June 2003 Ageless herbal newsletter

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	on this page Plastic surgery - an option or not? What are Adaptogens? Previous newsletters

Plastic surgery - an option or not?

We receive at least 15,000 requests per month for our free facial exercises and we thank everybody for their positive feedback.

Over-and-above that we get al least 2,000 letters per month from people wishing to know more about plastic surgery and what it can do for a person. It is interesting to note that about 65% of the letters are from women, with about 35% being from men. Unfortunately we cannot answer technical queries regarding plastic surgery since we are not qualified to do so.

But since we are involved in looking good, the writer also has a keen interest in plastic surgery, plastic surgeons and the correct application of such surgery.

Plastic surgery is NOT for everybody - and will NOT correct all ills - since some people may wish to have plastic surgery done for the wrong reason.

If you have a facial deformity, or are not happy about something on your body or face - by all means have cosmetic surgery, but do not think that plastic surgery is going to make your life better or make you feel better about yourself.

Some people have wondered and speculated if the writer has had plastic surgery - and yes - I have had some plastic surgery done - but never for wrinkle removal and I have never had a face lift.

I personally had a problem with not having prominent enough cheek bones and since it was important to me - cheekbones were implanted. I was under no illusion that cheekbones would better my life - I simply wanted more prominent cheekbones and had them implanted.

People sometimes have plastic work done in order to better their personal life with their partner or for having more confidence. Unfortunately plastic surgery will do neither - plastic surgery will just fix up a problem - it will not change your mind or the way you think about yourself.

To have plastic surgery performed to remove wrinkles and to tighten up your face also has a downside - if you have had years of bad skincare and exposed it excessively to all the elements and a bad lifestyle - then a facelift will make you look better, yet you NEED to have a good skincare regime to maintain any such results achieved.

Whatever you wish for in life, you need to work for - and if you want a good looking, radiant and vital looking skin, you would need to daily attend to it, and do not expect that the cut of a surgeon's knife will correct a lifetime of neglect, or that you can neglect your skin after a surgically procedure.

Remember - plastic surgery is an invasive type of surgery and should not be undertaken lightly. Some people are under the impression that plastic surgery is not "really surgery" but believe me it is. Your body is being worked on, and depending on the type of surgery you may also require general anesthetic - which also negatively impacts on your health.

But after weighing up all the odds, should you still decide to have that nose job, eyelid tuck, liposuction or breast enlargement, please make sure that you see a well qualified plastic surgeon.

All the horror TV programs on plastic surgeons mostly portray plastic surgery done by normal general practitioners that did not spend an extra 4 - 5 years on learning the finer details of plastic and reconstructive surgery and do not have the proper qualifications to call themselves "plastic and reconstructive surgeons".

Although such general practitioners may legally undertake plastic work in some states and countries - I would really suggest that you ensure that you consult a properly qualified, licensed and practicing plastic and reconstructive surgeon.

A good plastic surgeon will not look at making a quick buck - but will give you the best advise as well - and sometimes that advice may not be what you want to hear.

• To find a well qualified plastic surgeon - accredited by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery please visit this link http://www.surgery.org/public/find_a_surgeon and for South Africa please visit http://www.plasticsurgeons.co.za/ where you will find such excellent surgeons as Dr. Tini van Rooyen of Pretoria.

But remember - plastic surgery is not a joke and must be considered carefully with all its implications - cost, health and what possible side effects it may have and what it can and cannot achieve.

What are Adaptogens?

In the East, adaptogens have been used for centuries to combat stress, mental and physical fatigue and to minimize tissue damage resulting from the free radicals that our bodies are exposed to daily. Yet it took several centuries for Western society to experience the benefits of these unique nutritional components.

The term "adaptogen" was first coined by the Russian scientist N V Lazarev, but was later refined by the Russian researcher Professor Israel Brekman, who classified adaptogens as follows:

1. A plant type that is absolutely safe and non-toxic;

2. Which increases the body's non-specific resistance to internal and external stimuli;

3. Which brings any dysfunctional body system back to normal.

The action of Adaptogens

Extracts from three different plant species - rhodiola rosea, eleutherococcus and Schizandra chinensis - do not specifically only stimulate or sedate, but will act on what your body requires - so if your body or mind is in need of stimulation they will assist, yet when your body or mind need calming they will also assist - they are NOT a stimulant nor a sedative, but have a "balancing" effect on the body. We have found Schizandra Chinensis the most effective and active adaptogen.

Explaining the effects of the adaptogens is difficult, since they influence each individual differently. If you are mentally exhausted or physically fatigued then adaptogens will help you feel more energetic, vitalized, and full of zest for life - but they are not normal stimulants.

Should you however be stressed-out or emotionally tired and not coping with life, the adaptogens will help you relax and make life easier to cope with, yet they are not tranquillizers and will not have a drug-like effect on the body.

The Russians have funded much research into the field of adaptogens, and for this reason, because of the increased mental and physical activities achieved with this nutrient, have recommended that their cosmonauts supplement their diets with it.

Should you feel you are not coping, continuously fatigued or you need to increase stamina, endurance, concentration and mental clarity, you might look at adding this nutrient to your diet in order to improve these conditions.

An increase of over 20% in the capacity to work has been reported, as well as a reduction in errors made by over 80% - which makes this a great nutrient to take when studying or working at optimum levels. It is further reported that endurance is increased by up to 26% and an increase in strength is improved by nearly 10%.

It is also said to assist with the following:

Protecting the body from stress, increasing stamina and strength, shortening the recovery period after physical exertion, increased level of concentration and a decrease in errors made, increased work capacity, increased sexual potency and a general feeling of well-being, a decrease in feeling stressed-out and helping as an anti-inflammatory and improving circulation.

Almost everyone could benefit from this supplement. The pressures of our busy lifestyles lead to tiredness, listlessness and a general lack of energy. In short, your quality of life is being affected by a general sense of not feeling totally well.

For more information on adaptogens please visit www.anyvitamins.com/adaptogens-info.htm

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