On April 15, 2002, FDA approved Botox® to treat frown lines. Botox® was first approved in December 1989 to treat two specific eye muscle disorders, “Blepharospasm” and “Strabismus” and subsequently approved in December 2000 to treat Cervical Dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder contractions.1

To gain approval for use with frown lines, a clinical study involving 405 mostly women over 50 with moderate to severe frown lines were injected with Botox® cosmetic and after 30 days frown lines were evaluated. The frown lines were eliminated for approximately 120 days at which time re-injection was required. The FDA guidelines were injections to incur no more frequently than once every three months and lowest effective dose should be used.

The study highlighted following common adverse side effects:

Headache Respiratory infection Flu symptoms Droopy eyelids Nauseous Less frequent but adverse reactions in approximately 3% of patients included pain in face, redness at injection site, and muscle weakness. While adverse reactions were termed temporary, they could last months.

The FDA approved Botox® as a prescription drug, thus, requiring medical supervision. The actual name for Botox® cosmetic is Botulinum Toxin Type A; it’s actually produced from bacterium Clostridium Botulinum.

What actually occurs is an injectible form of sterile purified toxin, in a very small dose, is injected into affected muscles to block and release chemical acetylcholine that would otherwise cause contraction in muscle. The toxin actually paralyzes injected muscle.

Interestingly, Botulinum Toxin has been known for centuries. As early as 1895, a professor (Emile Pierre van Ermengem of Ellezelles, Belgium) identified original toxin from Bacterium Bacilus Botulinus. It was later renamed in 1920’s as Botulinum Toxin Type A, generic name Botox®, which is a registered trademark. Dr. Herman Sommer, at University of California San Francisco subsequently provided data sufficient for future medical studies.

In 1950’s, Dr. Vernon Brooks2 discovered that Botulinum Toxin, when injected directly into an active or hyperactive muscle included release of acetylcholine from motor nerve endings, thus, inducing a temporary paralysis of a targeted muscle.

Alone time, solitude, whatever you want to call it, is essential for our spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. It provides us with an opportunity to let go of everything we have become, everything that we do, everything we are to everyone in our life, to return to who we truly are. Done effectively, regularly, religiously, it strengthens our core. This strength enables us to be more effective, efficient and most importantly, joyous.

If you aren't used to taking time for yourself, you may find it to be a gradual, and even ongoing, process. You need to take that initial step. It may mean making a date with yourself, setting things up, letting entire family know and get used to idea. They will resist change!! It's human nature. But persevere. Your sanity is worth it, don't you think?

Time to yourself is NOT running errands, working outside home, or commuting time. I don't know why. It just doesn't count. Alone time is when you don't have to be doing anything for anyone else. Alone time is strictly YOU time. A filling-of-your-cup-time. Personal time. And personal time without guilt, please! Sure, you may have been away from kids with work or other responsibilities, but trust me, everyone will benefit when you return from your mom time refreshed, happier, more peaceful and ready to carry on. It won't take long for family to realize what a great thing mom time is.

What you do during your personal time is just as important as where you take it. Take your time with intention of reconnecting with your Self. Is it journaling? Writing? How about personal planning? Creating a vision for yourself, your life, determining steps required to get you there?