancing as a superior reflexology treatment added to the benefits of the facial. The same products can also be used on the other reflex zones of the body and scalp.
Energetic skincare is the most holistic skincare possible, but for greater benefits, it deserves to be supported by other activities that are part of a conscious living lifestyle.
* Reflexology: a system of massage used to relieve tension and treat illness, based on the theory that there are reflex points on the feet, hands, and head linked to every part of the body.
Source: www.phyto5.us