Review
"Ms. Lee is successful in sharing ancient Chinese health and beauty beliefs with today's modern woman. The ideas and concepts are simple to do, fun, and contain easy-to-find ingredients. The Tao of Beauty affords a great way to feel balanced, healthy, and beautiful."
--Janice Cox, author of Natural Beauty at Home
--Janice Cox, author of Natural Beauty at Home
Book Description
The Tao of Beauty proves that the latest beauty secrets are 5,000 years old. Ford fashion model Helen Lee comes from a long line of Chinese herbal practitioners, and when she found that Western beauty solutions were not helping her remedy the stress of a full-time modeling career, she turned back to the Chinese herbal therapies her mother had taught her. In The Tao of Beauty, Lee demystifies for you the use of food and herbs for inner health and outer beauty with:
A concise overview of Chinese medicine and Chinese herbology's basic elements
The "Beauty-Wellness Test," which identifies your energy type--yang (hot), yin/yang (balanced), and yin (cold)
Prescriptive advice for acne, dry skin, wrinkles, insomnia, fatigue, allergies, and much more
Five chapters devoted exclusively to remedies and tips for skin, hair, nails, eyes, and make-up
Herbal and dietary recommendations and recipes for optimal weight and health, with ingredients easily available in local supermarkets and health food stores
Specific advice for women at different stages of life, including pregnancy and menopause
Exercise, toning, and relaxation techniques based on Chi Kung
More and more Western women are coming to see that beauty and wellness are inextricably linked, but there are few resources that explain the relationship and offer practical advice. The Tao of Beauty is the guide you've been seeking. Let it unlock the beauty in you.
The Tao of Beauty now makes these therapies available to everyone.
Based on the philosophy that beauty and health are inextricably linked, The Tao of Beauty presents a total program for restoring the body's natural yin-yang balance. Using ingredients available at local supermarkets and health-food stores, Lee provides solutions for a head-to-toe range of problems, including insomnia, allergies, fatigue, wrinkles, dry skin, and obesity, with chapters on skin, hair, nails, eyes, and make-up. The Tao of Beauty also features exercise, toning, and relaxation techniques.
Helen Lee's day spa has become a mecca for thousands who have discovered the soothing, customized "prescriptions" of Eastern herbal wisdom. With The Tao of Beauty, Lee's doors are open to all. -->
A concise overview of Chinese medicine and Chinese herbology's basic elements
The "Beauty-Wellness Test," which identifies your energy type--yang (hot), yin/yang (balanced), and yin (cold)
Prescriptive advice for acne, dry skin, wrinkles, insomnia, fatigue, allergies, and much more
Five chapters devoted exclusively to remedies and tips for skin, hair, nails, eyes, and make-up
Herbal and dietary recommendations and recipes for optimal weight and health, with ingredients easily available in local supermarkets and health food stores
Specific advice for women at different stages of life, including pregnancy and menopause
Exercise, toning, and relaxation techniques based on Chi Kung
More and more Western women are coming to see that beauty and wellness are inextricably linked, but there are few resources that explain the relationship and offer practical advice. The Tao of Beauty is the guide you've been seeking. Let it unlock the beauty in you.
The Tao of Beauty now makes these therapies available to everyone.
Based on the philosophy that beauty and health are inextricably linked, The Tao of Beauty presents a total program for restoring the body's natural yin-yang balance. Using ingredients available at local supermarkets and health-food stores, Lee provides solutions for a head-to-toe range of problems, including insomnia, allergies, fatigue, wrinkles, dry skin, and obesity, with chapters on skin, hair, nails, eyes, and make-up. The Tao of Beauty also features exercise, toning, and relaxation techniques.
Helen Lee's day spa has become a mecca for thousands who have discovered the soothing, customized "prescriptions" of Eastern herbal wisdom. With The Tao of Beauty, Lee's doors are open to all. -->
From the Back Cover
"Ms. Lee is successful in sharing ancient Chinese health and beauty beliefs with today's modern woman. The ideas and concepts are simple to do, fun, and contain easy-to-find ingredients. The Tao of Beauty affords a great way to feel balanced, healthy, and beautiful."
--Janice Cox, author of Natural Beauty at Home
--Janice Cox, author of Natural Beauty at Home
About the Author
Helen Lee, a Ford fashion model, has spent two decades as a student of Chinese herbal practices and is a member of the American Acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine Association. Currently, Lee directs all research and development for the Chinese herbal product line at her exclusive salon, The Helen Lee Day Spa, in Manhattan. She lives in southern California.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
All of us know of women who are beautiful but would hardly be considered pretty. Their eyes may be "too small" or "too far apart" or their nose or lips "too large" or their figures far from ideal. Yet they have something extra, magnetic--something from within--that renders them beautiful. How is it that they possess this quality that can only be called a glow?
According to Chinese tradition, the path, or Tao (pronounced "dow"), of beauty is simply one lane on the road to radiant health. There is nothing particularly unusual about this. Health is beauty; beauty is health. No amount of makeup can camouflage a body that isn't healthy or, as we Chinese view it, is out of balance.
This often comes as a surprise to new clients who come into my day spa expecting a facial, instruction in skin care, and a makeup application. The nutritional aspects of the beauty program that I offer are deeply rooted in the practices of traditional Chinese medicine. To the Chinese, the term "medicine" relates to a way to healthy life rather than to treatment for illness. These concepts are very different from Western beauty culture.
While cosmetics and skin care can enhance a woman's outer appearance, real beauty must be solidly based in balance and health. Strong, glossy hair; clear, bright eyes; firm, glowing skin; and strong, pink fingernails--these are the foundations that makeup merely plays up. Nothing can be enhanced that isn't intrinsically there. This is why the road to beauty, as outlined in this book, is inextricably linked to optimal health.
Our bodies are in a constant state of renewal. Old cells die as new ones are born. By properly nourishing these cells, we can insure that we grow healthier, stronger, and consequently more beautiful day by day.
In my experience as a Ford fashion model as well as in my spa, I have found that many of the most beautiful women are those who have created their own beauty-wellness programs based on this philosophy of balance. No matter how busy we are, to regenerate our bodies and refresh our spirits is a gift we give not only to ourselves but to those we love as well. As the old Chinese proverb states, "An empty well gives no water." When we take time--even if it's just a few moments a day--to revitalize ourselves, we have so much more to share with those around us.
The Tao of Beauty offers more than a frantic shape-up plan of diet, exercise, and makeup tricks. It provides a foundation of practices and recipes for balance and wellness that will fortify your body for health and beauty. As so many of us have learned, quick fixes are usually transient, lasting only until the pressure of our everyday lives takes precedence over our best intentions. I will give you in clear, precise language a life path, or Tao, so you can release the power of your beauty and serenity.
My ancestors were Chinese healers and herbalists, and I draw upon this heritage to share the ancient philosophy of Tao. First, I will show you how to determine your basic type according to Chinese principles--yin, yang, or yin/yang (balanced)--and you will then be able to fashion your own beauty-wellness program. I'll show you how to draw from a full range of simple, easy-to-prepare recipes for delicious foods to eat, teas to drink, and potions to apply to your body to obtain the beautiful results you desire.
Unlike conventional Western beauty, diet, and exercise books that mandate a step-by-step routine to be followed to the letter for specific results, The Tao of Beauty offers a program that you can adapt to meet your body's needs. You will learn to be in touch with how you feel and what your body needs to correct or maintain the delicate balance of its life energy, or chi.
As a busy working mother, I can fully appreciate that time is always in short supply. With this in mind, I have made sure that the program you design for yourself and the recipes you use are simple to follow. Most of the ingredients for this newfound Tao are either already in your kitchen or in your corner supermarket. For example, you'll find two powerful food-grade herbs with strong healing properties, xiohuixiang and dingxiang, masquerading under the names fennel and cloves, respectively. Some Asian herbs, like ginseng and royal jelly, are already known in the West. These, and many items that are less familiar, such as dang quai and dried Chinese red dates, can be inexpensively purchased in many well-stocked health food stores. I've also listed mail-order sources in the back of this book for your convenience. Furthermore, I've made sure that the recipes require minimal cooking skill and little more equipment than a blender, a few enamel and glass pots and pans, and a few glass bowls.
I invite you now to join me on this radiant path. Put aside everything you already know about your body; suspend your beliefs about how you should look and what is beautiful. I will introduce you to a new way of thinking that is, in truth, centuries old.
Your Beauty-Wellness Test: Are You Primarily Yin, Yang, or Yin/Yang?
Now that I've provided you with a wealth of new information about health and beauty in the Chinese tradition, it's time to discover how to put these principles to use. The first step in this process is to take my Beauty-Wellness Test to determine if you are primarily yin, yang, or yin/yang (balanced) in nature.
Don't try to look through the book for the "right" answers! There are no right answers. This test is designed to enable you to identify your current state of balance, or wellness. You will discover if you're primarily a yin type or if you are currently in a yang state. Some of you may even be surprised to learn that you are basically in balance!
Like chi and our cells, which are ever changing, yin and yang express the constantly evolving connection between body, mind, and spirit. Yin and yang are not absolute, exact conditions. We can be yin today and yang tomorrow. This test simply identifies your fundamental state.
Beauty-Wellness Test
Select the most appropriate response to each of these questions and total your answers. This score will determine your primary state--yin, yang, or yin/yang (balanced)--so that you will be able to design the most effective program for yourself.
1. My age is:
15---13 to 25
10---26 to 45
5---46 or older
2. My weight gain/loss pattern can best be described as:
15---I can eat anything I want without gaining a pound
10---Up and down, but no more than three to five pounds a month
5---I gain weight easily
3. My appetite is:
15---Hearty
10---Moderate
5---Light
4. My skin--especially my face--looks shiny or oily:
15---Often
10---Only in the "T Zone" around my forehead and nose
5---Seldom
0---Tends to be dry
5. My face breaks out:
15---Often
10---Occasionally
5---Rarely, if ever
6. I have blackheads:
15---A lot
10---A few
5---None
7. I have whiteheads:
15---A lot
10---A few
5---None
8. I have dark circles around my eyes:
15---Rarely, if ever
10---Occasionally, during allergy season or when I am exceptionally tired
10---Yes, due to family heritage
5---Usually
9. I have wrinkles:
15---None
10---Only around my eyes
10---Around my mouth or on my forehead
5---Around my eyes, mouth, and forehead
10. My pores are:
15---Large, open
10---Medium
5--Small, fine
11. The texture of my skin is:
15---Coarse
10---Average
5---Smooth
12. I experience dry, flaky patches on my skin:
15---Never
10---Occasionally
5---Often
13. I smoke cigarettes, and I would be considered:
15---A heavy smoker (a pack or more per day)
10---A moderate smoker (less than a pack a day)
5---An occasional smoker/a nonsmoker
14. I drink alcoholic beverages:
15---One or more drinks a day, usually every day
10---Three to five drinks a week
5---Occasionally/never
15. My hair is:
15---Coarse and straight
15---Coarse and curly
10---Moderately thick
5---Fine
16. My daily hair loss is:
15--Very few
10---Normal (80 to 100 hairs per day--there's hair in my brush
but not an alarming amount)
5---Heavy (I get a handful of hair when I run my fingers through it or my drain is full when I wash it)
17. My hair and scalp are usually:
15--Oily
10---Normal
5---Dry
18. My fingernails are:
15---Rosy
5---Pale
19. The surface of my fingernails is:
15---Smooth
5---Ridged
20. I have sore throats:
15---Often
10---Once or twice a year
5---Never
TOTAL SCORE:_________
Your Yin/Yang Beauty-Wellness Profile
If You Scored Between 100 and 120 Points, You Are Primarily Yin
Yin bodies, like yin personalities, tend to be low-key, even cool, less emotional, and more reserved than their yang counterparts. If you scored primarily yin, you probably have a softer, rounder body than those who fit the yang profile. You often have dry, sensitive skin and a tendency toward premature fine lines and wrinkles, most often around your eyes and mouth. Your complexion and lips are often pale and you may suffer from the cold--especially in your hands and feet--not just during winter months.
To bring balance to your body, your diet should be full of warming yang-energy foods to increase circulation and rev up your sluggish system. These foods wi...
According to Chinese tradition, the path, or Tao (pronounced "dow"), of beauty is simply one lane on the road to radiant health. There is nothing particularly unusual about this. Health is beauty; beauty is health. No amount of makeup can camouflage a body that isn't healthy or, as we Chinese view it, is out of balance.
This often comes as a surprise to new clients who come into my day spa expecting a facial, instruction in skin care, and a makeup application. The nutritional aspects of the beauty program that I offer are deeply rooted in the practices of traditional Chinese medicine. To the Chinese, the term "medicine" relates to a way to healthy life rather than to treatment for illness. These concepts are very different from Western beauty culture.
While cosmetics and skin care can enhance a woman's outer appearance, real beauty must be solidly based in balance and health. Strong, glossy hair; clear, bright eyes; firm, glowing skin; and strong, pink fingernails--these are the foundations that makeup merely plays up. Nothing can be enhanced that isn't intrinsically there. This is why the road to beauty, as outlined in this book, is inextricably linked to optimal health.
Our bodies are in a constant state of renewal. Old cells die as new ones are born. By properly nourishing these cells, we can insure that we grow healthier, stronger, and consequently more beautiful day by day.
In my experience as a Ford fashion model as well as in my spa, I have found that many of the most beautiful women are those who have created their own beauty-wellness programs based on this philosophy of balance. No matter how busy we are, to regenerate our bodies and refresh our spirits is a gift we give not only to ourselves but to those we love as well. As the old Chinese proverb states, "An empty well gives no water." When we take time--even if it's just a few moments a day--to revitalize ourselves, we have so much more to share with those around us.
The Tao of Beauty offers more than a frantic shape-up plan of diet, exercise, and makeup tricks. It provides a foundation of practices and recipes for balance and wellness that will fortify your body for health and beauty. As so many of us have learned, quick fixes are usually transient, lasting only until the pressure of our everyday lives takes precedence over our best intentions. I will give you in clear, precise language a life path, or Tao, so you can release the power of your beauty and serenity.
My ancestors were Chinese healers and herbalists, and I draw upon this heritage to share the ancient philosophy of Tao. First, I will show you how to determine your basic type according to Chinese principles--yin, yang, or yin/yang (balanced)--and you will then be able to fashion your own beauty-wellness program. I'll show you how to draw from a full range of simple, easy-to-prepare recipes for delicious foods to eat, teas to drink, and potions to apply to your body to obtain the beautiful results you desire.
Unlike conventional Western beauty, diet, and exercise books that mandate a step-by-step routine to be followed to the letter for specific results, The Tao of Beauty offers a program that you can adapt to meet your body's needs. You will learn to be in touch with how you feel and what your body needs to correct or maintain the delicate balance of its life energy, or chi.
As a busy working mother, I can fully appreciate that time is always in short supply. With this in mind, I have made sure that the program you design for yourself and the recipes you use are simple to follow. Most of the ingredients for this newfound Tao are either already in your kitchen or in your corner supermarket. For example, you'll find two powerful food-grade herbs with strong healing properties, xiohuixiang and dingxiang, masquerading under the names fennel and cloves, respectively. Some Asian herbs, like ginseng and royal jelly, are already known in the West. These, and many items that are less familiar, such as dang quai and dried Chinese red dates, can be inexpensively purchased in many well-stocked health food stores. I've also listed mail-order sources in the back of this book for your convenience. Furthermore, I've made sure that the recipes require minimal cooking skill and little more equipment than a blender, a few enamel and glass pots and pans, and a few glass bowls.
I invite you now to join me on this radiant path. Put aside everything you already know about your body; suspend your beliefs about how you should look and what is beautiful. I will introduce you to a new way of thinking that is, in truth, centuries old.
Your Beauty-Wellness Test: Are You Primarily Yin, Yang, or Yin/Yang?
Now that I've provided you with a wealth of new information about health and beauty in the Chinese tradition, it's time to discover how to put these principles to use. The first step in this process is to take my Beauty-Wellness Test to determine if you are primarily yin, yang, or yin/yang (balanced) in nature.
Don't try to look through the book for the "right" answers! There are no right answers. This test is designed to enable you to identify your current state of balance, or wellness. You will discover if you're primarily a yin type or if you are currently in a yang state. Some of you may even be surprised to learn that you are basically in balance!
Like chi and our cells, which are ever changing, yin and yang express the constantly evolving connection between body, mind, and spirit. Yin and yang are not absolute, exact conditions. We can be yin today and yang tomorrow. This test simply identifies your fundamental state.
Beauty-Wellness Test
Select the most appropriate response to each of these questions and total your answers. This score will determine your primary state--yin, yang, or yin/yang (balanced)--so that you will be able to design the most effective program for yourself.
1. My age is:
15---13 to 25
10---26 to 45
5---46 or older
2. My weight gain/loss pattern can best be described as:
15---I can eat anything I want without gaining a pound
10---Up and down, but no more than three to five pounds a month
5---I gain weight easily
3. My appetite is:
15---Hearty
10---Moderate
5---Light
4. My skin--especially my face--looks shiny or oily:
15---Often
10---Only in the "T Zone" around my forehead and nose
5---Seldom
0---Tends to be dry
5. My face breaks out:
15---Often
10---Occasionally
5---Rarely, if ever
6. I have blackheads:
15---A lot
10---A few
5---None
7. I have whiteheads:
15---A lot
10---A few
5---None
8. I have dark circles around my eyes:
15---Rarely, if ever
10---Occasionally, during allergy season or when I am exceptionally tired
10---Yes, due to family heritage
5---Usually
9. I have wrinkles:
15---None
10---Only around my eyes
10---Around my mouth or on my forehead
5---Around my eyes, mouth, and forehead
10. My pores are:
15---Large, open
10---Medium
5--Small, fine
11. The texture of my skin is:
15---Coarse
10---Average
5---Smooth
12. I experience dry, flaky patches on my skin:
15---Never
10---Occasionally
5---Often
13. I smoke cigarettes, and I would be considered:
15---A heavy smoker (a pack or more per day)
10---A moderate smoker (less than a pack a day)
5---An occasional smoker/a nonsmoker
14. I drink alcoholic beverages:
15---One or more drinks a day, usually every day
10---Three to five drinks a week
5---Occasionally/never
15. My hair is:
15---Coarse and straight
15---Coarse and curly
10---Moderately thick
5---Fine
16. My daily hair loss is:
15--Very few
10---Normal (80 to 100 hairs per day--there's hair in my brush
but not an alarming amount)
5---Heavy (I get a handful of hair when I run my fingers through it or my drain is full when I wash it)
17. My hair and scalp are usually:
15--Oily
10---Normal
5---Dry
18. My fingernails are:
15---Rosy
5---Pale
19. The surface of my fingernails is:
15---Smooth
5---Ridged
20. I have sore throats:
15---Often
10---Once or twice a year
5---Never
TOTAL SCORE:_________
Your Yin/Yang Beauty-Wellness Profile
If You Scored Between 100 and 120 Points, You Are Primarily Yin
Yin bodies, like yin personalities, tend to be low-key, even cool, less emotional, and more reserved than their yang counterparts. If you scored primarily yin, you probably have a softer, rounder body than those who fit the yang profile. You often have dry, sensitive skin and a tendency toward premature fine lines and wrinkles, most often around your eyes and mouth. Your complexion and lips are often pale and you may suffer from the cold--especially in your hands and feet--not just during winter months.
To bring balance to your body, your diet should be full of warming yang-energy foods to increase circulation and rev up your sluggish system. These foods wi...
