BOTOX Is Not Just for Wrinkles: 7 Other Interesting Uses
Surprising Uses for BOTOX
Many people are aware that BOTOX muscle relaxant can be injected into certain areas of the face, such as the forehead, to suspend muscle movement in the treatment area temporarily, thus smoothing out the overlying wrinkles or furrows. However, many individuals are unaware of the several other uses for BOTOX. Dr. Joshua A. Greenwald shares seven surprising uses for BOTOX treatment, including:
#1: Curbing severe sweating. BOTOX treatment is FDA approved to help temporarily curb excessive sweating. When injected into the underarm area, BOTOX treatment starts to curb sweating there within one week. The effects last about seven months.
#2: Relieving depression. In May 2014, a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research reported that more than half of the study participants demonstrated a significant improvement in their symptoms of depression after having one BOTOX injection in between the brows.
#3: Alleviating teeth grinding. As an off-label use, when injected into the temporomandibular joint area, BOTOX treatment can help relax the chewing muscles to reduce teeth grinding (bruxism) for about four months.
#4: Controlling a leaky bladder. The FDA has already approved BOTOX treatment for use in reducing episodes of urinary incontinence due to neurological injuries. By injecting BOTOX muscle relaxant into the bladder, it may also help control an overactive bladder, a condition impacting one in five adults over the age of 40.
#6: Easing MS-related hand tremors. Australian researches have shown that injecting BOTOX muscle relaxant into the hand area can help ease hand tremors associated with multiple sclerosis as well as improve the patient's ability to write.
#7: Relieving migraine headaches. Another FDA-approved use for BOTOX muscle relaxant is the treatment of chronic migraine headaches in adults who suffer from migraines on 15 or more days per month, with each headache lasting at least four hours.
Discovering New Uses for BOTOX
Individuals who suffer from symptoms related to overactive muscle movement and certain neurological conditions may benefit from BOTOX treatment. BOTOX muscle relaxant is more than a cosmetic tool used to smooth out wrinkles temporarily. When injected into certain areas of the body, it can be extremely useful in helping to alleviate pain, improve range of motion and decrease muscle spasms. Scheduling a consultation with Dr. Greenwald is the best way to determine whether you could benefit from BOTOX treatment.