Dangers of Botox

I recently watched a news alert that warned women they may not be getting botox, but another chemical, injected in their face. The woman in question had horrible jowls. She had been receiving injections from 'parties.' The technician had credentials, but no one verified that they were getting botox injected into their face.

The woman went to a plastic surgeon when her jowls started looking horrid and disfiguring her face. The surgeon couldn't tell what had been injected, but it had slid down her face - over time - and settled on the jaw line.

There was no way to get the gunk out. It was soaked into muscle tissue. This woman had to have constructive surgery on her jaw. The warning - don't get botox injections anywhere but from a reputable clinic.





Facial Exercise or Botox


Once the Hippocratic Oath was considered a rite of passage for practitioners of medicine; it was a promise traditionally taken by physicians pertaining to the ethical practice of medicine. Over the years the wording has changed to reflect a more modern language; however, an oath of some type is uttered by most physicians accepting the responsibility to practice medicine or is it to practice responsible medicine?

Botox, Restylane and Collagen are the darlings of many cosmetic surgeons' because these products create a huge cash flow upsurge that boosts their bottom line. These same products provide a very temporary result that requires multiple treatments every year; most patients, mainly women, are willing to continue the injections giving no thought to how their faces will look or behave if they stop using these crutches.

A FDA article says, "In 2001, more than 1.6 million people received injections, an increase of 46 percent over the previous year. More popular than breast enhancement surgery and a potential blockbuster, Botox is regarded by some as the ultimate fountain of youth." On the other hand, the FDA describes Botox Cosmetic as a toxin.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01147.html Updating the figure for injections, Botox led the way in 2005.

Should there be concern for over-treatment or abuse when it comes to using these products? The above referenced FDA article echoes concern that Botox use could be easily abused, especially when untrained and unqualified people are doing the injecting at $500 a treatment. Abuse also comes when the patient complains to the care giver that the treatment was not as effective as promised so the injection is repeated before the recommended waiting period has lapsed.

If the results of a typical injection last 120 days, that means a patient returns at least three times per year to repeat the procedure to maintain that paralyzed look. At what point does a patient reach saturation with these drugs? One-tenth of a teaspoon, the typical amount of product used for the forehead, doesn't sound like much in terms of product usage but the burning question remains: what is the long-term ramification of injecting a toxin into the body several times a year?

Most cosmetic Botox injections target the forehead lines, the concentration lines between the brows and the area around the eyes. These particular lines and creases indicate that the underlying muscles have lost elasticity and tone from atrophy coupled with continued repetitive motion. Yes, the motion needs to be stopped but surprisingly, stopping the learned behavior of frowning or raising the forehead when emoting requires behavior modification not paralyzing toxins.

There is a non-invasive, all natural remedy for muscles that are lax – it's not an injection and it's not a cream. It's exercise! Exercise using isometric and resistance movements can easily tighten the underlying muscles of the face and neck. Imagine, learning a series of exercise motions that you can use forever and the results can stave off the need for injections because the underlying muscles will plump up and become strong again. When the muscles are made stronger, the skin feels and acts like younger skin.

Botox is not the Fountain of Youth – it is a toxin that blocks the release of a chemical by nerve cells that signal muscle contraction. When normal muscle contraction is inhibited, new wrinkles can begin their formation. That's right - New wrinkles are developed when compensating for other muscles lack of movement.

Exercise for the face can keep the underlying muscles strong so that wrinkles are less likely to form. Why resort to man-made chemicals when exercise can help you look younger and healthier? Remember, beauty injections do not cure; they only temporarily mask the symptoms.

Cynthia Rowland is widely recognized as an expert in all natural facial fitness with over thirty years experience in health & beauty related fields. She has appeared on The View, Fit TV, HGTV and other popular shows. This author, speaker and television personality is leading the crusade to keep men and women looking vibrantly younger through natural techniques without spending their children’s inheritance.

Author: Cynthia Rowland

How to Fight Aging

April 2008 is detox month. I am going to write at least 30 articles to teach you how to detoxify, and clean your colon, without wasting money on a program. I was frustrated by the lack of free information on the net. It took me more than 3 weeks to start finding information to help you.

I have been writing hard, bringing the information from medical reports to you. I'll have it all posted in April or the April archive. Just take a peak.

Why am I focusing so much on detox? Easy - because aging is the result of letting your body fill up with toxins. My grandfather died when he was 92. This is way above the average for his generation. More important, he never went to an old age home until the last six months. At 75 he was still managing a farm with 100 cattle on it.

What made him different from so many? He ate a very simple diet full of vegetables and fruits, and very little red meat. Beef was a cash product - something to sell.








To Fight Aging: Detoxify

Getting your hair colored or going through a more drastic cosmetic change such as a face lift will make you look younger. But, if your body has toxins you will still be aging at a faster rate than normal. To really revitalise we must clean ourselves up from the inside -detoxify.

In the modern, polluted world, internal cleansing is very important. No matter how hard we try to be healthy, we still breathe in polluted air, bathe in polluted water, and intake all types of chemicals. Once these chemicals and substances are absorbed into the body, we never fully eliminate them unless we detoxify.

A highly effective detox method which helps the entire body cleanse at the same time is juice fasting. Let's learn how.

If you take the time to go on a juice fast you will be allowing the digestive system to rest so it can focus its attention on rejuvenating the areas that need healing. Once you're done with juicing, your digestion will work better and your skin will take on a healthy glow.

You can benefit from a one to two day fast of freshly squeezed juice, herbal tea, protein drinks, and pure distilled water. Before starting on any diet program please consult your doctor to be sure it is safe for you to juice, especially if you have any health conditions.

Use organic fruits and vegetables because harmful pesticides and other chemicals will only become more concentrated after juicing. Drink up to eight 8-ounce glasses of juice each day and you'll be revitalising your body with an absorbable supply of health-promoting enzymes, phytochemicals, antioxidant vitamins and minerals, and chlorophyll.

Use watery juices like cabbage, aloe vera, celery, or cucumber to dilute concentrated juices such as parsley, watercress, arugula, and spinach. Dark green vegetable juices need to be diluted to ensure digestibility. To get the most psychological and physical benefit from juices, drink them slowly as if eating food instead of a liquid. Swallowing too fast stresses the kidneys and bladder and doesn't give you the healthy taste satisfaction. And, reintroduce food slowly after a fast by choosing light foods.

Now that you've learned the guidelines, it's time for the fun to begin with an all-juice diet. Alternate between the combinations of apple with carrot, sprouts with pineapple, and tomato with lemon plus a dash of cayenne. Your body will be getting nutrients that will help it function at its best and help you look younger and revitalised.

Some fruits and vegetables that are perfect for juicing include:

Apple...Apple helps fix liver and skin disorders. It has a laxative effect and is perfect for improving digestion and for weight loss.

Cabbage...Cabbage alleviates stomach ailments by rebuilding the digestive tract lining. Many have claimed curing ulcers by drinking a quart of cabbage juice daily for a week. Cabbage is also cancer-fighting.

Melon...Melon juice is best when used alone. This juice cleanses the kidneys. The rind contains chlorophyll, minerals, and enzymes. Perfect for a daily "beauty" drink.

Beet...Beet juice nourishes the liver. When you take care of your liver you are taking care of hormonal balancing, fat metabolism, and improved digestion. This leads to an overall improvement in beauty...the kind that makes people wonder what you did different that is making you look better.

Celery...Celery juice rejuvenates the liver. It'll help you catch up with all your lost sleep and get rid of junk food effects quickly as it promotes good cell chemistry.

Pineapple...Pineapple juice provides an anti-inflammatory effect which helps relieve bloating. It is also good for alleviating arthritis.

Author of Ten Easy Steps for Complete Wellness, Susan Lombardi, recommends a combination of cabbage, carrot, celery, and beet juice mixed in equal parts, with a dash of cayenne for flavor and circulation. She states that this recipe is taken throughout the day while fasting to promote healing in every corner of the body.

Author: James A Penn

The Fountain of Youth Is Inside

I've been writing about detox and colon cleansing over the last two weeks. I'm hoping that people start seeing these programs as a necessary evil. In fact, until the last 100 years no one had to do them, because everyone ate a better diet. Very few cultures ate the amount of red meat that we do. None at the levels of starches or sugars that we do.

Combine this with the ingested pollutions and poisons, and it is no wonder that the body needs to detox. I don't recommend paying a fortune on a program. 10 days eating the right vegetables and drinking lots of water will do the same. The important thing to remember is that there is no magic formula.

There are foods that detox. Anything that is high in vitamin C will detox. The important thing is to drink lots of water and/or green tea.




Looking Younger is an Inside Job

Maintaining a positive mindset is a key to staving off the aging process. There are many techniques that can boost your positive mental attitude and help you age gracefully.

The awareness of who we are and where we want to go in life develops in your mind; you have control of every thought, action and deed. When one recognizes mind-power, life can become richer, easier and more fulfilling because you are cognizant of your energy, your thinking.

One avenue of awareness is through affirmations; these simple positive statements, steeped in belief that you are the master of your destiny, can help overcome many fears and doubts one may harbor. Tony Robbins, noted author and speaker, has a favorite that he repeats 500 times a day while jogging: “God’s wealth is circulating in me. His wealth flows to me in avalanches of abundance. All my needs, desires and goals are met instantaneously for I am one with God and God is everything.” Those are powerful words. Repeating these powerful, faith filled words many times a day will permeate your subconscious mind and soon you will find yourself repeating them over and over again each day.

Recently, NBC Today Show featured Katie Couric, Christy Brinkley and Cheryl Tiegs discussing how age and aging was being redefined; they concluded that age fifty is now the new thirty; age sixty is now the new forty. This redefinition of aging is possible because we look and act differently than our ancestors; we have transformed physically and mentally and most of us would like to think we’re getting better at life. Just think back 100 years, our life expectancy was approximately 47 years and now the average age of first time grandparents is 47.

Transformation of the self - awareness, actualization, comes from the inside. Many people believe if they are showing outward signs of aging, Botox or a visit to a plastic surgeon will give them the needed boost of self-confidence, sex appeal or happiness that is lacking in their lives. Once those procedures are done, some patients may be disappointed that their life did not magically transform: yes, the outside has been changed yet they may still feel empty and unfilled.

As life expectancy increases more and more anti-aging creams, pills and injections will be marketed to the baby boomers and zoomers. As it is today, we are inundated with lotions and potions that promote empty promises which mean there are a lot of disappointed people who have spent countless thousands of dollars chasing after the fountain of youth. Celebrities and models have set an unreachable goal for many as their airbrushed and retouched photos are splashed across beauty magazines, movie posters and billboards. They just look so perfect – no wrinkles, no bulging thighs or stomach that jiggles and gorgeous hair perfectly coifed.

Almost every emotion shows on our face – pain, joy, anger, stress, disappointment, frustration, sorrow, illness, hopelessness and love. When life happens the face becomes drawn and tired. At this point, some may seek professional help – plastic surgery. After a few nips and tucks, the newly altered face begins to loosen and aging becomes apparent again because surgical procedures or injections do not stop or reverse aging in the face.

What if you want to look and feel healthier and happier without going to extremes or spending a lot of money? Well, you can!

The true beauty of every person begins inside; it’s an ongoing process of evolving emotions, understanding unconditional love and loving your self more. Happiness and health is achieved when we learn to treat each other with love, respect and honor; everyone benefits from our presence - our families, our friendships, our co-workers and each person we meet and greet.

A reliable alternative to facial injections and elective surgeries is facial exercise.

There is an internal change that occurs when you face yourself in the mirror and perform movements to correct an aging face; that change is self acceptance. As you learn to love your ‘total’ self, you will more and more appreciate that person in the mirror.

Cynthia Rowland is widely recognized as an expert in all natural facial fitness with over thirty years experience in health & beauty related fields. She has appeared on The View, Fit TV, HGTV and other popular shows. This author, speaker and television personality is leading the crusade to keep men and women looking vibrantly younger through natural techniques without spending their children’s inheritance.

Author: Cynthia Rowland

Does Skin Need to Wrinkle?

Most people do not realize that the skin can rebound from the signs of aging. You don't need to buy special toners and facial creams. All you need to do is return the epidermis (skin) back to a natural state. This can include several steps. The first for most people is a detox.

Going through a detox regiment of eating fruits and vegetables while drinking plenty of water can remove the pollutants that are damaging the skin. When they are gone, the skin can 'breath'. The skin must be clean to do its job properly. The less it works, the healthier it looks.

Creams may be able to eliminate the toxins from the top layers, making the skin look healthy, but they don't eliminate the toxins from the lower levels.



Slow Down Aging Of The Skin

It is never too early or too late to slow down the aging process. Whether you have taken care of yourself up to this point or not, you can amend that situation by learning how to slow down aging.

Your lifestyle will dictate the status of your health and your looks. You can incorporate the principles of good health into your life and it can include little things like having good posture to bigger things such as making sure that you have enough good nutrients in your diet to maintain strong and healthy bones. You must exercise especially to maintain spinal and bone health. If your bones are not strong enough to last, you will find it difficult to slow down the aging process.

Five topics deal with issues on how to slow down the aging process. These five topics are skin, hands, eyes, smoking and teeth. If you pay attention to these five topics and follow the tips in each topic, you can go a long way to slowing down the aging process.

Your Skin

Aging shows up on your skin first. You can tell when your skin starts to wrinkle and sag on your face and your body. You can give your skin a regular work out with exercise. Regular exercise will give you a bloom in your cheeks.

When your body is thirsty, it gives you the feeling of thirst. This means that your body has reached the point where it really needs water. If you are chronically thirsty, your skin will look dry and will become easily wrinkled. You can prevent this by drinking enough water and liquids so that you do not become thirsty and are well hydrated instead. Water is the best liquid to drink, followed by fruit juice and teas.

You must also keep your skin clean and moisturised. As we age, our skin thins and dries out. In this way, it becomes susceptible to damage. You can help your skin by protecting it with moisturisers. A good moisturiser will keep your skin smooth and supple so that it will not wrinkle or sag as easily.

Young Hands

Your hands can give your age away as much as the wrinkles on your face. You will need to care for your hands regularly in order to keep your hands smooth and wrinkle free. Some general tips for keeping your hands fresh looking include wearing rubber gloves when you do household chores to avoid contact with harsh chemicals and cleaners.

You will go far by regularly applying a moisturiser to your hands. Do not allow your hands to be exposed to harsh weather conditions so that you can avoid chapping and burning the skin of your hands. Both of these conditions will age your hands. Wear gloves and a sunscreen to protect your skin. Take care of your nails so that they will enhance the look of your hands.

Youthful Eyes

You can easily use natural treatments to soothe your eyes and prevent bags from appearing under your eyes. Place two thick slices of a chilled cucumber on your eyes while you lay down in a calm room. Keep the cucumbers on your eyes for about ten minutes for a refreshed look.

You can do this once a week for a relaxed look around your refreshed eyes. Your eyes will be bright and will not look stressed out. If you do not have cucumbers, use cooled, used teabags from your black or green tea or an eye mask. Regular application of an eye cream in the morning and at night will prevent wrinkling around the skin.

Smoking Will Age You

If there is one thing that will improve your appearance, it is giving up cigarettes. Smoking cigarettes may not only make you seriously sick, it can accelerate the aging process.

Smoking causes wrinkling around the mouth and it will eventually give you a smoker's cough, which is certainly an aging characteristic. You must be determined to stop smoking if you want to stop the aging process that smoking seems to accelerate.

Your Teeth

A beautiful smile can make you look younger. You will need to look after your teeth well throughout your life especially as you age because if you have to wear dentures, this can be aging. Whiten your teeth and get your teeth repaired to make the best of your smile.

You can slow down the aging process through regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding the damaging rays of the sun. When you are out in the sunshine, wear a brimmed hat and sleeves. When you get out of a bath, moisturise your skin while still moist. Exfoliate skin to remove dead skin. Follow these tips to slow down the aging process and keep up a youthful appearance.