Most of us are familiar with the old adage, “beauty is more than
skin deep.” But what does this mean, exactly, for the contemporary
woman who wants to look beautiful in a natural way? Who better to
turn to for answers than health and wellness guru Dr. Andrew Weil.
The Harvard-educated medicine man is well-known as the pioneer of
integrative medicine, which seeks to incorporate natural healing
methods into traditional medical practices. “I think there are two
fundamental roots of beauty,” said Dr. Weil. “The first is health
and the second is one’s relationship to one’s self.” He explained
that our quest for beauty is not simply vanity – it may in fact
promote our survival as a species.“In nature, animals use their
appearance to attract a mate. Their lush plumage or colorful markings
say, ‘I’m ready to breed; I’m from a good gene pool; I’m desirable.’
” According to Dr. Weil, looking good is intimately intertwined
with feeling good. Cosmetic products certainly have their place,
but nothing works as well as a beauty regimen that puts healthy
habits first. “If one is healthy, this shows in the appearance of
the skin and hair … you have a glow. To obtain this, it’s important
to have a lifestyle that promotes health - good nutrition, handling
stress, proper sleep – and not having [bad] habits, such as smoking
and drinking excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol.” In collaboration
with the skincare company, Origins, Dr. Weil has developed a signature
line of plant-based products that “optimize skin’s defenses” by
targeting inflammation - a key word in his approach to health. He
asserts that inflammation, which he defines as “a process in which
the immune system becomes off-balance,” is at the root of many serious
health issues and can also affect the skin, causing dryness, redness,
wrinkles and puffiness. Many of his exclusive products feature his
proprietary formula, Plantidote Mega-Mushroom blend, which soothes
and calm skin, making it stronger, healthier and more radiant. All
after-tax profits from Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins are turned over
to the Weil Foundation, whose mission is grand, inspiring and Dr.
Weil firmly believes, achievable. Headquartered at the University
of Arizona, the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine “leads the
transformation of healthcare by creating, educating and actively
supporting a community that embodies the philosophy and practice
of healing-oriented medicine, addressing mind, body and spirit.”
The core project is a standardized, online curriculum for integrative
medicine that Dr. Weil hopes to make a requirement for every medical
residency program in the country. “I think we’ll do that, and when
we do we’ll have transformed the way medicine is taught and practiced,”
he said. Let’s hope that the rest of the medical world is paying
as close attention as we are to this visionary healer. www.drweil.com
(text by susan axelrod) beauty edit by melisa tropeano
la tour
