Botox is very well known for its ability to eliminate wrinkles on the forehead and brow, but many people don’t realize that Botox actually has a host of other medical applications that change lives every day!
The History of Botox
Botox actually got its start in the 1960s when an ophthalmologist was searching for a cure for crossed eyes. In theory he realized that he could weaken the muscles that caused the crossing in order to solve the problem, but he couldn’t find an appropriate paralytic. When a biochemist friend provided him with a sample of a purified strain of botulism, Dr. Alan Scott found that it worked in his crossed eyes experiment. He named the drug Oculinum acquired FDA approval to treat those with crossed eyes.
Fast-forward to 1991, and this miracle drug was sold to Allergan for a modest $9 million. Rather than continuing to market Oculinum for its original purpose, they secured their own FDA-approvals to market the newly named Botox as a wrinkle paralyzer. While Botox certainly works wonders for glabellar frown lines, it has many other overshadowed uses that are just as important.
Migraines
Those suffering chronic migraines can receive regular Botox injections to mitigate pain and improve quality of life. This FDA-approved preventative treatment is injected every 12 weeks for migraines that occur 15 or more days a month for at least four hours or more. Studies show Botox relieves up to nine headache days each month.
Excess Sweating
Botox can also temporarily block the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate sweat glands to do their job. When sweat glands don’t receive their chemical signals, severe sweating is significantly reduced! Botox for sweating works differently than any deodorant or antiperspirant because it actually prevents the sweat from being created.
Overactive Bladder
Overactive Bladder causes far too many trips to the bathroom due to uncontrollable bladder muscle contractions. Botox targets these muscles to reduce daily leaking episodes, treat the strong need to urinate right away, and reduce the number of times that you need to empty your bladder.
Botox is making it possible for many people to seek relief to issues that were previously difficult to resolve or impossible to avoid!
