My French Acupuncturist's 7 Favorite Things
Including nettle tea, zinc spray, and an "immortelle" oil
One day a while back, I was out for lunch with a group of girlfriends, a farewell for one who was moving to Portugal, an increasingly popular destination for Americans looking to flee to Europe.
It was one of those perfect late spring days in Provence, not too hot, with a soft breeze. A French friend arrived and she was glowing. “You look amazing!” we all exclaimed.
“Merci,” she said, with a small smile. “I just came from acculift.”
Acculift?
I’d never heard of it. She went on to explain it was acupuncture to tone and lift the face. One by one, the other women at the table piped up that they too had visited this same acupuncturist. I was intrigued. After lunch, I sent her a message and booked an appointment.
That was two years ago, and I still see Nathalie Claude-Sollier once a month. I had to shift from cosmetic treatments to traditional acupuncture when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I credit her with helping me manage the side effects of chemo. I’m pretty sure she’s one of the reasons I was able to keep lifting weights, hiking, and swimming throughout treatment.
Each session starts off with me going over all that’s been ailing me since I last saw her. While I’m talking, she’s furiously scribbling notes in a notebook. Like a mathematician solving an equation, she mutters various numbers and letters under her breath, connecting invisible dots with her pen. We then settle on what she’ll work on for the session. But before we start, she almost always has a recommendation or two for me. These aren’t tips you’ll find on WebMD, and they nearly always surprise me.
Here are the things she recommends again and again, including an “immortal” oil and her number one product for aching joints:
