Reduce Stress and Look Younger!
How Relaxing the Mind and Body Can Reverse the Aging Process
         
Tax season has come and gone, but many of my patients are still suffering from ailments and other side effects associated with stress. April 15 is a day that causes anxiety for many, and a hectic, around-the-clock work schedule for accountants and their staff.

What the Chinese have known for years has now been proven by Western medical researchers: this type of chronic stress can lead to a host of adverse medical conditions, and even speed up the aging process. When tense, facial muscles contract and cause wrinkles. In addition, stress decreases blood flow to the skin, and can lead to acne, hair loss, and even brittle nails.

The good news is that we have a say in the stress-aging process, and can take pro-active steps to offset these negative impacts. Now that tax season has passed for the year, it is time to take inventory of our lives to decrease tension and fill up with calming, rejuvenating energy.

To reverse physical muscle tension, I recommend that you:

* Take a walk! Walk briskly but not too strenuously, and swing your arms. This will get your qi
moving and blood flowing throughout your body, helping rejuvenate your muscles.

1. Massage your jaw. Gently rub the muscles around your jaw line. When tense, many patients clench or grind their teeth. These muscles need to be unlocked and relaxed to promote the release of healing energy.
2. Stretch. Have you ever seen elderly Chinese people stretching in the park? They are practicing Tai Chi, an ancient practice that promotes a positive flow of energy throughout the body while calming the mind. Take a look at how young many of these practitioners look, and you’ll believe too.

To reverse mental tension, I recommend that you:

1. Smell the roses. Literally. And don’t stop with the roses – smell other spring flowers as well, including dogwood, lavender, and wisteria. This aromatherapy will calm your mind and lift your spirits immediately.
2. Soak up the sun. Sit in the sunshine for 20 minutes, and replenish your body with vitamin D to boost your bone density. Any longer and wrinkles will form – so just a little touch of sun each day is ideal.
3. Smile! A smile turns your facial muscles up – the exact opposite of tension-filled muscle contractions. Plus, smiling release serotonin, a muscle relaxation hormone.

In the Chinese culture, spring represents a time to jump-start your mind and body so that you are relaxed and ready for the summer season. To learn more about how Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture and herbal medicine, can help reverse the aging process for you, call my office at 415.544.9104. Or, send an e-mail to www.drwonson.com.