Hello everyone!

Alla Kalinina and I want to share our impressions about the recent presentation and training session at a Massage NZ meeting in Auckland.

Alla demonstrated the effects that classical facial massage has not only on the face, but on the whole body, so here she is!

I really enjoyed giving my first presentation in NZ. On the night everyone was really engaged in learning new techniques, creating a fabulous atmosphere. It was a pity that time was so limited to share information on how to perform these methods. I would also have liked to present more and some case studies on our clinical experiences with using these treatments. In these blogs Chris and I want to share more information on Classical Facial massage and several other methods we use in this area and why we use them in combined therapy treatments.

We also want to give you the knowledge and tools to advise your own clients to reconsider un-natural cosmetic treatments. Information that might help them to choose a relaxing face massage treatment, with a 'qualified therapist' instead. Getting a 'real' treatment that will deliver a wide range of long term benefits for them.

We will also try to put up regular blogs on our websites www.wellnessatwork.co.nz and www.azollahealth.com about how to keep a youthful face and how doing some very simple things for your face contributes to a youthful body. Feel free to use the content just remember if you are on-publishing it to provide a credit us for providing you with the information.

To begin lets discuss wrinkles. Bodies are efficient 'or lazy' depending how you look at it. They want to do the least amount of work they can and a wrinkle that holds facial skin in a folded state means that it is easier for your face muscles to go into that shape. Wrinkles deform large sections of our face and they really, really want to stay in place. That's because the job of a wrinkle is actually to make your life easier!

Eventually these jagged skin lines form in places where repetitive muscle actions crease and fold the skin again and again. In the same way that an physical limp will eventually form a pattern in the body's movements, a wrinkle helps face muscles into well used patterns with less effort. Now if you smile a lot that might not worry you after all, it's not hard to learn to 'love' a face creased with smile lines!

But what happens if your life hasn't worked out the way you planned and you have spent long periods in pain from a chronic injury or emotional trauma such as an emotion filled break up, or the loss of a loved one. What happens to your face when smiles have been few and far between for a very long time? What happens is that you get wrinkles, you get wrinkles in the wrong places and they become a permanent part of how you look, not only to others but more importantly to yourself….. it can be depressing, negatively affecting your moods distorting your endocrine responses and impacting your whole system and general health.

Many people decide enough, the wrinkles are going, and the by far the 'fastest' ways to get rid of wrinkles are these:

• Mesotherapy injections
• Botulinum injections
• Filler injections

Let's take a look at what they are, what they say they do, and what they 'actually' do.

Mesotherapy Injections

Mesotherapy is 'promoted to work' by injecting a cocktail of multivitamins and hyaluronic acid solution into the face. For wrinkle removal the syringe may be filled with all kinds of anti-wrinkle or anti-aging ingredients and there are a lot of unknowns. This includes important things like what the composition of the ingredients are? The most common explanation is it's an all natural mix and safe! When is injecting something into your face a natural process!

Proponents of mesotherapy treatments say that it can help with all sorts of wrinkles and lines on the face, and detoxify the body. Similar to the results you'd get from a plastic surgery, but without the pain, recovery time, and high cost. The truth is studies demonstrate 'mesotherapy does not provide any significant long term benefit' scientifically it's a waste of money. Read more »

Botulinim Injections

The fastest growing cosmetic treatment, Botox injections are used to reduce wrinkles. The toxin affects nerve endings, preventing the brain from sending messages that make muscles contract. Studies have suggested that that the drug can also help with migraines and Parkinson's disease. In an editorial in the British Medical Journal Dr Peter Misra, of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, says Botulinim is being used "ahead of clear scientific evidence", he says the drug, a derivative of the deadly botulism toxin, is used to treat conditions based on anecdotal evidence and small-scale studies. This is well below normal medical safety Gold Standards!

Clostridium Botulinum is a spore forming bacterium that has the ability to produce the neurotoxin botulinum which is commonly known by the very successful brand name, Botox. In humans and animals this toxin can cause a severe  flaccid paralytic and it is the most potent toxin known to mankind, natural or synthetic. Once purified and injected the medical benefits of botulinum toxin have been demonstrated for temporarily treating a number of medical conditions: Congenital pelvic tilt, Spasmodic dysphasia of the larynx. Strabismus (crossed eyes) plus paralysis of facial muscles and blinking frequently.

Globally Botulinum toxin is licensed only for a few specific conditions, and should be used in cases "based on clear scientific evidence of its efficacy and safety". These conditions include muscle spasms and stiffness, twitching and excessive sweating. "Botulinum toxin is reported to be useful in more than 50 conditions. Some of the 'off-licence' indications are substantiated by some evidence, but its efficacy in several other conditions is based on anecdote and observations made in small numbers of patients."

The Botulinum toxin acts at the neuromuscular junctions, autonomic ganglia, postganglionic parasympathetic nerve endings and postganglionic sympathetic nerve endings. Part of the toxin binds irreversibly to nerve receptors and the affected nerve terminals do not degenerate! The blocked neurotransmitter release is irreversible!

A number of very prestigious studies from Europe clearly warn of the danger associated with using this particular toxin, especially for strictly cosmetic reasons. As far back as 2007 the European Medical Agency recorded 600 cases of negative effects potentially linked to the popular cosmetic treatment.  In 28 cases BOTOX users died!

Results from an Italian study in rats found that Botulinim does not stay locally in the skin! They found that it was possible for Botulinim to migrate along the nerves back to the brain, shutting off nerves there. Then there are the possible side effects: Pain, bruising, swelling, headaches, nausea, flu-like symptoms, droopy eyelids, respiratory infection, fainting, intestinal upset. ( this info is from their own literature).

The next logical question is how do companies selling Botulinum get away with it? Well actually they don't always get away with it, this is just one example. In a report by Bloomberg, Allergan Inc. was ordered by a Virginia jury to pay $212 million to a man who said he received permanent brain damage from being injected with Botox for tremors and cramps his hands.

This judgement was based on the jury's belief from the evidence presented that, "Botox can migrate outside the injected muscles and cause side effects including botulism and severe autoimmune reactions with resulting brain damage".

In order for function to return the body must establish new synaptic connections and build new pathways, this usually takes two to three months (which is why the treatment is not permanent) however with repeated injections tolerance to botulinum develops with due to antibody formation requiring stronger dosages, and over time as the body sets about developing new nerve pathways, these pathways can lead to distorted / incorrect muscle firing patterns often leaving a long term botulinum user with a distorted dysfunctional face. Unfortunately this is not always fully disclosed in advertising these methods in magazines about health and beauty. In New Zealand it's worth noting that Botulinum toxin is unapproved as a healthcare service by Southern Cross for the following: Injections to muscles of mastication, for Laryngeal Conditions and for the treatment of headaches. It would seem they don't yet agree it is safe around your neck or head.

Filler Injections

Fillers are made of sugar molecules or composed of hyaluronic acids,  collagens, which may come from pigs, cows, cadavers, or may be generated in a laboratory, and biosynthetic polymers are used as well, including calcium hydroxylapatite,  polycaprolactone, polymethylmethacrylate, and polylactic acid.

Fillers are promoted as a great way to plump up the sagging areas of the face. What is not advertised is that even a permanent filler can shift from its injection site to other parts of the body. Doctors at the University Hospital Coventry and Warwick-shire presented a case recently where a woman was sent to them complaining of a swelling on her forehead A 'permanent filler gel' she'd had injected between her eyebrows a decade ago had migrated across her head. Some patients can develop chronic 'foreign body' reactions where the skin attempts to seal off the filler in a fibrous capsule causing unsightly lumps. Read more »

What is the natural and relaxing alternative to these unnatural invasive procedures?

Facial massage, followed with proper care of the face.

By working on and correcting the current tension and obtaining relaxation of tight muscles and myofascial adhesions, we can stimulate lymphatic drainage of the face, and improve blood flow. It's like doing any form of good exercise when cells are clean and stimulated they de- age, and significantly!

Some self treatment is a great idea too, as long as you get a regular daily routine locked in so you adopt and develop a habit a way of life.

So even though our first wrinkles begin to appear in childhood and because children often laugh the 20 years of our lives create wrinkles. While continuing to grow and show emotions it is usually eye wrinkles that appear first in a marked fold.

By nurturing the skin using only natural cosmetic creams and serums using a short daily massage technique with ice, everything can be helped back into balance and the skin on wrinkled dry faces can brought back to life. Coming from Ukraine where we have grown our food organically for thousands of years many of our ancient planting and harvesting rituals are based on the moon cycles and its effect on life.

Our meeting took place in the period of the waxing moon. Nature has its own rules and I try to stick to them by using this lunar energy as a source of female beauty and health. Accordingly, the most favourable time to deeply nourish the skin and to make massages to stimulate healing of your body is during the waxing moon.

Alla Kalinina Fitness Instructor & Facial Massage Specialist Wellness at Work Ltd.		Chris Toal Managing Director Wellness at Work Ltd.