Alabaster Beauty Ointment by: Dr. Nadine Wong, Dr. Tri, I.G.M, G.G.P, PhD
It has been a long road travelled to become a Doctor of Trichology, Clinical Psychotherapist, and an Integrative Medicine professional.
I started as a humble Hair Dresser after graduating from Beauty School. The cosmetic curriculum tutelage created a journey that resulted in the study of complete wellness of the mind, body and emotions.
The cosmetology trade which is under appreciated opened my eyes to observe my clients’ diverse hair personalities, interpersonal hair style, and how hair styles are worn as a façade to cover diseases. A couple weeks into the curriculum, I became fascinated with the scientific correlation between the application of cosmetics and its affect on the human anatomy and physiology. This caused me to ask the question, “Where does hair comes from”?
The answer resulted into scientific study of Trichology which is the branch of medical and cosmetic study and practice concerned with the hair and scalp. Trichologists specialise in hair and scalp disorders such as but not limited to; alopecia, diffused hair loss, folliculitis, dull or dry hair. The most common question asked is, what is the difference between a trichologist and a dermatologist? Dermatology is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders. The answer is quite simple, dermatology is the study of skin (dermo), and trichology is the study of hair (tricho), the abbreviation for three strands of hair. The similarity is that both practices are concerned with disorders that start from the source of the body’s cellular production. Today, the study of trichology is one of the original health specialities without a confirmed governing medical board in Canada, even though a medical curriculum and science degree is obtained.
In my further studies, psychotherapy came full circle, from my first academic major in Social Work. The second l question I asked myself was, “how does an individual’s psyche affect their hair style”. Before it was socially acceptable to publicly appear with purple, blue or perhaps green hair, a women hair style expressed her liberation, emotions, and self- values. A woman who carries her emotions into a salon will leave and not like the result because of her emotional and psychological state. Hence it’s seldom recommended to have a haircut or chemical service when one is emotional.
To further continue studies in Integrative Medicine was a no brainer, because I heard various health complains and concerns and at the time I could only offer emotional support to individuals who were affected by grey aliments and other health challenges which could result in premature death. I wanted to offer alternative therapeutic approaches that would sustain longevity that focuses on the complete person rather than individual’s symptoms of disease. It was frustrating watching clients with health challenges go through revolving doors of bad health. By this I mean patients who were treated for or overcame such ailments as cancer lupus or alopecia were then later diagnosed with another condition that again affected the auto immune system because they did make changes to their cosmetic products which contained substances that contributed to the diagnosis. Products such as: shampoo, heavy hair dye, body wash, mascara, unsaturated base oil, nail polish, scented oils, high fragrance perfumes, skin tonner, deodorant, makeup, lotions, skin lightening, chemical hair rearrangers. All of which are topical applications.
I have further pursued studies in Pharmaceutical and Food Science, and Physical Chemistry that confirms the link between the disease and the use of these products. In further research from hair mineral analysis I found the factors that compromised an individual’s auto immune system. The big relieve was topical cosmetic products will penetrate through the skin without differentiation of particles through the stratum layers from epidermis to dermis. In other words the body cannot differentiate between the good and harmful ingredients so it absorbs them all. These layers are structured with various channels, ducts, blood vessels, receptors, DNA cells, tissues, and organ systems that make up and influence the auto immune system. Result findings were across the spectrum from a child to an adult, or from a male to a female is the formulation from pharmaceutical cosmetic products can be traceable through hair mineral samples.
BAY LIFE LIVING
founder/designer/chief editor - Steven Vitali
Christmas Issue
Magazine
“The marginal to health and beauty is the beginning to longevity”, Dr. Nadine Wong.
Bay Life Living Magazine Nov/Dec 2015/Jan 2016