Welcome 2013! Most of us are still paying for the indulgence of the holidays. Sleep deprivation combined with eating large amounts of rich, unhealthy food causes havoc with our system.

In my case, it has manifested through nasal congestion, sluggishness, bloated belly, swollen feet and hands, severe cellulite, and full face and body acne breakouts. While I was in serious need of detoxification, I wanted something that could speed things up, as eating healthier doesn’t yield fast enough relief.

In one of my consultations with doctor friends, they mentioned a new treatment called Activated Carbon Body Scrub. The active ingredient is activated charcoal, which is commonly used to treat intestinal poisoning and to cleanse the stomach and digestive system of toxins, debris and certain parasites in the form of capsules.

However, instead of working from the gut outwards, using this as a body scrub enables the activated charcoal to absorb the toxins trapped right under the skin and just waiting for a way out. This treatment is perfect for those with cellulite or are prone to acne. You will need more than one session, though, as those toxins may be hardier than you think.

Easier application

Most body scrubs mainly use chemicals and synthetic ingredients that eventually become pollutants and find their way into the environment. Activated Carbon Scrub uses primarily charcoal from coconut shells and made into a cream using coconut oil, for easier application.

Do not attempt this at home with crushed charcoal used for cookouts, as the effects will not only be ineffective, perhaps even harmful. Unlike regular scrubs that remove mostly skin debris and superficial dirt, Activated Carbon Scrub not only eliminates dead skin cells, but also clears even the bacteria and their toxins, as well as deep-seated microscopic grime. Using Activated Carbon Scrub essentially detoxifies the skin and allows it to “breathe” and renew itself faster.

Added benefits of activated charcoal: It speeds up healing of wounds. It helps eliminate itchiness from skin irritants or allergies. From my personal experience, it also eliminates body odor on underarms, feet and scalp. (However, the morning breath factor was only significantly toned down with the capsules. The body scrub method may require more than a single session). Lastly, it helps reduce cellulite.

Please consult your doctor if you are considering taking AC capsules, as there have been small incidents of allergic reactions and it may negate medicine effectivity. The body scrub option is the safer choice for now.

Treatment

Everything (preparation, treatment, shower and dressing up) is done in an hour. The Activated Carbon paste is massaged on, using the lymphatic drainage technique, from the neck down to the toes, and you will be covered with huge cling wrap for about 10 minutes to allow heat to open up the pores so the charcoal can absorb as much toxins as it can.

You are then instructed to rinse it off in the shower. Within 10 minutes of the treatment, I was burping and passing gas continuously for a full hour. There was also frequent urination, perspiration and the best sleep I had in a long time.

Products to try at home: Origins Skin Diver AC Body Scrub; for face, Pond’s Pure White Deep Cleaning Facial Foam.

The morning after, my ring fit comfortably on my finger, and my feet had shrunk back down half a shoe size. Due to the elimination of excess gas, my bathroom habits became more regular and my clothes fit comfortably around the waist without that tight stretched feeling on my belly.

My intense sugar cravings also seemed to have disappeared overnight. My cellulite looked slightly better though still horrid, so I definitely require additional sessions and most likely other treatments.

Call Aesthetic Science at 0917-8082926 or 8993643.