In your face: can facial diagnosis actually reveal health problems? Five staffers put this ancient medical technique to the test

Natural Health, March, 2002 by Daphna Caperonis

HE STATE OF YOUR HEALTH is literally as plain as the nose on your face, according to such ancient healing systems as Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Practitioners study the appearance of your face to fully evaluate the state of your mind and body.

Specifically, different parts of your face mirror the health of different organ systems. According to TCM, for example, your cheeks correlate to your lungs, your brows correspond to your liver, and your lips show the status of your digestive organs. Lines, blemishes, and color in these areas give further clues. Likewise, certain areas of your face can illustrate aspects of your personality. "The difference between psychological and physical is not much in TCM.... Your face becomes a map of your life," says Lillian Gamier Bridges, a visiting professor of Oriental medicine at several universities including Yo San University of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles. Bridges has been teaching facial diagnosis to acupuncturists, homeopaths, doctors, and nurses for 10 years.

Curious to experience facial diagnosis firsthand, we sent photographs of five Natural Health staffers to Bridges for interpretation. Before the readings came back, the participants completed surveys about their most pressing health concerns. Here's what their faces revealed--and how accurate they judged the results.

CHERYL REDMOND, 39

WHAT OUR FACE READER SAID ABOUT CHERYL:

Cheryl is basically in good health in mind and body. She feels deeply (as shown by her deep-set eyes) but her refined mouth is a sign that she is able to express her feelings, which minimizes her stress. Her eyebrows don't line up with the inside corner of her eyes. This placement means that she tends to do everything herself and could predict loneliness.

Cheryl's only problem is with her digestion. The top of the bridge of her nose (which corresponds to her spleen and pancreas) is whitish, suggesting that she is prone to blood sugar irregularities. Besides indicating a do-it-yourself personality, her wide-set eyebrows signal a gall-bladder insufficiency, which might limit her digestion of fats and cause nausea or headaches. Her upper lip is too pale, which possibly indicates what TCM calls "frozen stomach," caused by consuming too many cold beverages or raw foods. Frozen stomach can result in constipation, gas, and stomachaches. Constipation is also shown in her puffy lower lip. To bolster her digestion, Cheryl should eat hot soup and pureed warm food like mashed potatoes, and drink tea and cocoa.

HOW CHERYL GRADED HER READING: A-

Cheryl, our associate food editor, agrees that she has a self-sufficient personality but doesn't think of herself as lonely. Infrequent but bad headaches are her most troublesome health issue. She attributes them to tension or low blood sugar. Sensitive digestion and occasional constipation ranked second on her list of complaints, echoing Bridges's assessment. Cheryl acknowledges that she does consume a lot of cold food, particularly salad and ice cream, and she craves ice water. Bridges didn't find any clues in Cheryl's face about a third concern, poor circulation.

WILL MARKS, 45

WHAT OUR FACE READER SAID ABOUT WILL:

Will's eyebrows are thick, which shows good qi, or energy, in his liver. A strong liver, according to TCM, wards off the ill effects of anger, overwork, and even toxic chemicals. However, if Will doesn't find an outlet for his temper, he could become depressed, as indicated by the shadowing around his eyes. The closeness of his brows to his eyes indicates he has high expectations for himself and others. Will needs to be the boss but will help others when asked nicely (as suggested by a dip between his brows).

Two concerns arise from Will's mouth. His upper lip, which correlates to his stomach, is thin, indicating that he is repressing his emotions. This could cause digestive disorders, particularly stress-based ones like ulcers. The redness above his mouth may indicate an inflammatory condition in his urinary tract, probably his prostate.

The cleft in Will's chin (it is called the "performer's chin") shows that he can be quite funny. Will should joke about what infuriates him most to relieve his considerable temper without blowing up.

HOW WILL GRADED HIS READING: C

Will says he has no health ailments, major or minor. He attributes his red upper lip to shaving with a dull razor, but adds that prostate troubles run in his family. He has a moderate concern about developing colon cancer, also a family issue, but Bridges did not note any potential colon problems from Will's features. Bridges did nail several of Will's personality traits. For example, he often cracks jokes to relieve unresolved anger, he says. And Bridges was right about Will needing to be the boss. As the magazine's general manager, Will is just that.

CAROL PARIKH, 62

WHAT OUR FACE READER SAID ABOUT CAROL:

Carol gives the initial impression of looking tired and having suffered physically or emotionally, as seen from her deeply lidded eyes and the grief lines descending from their outside corners. However, her face's left (or true) side reveals her to be much livelier than at first glance. She shows optimism in her upturned lips.