The Tao of Beauty

276 Pages·1999·2.73 MB·English

by  Helen Lee

THE TAO OF BEAUTY. Copyright © 1999 by Helen Lee. All rights reserved. Printed in the United
States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information,
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lee, Helen, 1958–
The Tao of beauty : Chinese herbal secrets to feeling good and looking great / Helen Lee. — 1st
ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-7679-0256-4 (pbk.)
1. Women—Health and hygiene. 2. Beauty, Personal. 3. Medicine, Chinese. 4. Herbal cosmetics.
5. Herbs—Therapeutic use.
I. Title.
RA778.L4625 1999
613’.04243—dc21 98-31738
ISBN-13: 978-0-7679-0256-4
eBook ISBN: 978-0-80415232-7
The epigraph is excerpted from The Illustrated Tao Te Ching. Copyright © Man-Ho Kwok, Martin
Palmer, Jay Ramsey, 1993. Used by permission of Element Books, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts.
Illustrations by The Strausberg Group (botanicals) and Cathy Pavia (Chi Gung)
v3.1
v3.1
This book is dedicated to my mother, who guided me with her deep wisdom
and always encouraged me. She is the most loving and caring person I know,
giving to all in need without expecting any recognition or reward.
My goal is to be as great a person as she and as good a mother to my
daughter, Samantha, who gives me my greatest joy.
I wish to thank my mother, all my sisters—Betty, Doris, Fanny, Janice,
Lisa, and Robin—and my brother, Tim, as well as my late father, for
sharing their knowledge, providing references, and giving support and
encouragement, especially when I needed it most. Thanks to Dr. Jie He
Li, Dr. Yue Chan, and Dr. James Ji, who were wonderful advisors and
teachers. This book would not have been possible without them.
Thanks to all the staff of the Helen Lee Spa, particularly my manager,
Tina, and assistant, Arlene, for their help. I also wish to thank the spa
clients who contributed to this book. My friends Cydna Moore, George
Sing, George Fan, Peter Regna, Scott Shellstrom, Steve Prezant, Steve
Forrest, and Joe Zaino, were always there when I needed them.
A special thanks to my agent, Katharine Sands, who helped in so many
ways to make this book possible, and to Sallie Batson for her help in
writing the text; Kimberly Blackwood for helping with the recipes and
for her writing assistance.
Thanks to Tracy Behar, my editor, for believing in me and for having
the understanding and vision for this book … and for all her time and
patience. This book would never have been possible without the
guidance, editorial support, understanding, and patience of Tracy and
her assistant, Angela Casey, of Broadway Books.
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Note from the Author
INTRODUCTION
BEAUTY BEGINS WITH HEALTH
1 BALANCE IS BEAUTY, BEAUTY IS HEALTH
Understanding the Tao of Beauty
2 YOUR BEAUTY-WELLNESS TEST
Are You Primarily Yin, Yang, or Yin/Yang?
3 HOT AND COLD ENERGY–THE CHINESE WAY
Foods and Herbs as Fuel for Beauty and Health
OPTIMIZING YOUR BEAUTY
4 MAKING SENSE OF BEAUTY
The Big Three: Detoxification, Digestion, and Regeneration
5 TAKING CARE OF YOUR SKIN
The Chinese Touch for Healthy, Radiant Skin
6 RECIPES FOR HEALTHY HAIR
You Need Much More than a Great Cut
7 SPECIAL CARE FOR YOUR HANDS, FEET, AND NAILS
Your Extremities Need to Be in Balance
8 CAST AN EYE ON BEAUTY
Take Care of Your Eyes
9 MAKE UP WITH MAKEUP
Color and Care for Your Perfect Canvas
ACHIEVING BODY HARMONY
10 EXERCISES FOR ENERGY
Chi Kung Keeps You Youthful, Healthy, and Beautiful
11 WEIGHTY MATTERS
Balance Your Diet and Energy and Find Your Ideal Weight
12 A LIFETIME OF WELLNESS
Menstruation, Pregnancy, and Menopause
Glossary
Resources
Before beginning any new exercise, diet, or health regimen, such
as the program described in this book, you are advised to consult
with a physician to make sure the new regimen is appropriate,
especially if you have a pre-existing illness or health condition.
The author and publisher disclaim liability for any adverse effects
that may result from the use or application of the information
contained in this book.
The Tao
is the breath that never dies.
It is a Mother to All Creation.
It is the root and ground of every soul
—the fountain of Heaven and Earth, laid open.
Endless source, endless river
River of no shape, river of no water
Drifting invisibly from place to place
… it never ends
and it never fails.
LAO TZU