Tao of Beauty: Chinese Herbal Secrets to Feeling Good and Looking Great [Paperback]

Helen Lee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 1999

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. -->

Editorial Reviews

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

From the Inside Flap

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. -->

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1 edition (March 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767902564
• ISBN-13: 978-0767902564
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #723,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars All-natural recipes, but sometimes questionable, April 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Tao of Beauty: Chinese Herbal Secrets to Feeling Good and Looking Great (Paperback)

Although I like some of the recipes the author shares with us, I doubt her knowledge of herbal medicine. She has certainly paid a little attention here and there, and collected many recipes, but she contradicts herself quite often.
At the beginning of the book she lists items according to their yin/yang nature. So, for example, chicken is neutral or yin/yang. But later in the text she refers to chicken as a warming or yang food.
In the various sections on skin care, she lists beneficial foods, and foods to be avoided. In several places, however, she contradicts herself. For example: she says that for a certain skin condition, you should avoid cool-energy foods, but her list of beneficial foods includes several cool-energy items.
The author brings a variety of topical recipes (scrubs, toners, lotions), most made from food items. Many recipes are simple, use foods widely available, and are easy to prepare. Just don't have dandruff, because her vodka-treatment won't come cheap.

Some of the edible recipes are quite good and very simple. Others are questionable. For example, her papaya peanut soup consists of pork, papaya, raw peanuts and salt. (Sounds delicious?) The ingredients are cooked for 20 minutes without the addition of water. Well, try that. Good luck.
She also suggests to use surgical gloves when cooking to protect your hands. I wonder whether she has ever handled hot pots in her life, or even stood near a hot stove.
Overall, the book is interesting to read because the author uses food as medicine (instead of pharmaceutical preparations), but it contains many inconsistencies.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth buying, December 27, 1999

By 

K. Smith "kimbersf" (Huntington Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tao of Beauty: Chinese Herbal Secrets to Feeling Good and Looking Great (Paperback)

Because of the amount of health and beauty books in the market (and that I have bought and never looked at again after the first read), I was extremely skeptical -- either it would be too clinical, difficult to implement or even worse, dumbed down to the point of "why bother?". So, I checked out this book at the library -- and was so impressed with the contents and information that I had to buy the book, knowing I'd actually use the information over and over again for everything from dry skin to PMS. It's great!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional book!, July 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tao of Beauty: Chinese Herbal Secrets to Feeling Good and Looking Great (Paperback)

Yes, I have read the "Tao Of Beauty" and found it to be an exceptional book. What I really love about it is that you make the recipes simple and easy to follow. One thing I have learned from you is that Chinese herbs are not just for medicinal purposes but can also be used for beautifying. I actually have come across patients in my clinic who want to know how to get rid of liver spots or pigmentations on their faces. Once again, congratulations and thank you for your wonderful book!