Made In China l QI l Oriental Express l Chinese Whispers l Resource Vantage Point l Critiques l Research l WellBeing Forum l Stories BEAUTY "Cherish your visions, cherish your ideals, cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow delightful conditions, all heavenly environment, of these, if you remain true to them, your world will at last be built." James Allen Beauty and health are the results of nourishment of mind and body together with outer protection and care of the skin. Careful attention to our physical and emotional needs will enable us to create harmony and balance in our lives enabling us to repair, nourish and protect our minds and bodies thereby supporting beauty and wellness. External radiance and beauty is the wonderful byproduct of good health, skin care combined with emotional truth and cohesion in one's life. Each of us have varying lifestyles, diet and hereditary skin conditions that play a significant role in our health and beauty. How does psychological stress translates into physical disease, slowly retarding our health, radiance and feeling of beauty and vitality? Some of the mystery has been explained by the 'general adaptation syndrome' in which stressors induce psycho-hormonal changes. In an acute context these changes result in an emergency adaptation of physiological function - increased heart rate, tightening of muscles as well as having an effect on the autonomic nervous system, a complex set of nerves governing automatic body systems. As well, hormonal activity is affected by stress. In a context of continuing, or long term stress, these changes, rather than maintaining psychological equilibrium, ultimately result in physical debilitation of body systems. It is here that simple stress management techniques become vital for health and beauty in today's hectic world. Stress, unhappiness, emotional difficulties all play their part in reducing our health and beauty, to address these problems involves caring for ourselves physically and emotionally.  A bath of 34-36 degrees C is perfect. It is equal to our body temperature and has a very relaxing influence. Soaking can be beneficial for anxiety, fluid retention, headaches, muscle aches and pains and stress A cold bath (13-18 degrees C) is an excellent remedy for improving skin texture, cellulite, thyroid function and constipation. It completely rejuvenates and refreshes the system. A cool rinse at the end of your shower stimulates BEAUTY AND WELLNESS ARE OUR BIRTHRIGHT. GIVE ATTENTION TO WHAT BEAUTY AND WELLNESS MEAN TO YOU. (Article by Bernadette Praske, Skin Therapist and Michael Finn, Acupuncturist, Brisbane, Aust.) Contact Michael | © AustralianAcupuncture.com 2002 I About AustralianAcupuncture.com