History of Cosmetic Procedures

The search for youth, vitality and beauty was as common thousands of years ago as it is today.  People are still enchanted by the possibility that there is a fountain of youth.  In fact there is such a desire to never loose youthful looks that science has come up with ways to 'improve' beauty.  Going under the knife, dyes, suctions, injections, and chemical peels are just a few of the many modern disfiguring manipulations.  As a Cosmetic Acupuncture practitioner I am continuously amazed at the types of procedures people allow modern medicine to perform on them in hopes of capturing that elusive fountain of youth.

Chinese woman have been changing their appearance since the birth of Chinese Medicine.  Coloring one's nails, a popular past time for women today, can be traced back to 3000 BCE.  Powder was used on a woman's skin because it was a reflection of wealth and gentility to have lighter skin.  Lipstick, shaved eyebrows and smearing olive oil on one's hair was to enhance and feminize the face and create shiny hair.  Bird droppings were used to lighten skin, imagine smearing pigeon poop on your face.  Future entries will discuss how it would be better for your health to use pigeon poop than some of the cosmetic potions and lotions currently on the market.  Stay tuned!

Egyptian women used recipes containing lactic acid for peels to smooth their skin; and eye makeup that contained lead, mercury, malachite, copper and chrysocolla as key ingredients.  All of these ingredients we now know are neurotoxins.  Maybe this is the reason for short life spans.  

Greek and Roman women practiced coloring their hair with lead oxide and slaked lime.  Leeches were used at one point to give a pale complexion.  Even sheep fat mixed with blood was a common nail polish. 

Here is a list of more historical beautification tips:

• to cover facial blemishes women wore velvet patches shaped like stars
• to reduce the look of wrinkles parafin injections were administered unfortunately the side effects included migration and cancer
• lead dye was used to lighten the skin leading to horrible disfigurment and death more often than not.
• a concoction of carbonate, hydroxide, and lead oxide bleached skin which often resulted in muscle paralysis or death if used too often
• Lye was used to bleach hair unfortunately it also made hair fall out
• to get that desirable pale complexion, neurotoxic white lead paint was preferred
• eye dilation using the Deadly Nightshade plant was popular
• an invention known as Frownies were adhesive patches that prevented froning and squinting for which women, in the 1800's, doled out over 1.5 million dollars

Cosmetic Acupuncture supports youthful looks and beauty from the inside out.  Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes that the outside of the body is a reflecttion of the inside.  If a body is filthy, toxic and sickly on the inside it is going to be very difficult for an individual to look younger and vivacious on the outside.  With TCM it is an inner balance and harmony that will produce outward health creating beautiful youthful skin.  The balance of Yin and Yang along with the free flow of Chi through all meridians will ensure smooth, tight, hydrated and elastic skin with a vibrant hue.

In today's society modern medicine has preached that our looks can only be altered and 'enhanced' by simply cutting, injecting, smearing and burning the skin.  I would invite you to ask yourself these questions: "If my insides were healthy would I have any skin problems since my skin is a reflection of my internal health?  Would my skin stay beautiful if all of my inner organs were working properly?  The answer is YES.  And through my research the only procedure to bring forth the above positive changes is Cosmetic Acupuncture because it focuses on internal health whereas, all current medical procedures create external changes without addressing the cause of wrinkles, sagging and discoloration.

By balancing the Yin and Yang and getting Chi to freely flow throughout the body along with proper dietary changes, natural cosmetics and inner supplementation (if required) your body will produce healthy skin.  The change that occurs will last much longer than any other current medical procedure.  With Cosmetic Acupuncture ones internal organs and systems experience health and therefore the positive changes in the skin last significantly longer than any medical procedure would ever last.

Something to contemplate.  If you were able to look better and feel better without the horrible side affects of cosmetic medical procedures would you consider having this procedure done?  Please continue to come back as I discuss more about Cosmetic Acupuncture and how I have seen it change lives.  Remember if you look your best, feel your best and be your best you will achieve success!

Dr. Richard Betts