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Thank you to everyone who sent in their questions on Instagram — I love hearing from all of you and I wish I could answer every question. Answering five of the most asked below :)

FYI I will be doing this at the end of every month so make sure you’re following my personal account on Instagram @jessegolden and subscribe to my email list HERE so you don't miss your question potentially being answered!

TOP 5 QUESTIONS

Q1: Why do you love Gua Sha?

A1: I was originally introduced to gua sha therapy as part of my healing journey for rheumatoid arthritis. Over a decade ago, at the beginning of my diagnosis, I sought help from many traditional Chinese doctors. One of them used gua sha therapy as part of my treatment for chronic pain, inflamed synovial joints & other areas of my body that were impinged & causing the most pain. I should preface that this was not a pleasurable experience. She would put sesame oil on my joints & vigorously scrape them back & forth with the back of a spoon, horn & bian stone until the skin was bright red & visibly had the “sha” part of gua sha, also called "petechiae." This rash coming to the surface would indicate the removal of blood stagnation inside my body, considered pathogenic in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Although painful, it was a part of my healing journey & has remained one of my go-to practices for helping me be able to thrive with rheumatoid arthritis. Traditional gua sha applies a much more vigorous pressure (even on the face) than the softer western approach. In the West, we have diluted this practice & made it more of a relaxing, therapeutic ritual. Generally you can apply more pressure on the body than the face but what’s most important is that you listen to your body's signals & let it guide you. Find that sweet spot between pain & relaxation where you feel a positive sensation & change happening within your skin. 

After years of using gua sha on my body to help with the pain & inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, I later discovered the benefits of gua sha on my face. I was determined to source the most effective & powerful stone on the planet & that’s when I stumbled upon bian stone, which was the stone my Chinese doctor used on my joints years ago & the original stone used dating back to 305-204 B.C. Unrivaled by any other stone on the market, Bian stone has 40 trace elements (20 of them are anti-aging), contains negative ions, creates therapeutic Far infra-Red (FIR) waves & therapeutic ultrasound. This stone has around 3,700 in generated ultrasonic pulses compared to other popular stones such as Jade stone at around 1,843. I was amazed at the efficacy & ability it had to naturally rejuvenate my skin. This is when I knew I had to bring this ancient, sacred practice to The Golden Secrets & share it with you. 

Gua Sha is so magical because it increases blood flow, oxygen & nutrients to the skin.  Blocked blood flow throughout the body greatly affects how & when we begin showing signs of aging. If blood flow is blocked, the skin loses its luster, firmness & radiance causing it to age prematurely. The state of our face is a direct reflection of how well our circulating energy life force “qi” or blood flow is. No matter what you do, if you do not take care of the blood flow system, you cannot make permanent changes to your face. The face is an extension of the whole body & reflects not only what's happening on your face but what is happening in your body & mind. Treating the entire system is key for maximum results. This is why I have a specific stone for the face & a specific stone for the body.

Results of not taking care of the body & face & neglecting self-care = fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, acne, dull/dry skin, jaw pain, etc. Cosmetic procedures are a quick-fix that need to be constantly repeated because the face will gradually go back to its natural pattern. The key to long-lasting results is to naturally change the pattern of the face & retrain the muscles & skin. This is why I love Gua Sha.

Shop Sculpting Stone Gua Sha Body Tool

Shop Sorceress Stone Gua Sha Beauty Tool

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Q2: How do you handle anxiety?

A2:

1. Nuvita CBD is a consistent go to for me. Use code: BEGOLDEN

2. 4-7-8 breathing: Inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8 all through the nose. 

3. Be where your feet are. Simply look down at your feet to get into your body & into the present moment.

4. Bach Rescue Remedy. My son and husband both love the Rescue Remedy Lozenges.

5. Go through the 5 senses: Sight - find something to focus on. Sound - pay attention to the sounds you are hearing. Smell - take a deep breath & see what you smell. Taste - enjoy something you can taste. Touch -feel something nearby.

6. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) - Tapping is a self-help technique that was developed by Gary Craig in the 1990’s. It involves tapping near the end points of energy meridians in order to reduce tension & promote a deeper mind-body connection. I often use this technique to reduce & let go of pain I am holding onto in the body. I truly believe EFT will become another common mindfulness technique, much like meditation & yoga has in the last decade.

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Q3: Any specific oral care recommendations?

A3:

• Use a soft bristle brush.
• Use natural toothpaste that is fluoride free. 
• Floss every night. Oil pulling 2-3x per week. 
• Rinse with hydrogen water a few times a week. 
• Use a tongue scraper morning and night. 
• When drinking carbonated drinks, use a straw. (preferably reusable)
• Try to breathe through your nose as much as you can, especially when you sleep. 
• Keep your teeth nice and white with non-toxic white strips.
• You can find everything I use HERE.

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Q4: What are the top anti-aging products I need?

A4: Moisture! Without sufficient moisture, the two major components of the dermis - collagen and elastin, lose their ability to keep skin toned and supple. As we age, elastin naturally weakens and collagen production slows down, making the skin more thin and prone to signs of aging. Major factors are abuse of the wrong or too many skincare products, lack of self-care with any skincare products, dehydration, poor diet, insufficient exercise, lifestyle choices and other emotional stressors.

So back to what you need? Oil! Our skin needs oil to function properly. The top layers of our skin are oil based & create a protective barrier to lock in hydration & help defend against bacteria & aging. Not all oils are created equal & each has their own strengths for various purposes, but in general, oils are able to penetrate deep into the layers of the skin, where it matters most, unlike creams. Oil helps keep the collagen & matrix of your skin supple & firm. Many oils are rich in omegas, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, & even Vitamin A - like the Youth Beauty Face Oil, which is formulated with 10 of the most nutrient-dense, organic oils & retinoic acid from rosehip, which gives you the same skin smoothing benefits of a synthetic retinol, without the toxic side effects & sun-sensitivity.

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Q5: How did you cope with not being able to walk for 1 year and having a small child?

A5: One word, humility. It was not easy at all but I always choose to look at the bright side of things and after I tell you logistically how I did it, I will share what good came out of it. For the first time in my life I had to ask for help and rely on my loved ones and hired help to get through my day. This was one the hardest steps for me to learn on my healing journey. I prided myself on being on my own since I was 17 and feeling pretty much bulletproof. Never needing help from anybody. Then that was magnified when I became a single mother, a choice that was not necessarily mine. I had to be tough and independent, but when I became ill, I had to put my tail between my legs and ask for help. The two good things that came from this are: one, I learned that I don't have to do everything myself and that asking for help is a necessary part of being human. It also makes the loved ones around you feel empowered and supportive by giving them an opportunity to help you. Two, looking back it was a blessing that I was unable to continue doing things as I was with my son, Kaleo. I raised him in an attachment parenting way, which I highly recommend but he was just turning 4 at the time and I had to give him more space to blossom and figure things out for himself. Because I was so ill, I was unable to do everything for him that I probably would have done otherwise. He was forced to figure some things out for himself, making him quite the problem-solver and I believe was imperative for him becoming the strong, independent man he is today. You can learn more about my story in my book, The Golden Secrets to Optimal Health. Available HERE on Amazon in all forms.

xo jesse