You could argue that Botox has become a dirty word. When people hear it, they probably think of celebrities with too-tight faces and unnaturally smooth skin, or people shouting in the tabloids that so-and-so "tweaked their faces." While Botox is perhaps best known for its usefulness as a cosmetic anti-aging treatment agent, what is not nearly as well known is that cosmetics were not the substance's original intent. Dig a little deeper and you'll be surprised to find out how much use the substance has in other areas of medicine.
In the beginning
The first thing to know about Botox is that it always does the same thing no matter what it's used for. The substance is derived from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, which, believe it or not, is the most potent toxin known to man. One of the main effects of the bacterium is to cause paralysis, and that property is used for medical purposes in the manufacture of Botox. The substance is injected into the body, where it blocks nerve endings from absorbing certain molecules they need to work properly. The diversity of uses does not come from the substance itself, but in how different fields use its properties to the benefit of a patient.
Squint eyes and eyelid spasms Botox was originally intended for people with squint eyes, and cases quickly followed showing that it also had great benefits for stopping muscle spasms, especially on the face. Patients who blinked uncontrollably or had constricted or closed eyelids were among the first to see the benefits of this treatment. The cosmetic use of the treatment came after.
Migraines
An approved use of Botox is for the treatment of migraines. As doctors administered Botox treatments to patients for squinting and eyelid muscle spasms, they noticed those patients also started reporting fewer headaches. Research followed, and the results were convincing enough that the treatment was approved. Patients can receive injections once every three months and studies have shown that the number of days people experience migraines can be cut in half.
The idea is that Botox prevents nerve signals from stinging that normally cause these headaches, helping chronic migraine sufferers by stopping the pain before it starts.
Foot pain
Another surprising and practical use of Botox involves injections into the feet to prevent pain. Normally when we walk, our weight is evenly distributed on our feet, but that is not the case for people who wear certain types of shoes, such as high heels, or those who can put more wear and tear on their feet, such as athletes.
Botox can be used to treat a variety of conditions in the feet and lower extremities, such as excessive sweating of the feet or tight muscle and tendon contracture of the calves, which can arise from wearing high heels or other acquired conditions.
In a way, Botox can be thought of as an orthopedic pad, only it is injected into your foot instead of your shoe. Studies have shown it to be more effective than using a steroid.
Overactive bladder
Many people have the constant feeling that they need to go to the toilet and often pee their pants or they have incontinence because they cannot go to the toilet quickly enough. Nerve signals tell the brain that the bladder needs to go urgently and that the bladder is spasmodic and leaking. Botox's paralytic properties can help here too, with some studies showing as many as 90 percent of patients seeing improvement.
The injection allows the bladder to relax and fill up before it becomes necessary to go to the toilet. It can also give patients greater control by restoring incontinence, providing symptom relief.
Stomach problems
An overactive bladder is not the only urologic use for Botox. The injections may also be helpful in treating patients who have difficulty passing food from their stomach into their intestines. The stomach is connected to the small intestine at the duodenum, and that connection includes a muscle called the pyloric sphincter. An injection of Botox can relax the muscle and allow food to pass more easily. Essentially it puts the valve in the “on” position. This has been shown to be especially helpful for patients experiencing these symptoms after surgery for esophageal cancer.
Use other There are plenty of other uses still being tested for Botox, including treatment for everything from depression to premature ejaculation, and painful sex to abnormal heartbeats. Even the cosmetic use goes beyond what most people have in mind.
