Learn: TCM & Skin Care Terms

Acupoints are specific points on the body, mostly along the meridians, that are stimulated with needles, finger pressure or low-level laser.

Bio-current, or micro-current, therapy uses a very mild electrical current, delivered at Flourish through the therapist's bare hands during massage.

The Bohr effect is the body's natural process of releasing more oxygen to tissue where carbon dioxide is higher. OxyGeneo facials make use of it.

Chinese herbal medicine uses combinations of plant and mineral substances, prescribed by a qualified practitioner according to a person's TCM pattern.

Collagen induction is the skin's repair response to controlled micro-injury, which prompts new collagen and elastin to form over weeks.

Cupping uses suction cups, held in place or glided over oiled skin, to draw tissue gently upward and increase local circulation.

Dermaplaning is exfoliation with a sterile blade that removes dead skin cells and fine facial hair (vellus hair).

Ear seeds are tiny seeds or beads on adhesive, placed on ear acupoints and pressed at home between visits.

The five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) are a TCM framework linking organ systems, emotions and seasons in cycles of support and control.

Gua Sha is a Chinese technique of stroking the skin with a smooth-edged tool, gently on the face and more firmly on the body.

Low-level laser therapy (photobiomodulation) uses low-intensity light that doesn't heat or cut tissue, including on acupoints.

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and nodes that returns fluid to the bloodstream and supports immune function.

Meridians are the channels through which, in TCM, Qi and blood are understood to flow, connecting the body's surface with its organ systems.

Moxibustion is a TCM warming technique that burns dried mugwort (moxa) near the skin over acupoints.

In TCM, Qi (pronounced "chee") is the vital energy understood to flow through the body and sustain life and function.

In skin care, radiofrequency (RF) is energy that gently heats the deeper skin layers to tighten collagen fibres and support firmness.

Reiki is a Japanese energy practice in which a practitioner places their hands on or just above the body. People use it for deep relaxation.

Two TCM assessment methods: looking at the tongue's colour, coating and shape, and feeling the pulse at the wrist for its qualities.

TuiNa ("push and grasp") is a Chinese therapeutic massage that works along meridians and acupressure points with pressing, kneading and stretching.

Yin and yang are complementary opposites in TCM (cool and warm, rest and activity) whose balance is understood as the basis of health.