The Skin: Treat It With Reverence

The skin has been much studied yet it still remains somewhat misunderstood. It is traditionally seen as a complex tissue made of three major layers: epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis, the outside layer, is mostly an accumulation of dead cells. In the time of the moon cycle, the epidermis is entirely renewed.

There are about twelve pounds of skin on an average human body. Its thickness might vary from half a millimeter to a few millimeters depending on the part of the body it covers. An eyelid is thin like a piece of paper but heels can be thick like the soles of shoes.

The skin harbors an enormous amount of blood vessels, nerve endings, fluids and tiny oil glands. A square inch contains millions of cells to be fed and oxygenated and whose waste needs to be eliminated. Eventually, dead cells must make room for new ones.

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), skin is viewed with great reverence. It is more than a barrier between the inside of the body and the outside environment. It is linked to the organ function of Lung (i.e. a breathing/eliminating function) and consequently, to the energy of the Metal element. But there is more: Your skin is particularly important because it is a reflexive organ that provides important telltale signs of what is going on within your body. Any skin problem reoccurring in the same area is an indicator of your health condition. Your skin's role as a provider of natural early warning signs can help you maintain or achieve an improved state of wellness.