Many people associate Botox with wrinkles that have been artificially wrinkled. But the toxin can also aid in medical issues. What is feasible and what the boundaries are.
It is the worst poison in existence and practically paralyzes muscles. We’re referring to botolinum toxin, more often referred to as Botox. Most individuals are aware that, at the very least indirectly, poison can smooth wrinkles. But there are other medical issues that can be treated with Botox injections.
This occurs, for instance, in the dedicated outpatient clinic for botulinum toxin therapy located within the University Hospital Frankfurt’s Neurology Clinic. There, Botox is administered to treat stiffness.
Strong muscle tensions like these severely restrict the affected person’s ability to move. Spasticity can develop as a result of a stroke, multiple sclerosis, an accident, or a brain tumor.
Torticollis is treated with Botox.
Botox can also be used to treat dystonia. These are movement diseases characterized by overuse of particular muscle groups. A case in point is torticollis, a condition where the neck muscles contract up and the head rotates or tilts unintentionally.
Marcel Hildner, the director of the specialized outpatient clinic for botulinum toxin therapy, explains that dystonia can manifest itself in many different areas of the body, including the eyelids, making it impossible for some patients to open their eyes.
Due to the neurotoxin’s ability to paralyze or relax overly tense muscles, it can aid in the treatment of spasticity and dystonia. Botox stops particular molecules from communicating information from the nerve to the muscle or to another end organ.
The use of Botox can stop excessive sweating
Additionally, Botox can stop perspiration or salivary glands from producing. Therefore, injections are a therapy option for excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, or excessive salivation.
Chronic migraines can be treated with Botox as well. Research on the mode of action is still in its early stages. Marcel Hildner claims that it appears to be the case that Botox relaxes the muscles in the head and neck, but it may also prevent the production of chemicals that contribute to pain.
One drawback of receiving long-term care
Botox is not always the answer, though. Additionally, there are drawbacks to these therapies as well: They are typically a long-term treatment, and the dosage needs to be determined by both the patient and the physician. Usually, the impact doesn’t begin for days or a week, and it takes six to eight weeks for it to peak.
Marcel Hildner states that “the toxin has to be injected again about every three months.” A single injection may be sufficient for certain people. For example, the athletes who received treatment from Alexander Schramm did not require additional injections.
