There is nothing worse than a shower drain full of hair, especially if it’s yours and it’s falling out fast. Or perhaps you run your fingers through your hair and come up with a handful. Your hairbrush is full and you’re finding stray hairs – lots of them – on your pillowcase. What’s going on?

Your hair is constantly falling out and regrowing, and most people lose an average of 50 to 100 hairs a day. However, if you’re noticing an increase in shedding or if your hair is noticeably thinning, you’re probably losing more.

Your hair grows in cycles during which it actively grows for about two to three years and then rests for a couple of months. During the growth phase, a hair generally grows about 1/2 inch per month. At the end of the resting phase, the strand of hair falls out and a new strand begins to grow. Noticeable thinning of your hair is due to an above average number of hairs resting at the same time.

In Chinese medicine, the Kidney organ system governs the hair on your head. The Kidney system is also responsible for body functions related to growth, fertility, menopause, and aging. As we get older, your Kidneys become weaker, and one way that weakness is reflected is through the health of your hair. Hair loss, gray hair, and unhealthy hair are all signs that your Kidneys could be a little stronger.

In addition, your Kidney system is one of the Chinese organs most deeply damaged by stress. The adrenal glands sit right on top of your Kidneys, and in Western medicine, adrenal fatigue is the direct result of unrelenting stress. Extreme levels of stress can cause your hair to prematurely go into its resting phase, causing hair loss and thinning.

Beyond stress, there are other reasons that your hair may be falling out. Among them:

Poor diet. Remember the season of Survivor (Australia) when Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s hair fell out by the handful? The contestants didn’t have anything to eat, and Elizabeth’s hair began to fall out as a result of poor nutrition. Extremely low calorie diets or a diet low in protein can cause your hair to fall out.

Hormones. Many women complain that once they went through menopause their hair became much thinner. The decrease in estrogen after menopause can be another culprit in hair loss. In addition, an imbalance in your thyroid hormones can raise the levels of a chemical called DHT, which causes your hair to fall out faster than normal.

Low iron. Iron deficiency is a common cause of hair loss. Low levels of iron decreases the level of red blood cells necessary for healthy hair follicles.

Medications. Some antidepressants, diuretics, and certainly chemotherapy can cause hair loss.

Health conditions. Scalp infections, frequently fungal in nature, can cause your hair to drop. In addition, diseases such as diabetes and lupus can be associated with hair loss.

Hair treatments. This one may seem like a no-brainer, but how you treat your hair can have a direct impact on the health of your mane. Harsh chemicals, tight braids or pigtails, and brushing too vigorously can damage your hair and scalp and cause your hair to fall out.

So what can you do if your hair is falling out? Make sure your diet is sufficient in protein and iron, to nourish your body and hair. Don’t supplement with iron unless you’re sure your levels are low. Check with your doctor if you think low iron or hormone imbalances might be to blame. Also ask your doctor about adjusting the dosage or changing your prescription if hair loss is a side effect of any medication you’re taking. If stress is the problem, work on coping using Yoga, meditation, visualization, acupuncture, and any other relaxation techniques that work for you.

A practitioner of Chinese medicine would deal with your hair loss by strengthening your Kidney system through acupuncture and the use of herbs. A common herbal formula for hair loss and premature graying is called Seven Treasure Formula for Beautiful Whiskers, which nourishes the Kidney and benefits the hair.

Cosmetic acupuncture is a form of facial rejuvenation using the principles of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It works by increasing the circulation of energy, blood, and nutrients to the face through acupuncture treatments.

During my sessions with Corrine, I talked about diet and lifestyle habits that could either improve or damage her skin. In general, Corrine took really good care of her skin, using expensive products and getting regular facials. However, there was one topic that came up at almost every session–sun damage. Corrine liked to sit in the sun and get a tan.

Sitting in the sun for long periods of time is one of the most damaging things you can do to your skin. Getting a tan is your skin’s reaction to the assault from the harmful UVA and UVB rays. In fact, you could consider a tan the equivalent of a scab, as it is your body’s attempt to protect and heal from the sun’s damaging rays.

At one point during our conversations, Corrine told me that no matter what, she liked to tan and would continue to do so. At that point, a saying I had heard years before came to mind:

When you are in your twenties, you have the face you inherited. By the time you’re fifty, you have the face you deserve.

This was certainly the case with Corrine repeatedly damaging and aging her skin by sitting in the sun. It’s important to know, however, that this concept of having the skin you deserve can work in two directions. You can also take really good care of yourself, and it will show up as healthier, younger skin. It’s also important to know that the sun isn’t the only variable that impacts how you look.

Other factors that affect how your skin looks include whether or not you smoke, getting enough sleep, dealing with or eliminating stress, your diet and digestion, and the thoughts or emotions you hold in your heart.

A colleague of mine told me about a woman who came to her also for cosmetic acupuncture. During one session, the woman asked my friend if there was anything she could do about the deep wrinkles she was getting above her mouth. My friend replied that she noticed the woman constantly made a frowning expression that seemed to be causing or aggravating those wrinkles. The woman replied: “Well, I can’t go around smiling all the time!”

Remember, the face you deserve.

Dennis Douda (WCCO) The quest for youth has made Americans turn to Botox nearly 3 million times last year where nearly a quarter million people had an eye-lid lift. But how does an acupuncture facelift sound?

“Basically what we’re doing is, we’re stimulating the body to heal itself,” said Acupuncturist Lynn Jaffee.The techniques of acupuncture follow ancient maps of unseen currents flowing though the body. The notion is that every cell of your being creates energy and there is health when that energy flows in harmony.“The Chinese believe that it moves in the body in pathways and we can access those pathways, access that energy, through acupuncture points,” Jaffee said.Forms of acupuncture date back at least 8,000 years. Practitioners say it eases pain and cures disease. Some believe it can even restore the appearance of youth.“I do. I think it helps a lot. And it’s relaxing. Instead of having a facial or a massage, this is what I choose to do,” said acupuncture client Kathy Brown.

Brown turns 50 in about a week. She said Botox and surgery are not for her but cosmetic acupuncture seemed worth a try.Her before and after photos show a tightened jaw line and fewer wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. So how could acupuncture do that?“First of all it increases circulation in your face. And in doing that you’re bringing blood and nutrients to your face that may have slowed down as you age,” said Jaffee.“The other reason that we think it works is because it’s incredibly relaxing so it also works as a stress reliever,” she said.Studies also claim acupuncture increases collagen production beneath the skin and improves muscle tone. The acupuncture facelift involves nearly 80 needles. Some are placed along the pathways or meridians in the hands and feet.But, as you might expect, most of the needles are concentrated around the eyes, the corners of the mouth and the brow line and cheeks. Each has a specific purpose.“For instance there are points that will literally pull out wrinkles. There are points that are used for lifting. There are points that are used for plumping,” said Acupuncturist Shelley Conn.While a lot of needles are used for an acupuncture facelift, the hand and face needles are much smaller than a standard therapeutic needle. No matter which needles are used, they all come from sterile packaging and are designed to be used only once.The full treatment involves a dozen hour-long sessions spread over six to 12 weeks with a total cost around $1,000.“We see a decrease in the number of wrinkles, the depth of wrinkles,” said Jaffee. “We are definitely working on improving not only their looks but working on their health, because when you feel good, you look good.”So what do the needles feel like? Brown said the best description is when someone tugs on a single hair, but less intense.And the effects seem to be lasting. Clients often go in every 6 months for a maintenance treatment. Acupuncturists also say what we eat can affect our appearance.

We are so lucky to live at a time when it’s not unusual to live healthfully into our 70′s, 80′s, and even our 90′s. With our increased life expectancy and the fact that many of us will stay vital and active into our later years, many women and some men have turned their attention to looking as young as they feel.

We spend billions of dollars annually in the United States on anti-aging creams and cosmetics, and I admit to being a frequent contributor to that number. Plastic surgery and Botox injections have moved out of the realm of the rich and famous and are increasingly used as a routine first line of defense for anyone looking to take a few years off their face.

There are many people, however, who find the invasive nature and risks associated with surgery or injections more than what they are willing to undergo to look younger. If you’re reading this blog, chances are that you’re one of them. For those of us who are looking for a safer and more natural alternative, an ancient treatment is taking on a new spin. Lately, more and more people have been turning to cosmetic acupuncture to look younger and improve their health at the same time.

Based on the ancient principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, cosmetic acupuncture works to increase the circulation of energy and blood to the face, causing more nutrients, collagen and elastin to move to the area.

While the idea of having a little work done is to look better, most of us don’t want people judging us on the vanity scale. The effects of cosmetic acupuncture are subtle and can vary, but include a more even, glowing complexion, a decrease in fine lines and softening of wrinkles, diminished puffiness around the eyes, and a general lifting of the face. In fact, in a 1996 study reported by the International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture, 90% of the 300 participants reported improvements, such as better complexion, diminished lines and wrinkles, and feeling rejuvenated overall.

Also, during a cosmetic session, the acupuncture is working to iresolve underlying health conditions as well as improving your face. In our clinic, clients have reported improved digestion, decreased stress, less menstrual discomfort, fewer hot flashes, decreased acne breakouts, and less TMJ symptoms from a series of cosmetic acupuncture treatments.

Almost anyone can benefit from cosmetic acupuncture, but in general, people in good health will see the most improvement. If you’re a smoker, have poor digestion, frequent migraines, or suffer from a chronic illness, you should resolve your health issues as much as possible before undergoing cosmetic acupuncture.

If there are any drawbacks drawbacks of cosmetic acupuncture, it would be that unlike the immediate effects of Botox or surgery, 10 to 12 acupuncture treatments are needed to see results. And while the results are noticeable, they can be unpredictable as to where and how much improvement is achieved.

If you’re like me in wanting to look your best naturally, cosmetic acupuncture might be worth checking out. It’s extremely safe; there’s no risk of disfigurement and no recovery time needed. Most people go back to work after having cosmetic acupuncture feeling relaxed and refreshed. Because cosmetic acupuncture benefits your health and decreases stress while it improves your looks, it is considered a rejuvenating therapy in every sense of the word.

Go here for more on cosmetic acupuncture.