I saw an ad for Botox last week.  The girl in it was young and blonde and had her arms up in the air.  The copy for the ad was something like “I never thought that I would get Botox!” I was grossed out.  I’d heard of people getting Botox young to preserve themselves for later, but this was ridiculous.  As I walked close, I saw that she had gotten Botox for underarm sweating.  Turns out that Botox is used for a lot more than tweaking up those unsightly “feeling” lines on older women’s faces. Here are some other disorders or cosmetic issues that Botox, or botulism toxin, is used to treat.

Strabismus and Blepharospasm.  In 1980, these two diseases dealing with crossed eyes and uncontrollable blinking were some of the first disorders doctors used Botox to treat. This type of injection wore off in about 4-6 months so it was required two or three times a year. 

Muscle spasms.  Botox is often used to treat chronic muscle pain and is pending approval to treat this type of problem in Europe. The use of botulism to inhibit muscle action was initiated in the 1950’s to calm overactive muscles for three to four months.  

Upper motor neuron syndrome.  Botox is used to treat muscles that cannot lengthen like they properly should, making patients with the disorder unable to move properly and prone to weakness.  The injection even made an Australian man who was wheelchair-bound for 20 years able to walk again.  

Chronic migraines.  Botox was just recently approved to treat chronic migraines this year by the FDA. The botulism is injected into the head and neck to treat the headaches.  This treatment doesn’t seem to produce great results--in trials, sufferers only reported a slight improvement in their headache symptoms with treatment.  

Wrinkles.  This is the most common cosmetic procedure in the United States with more than 4.6 million procedures in 2007.  Botox for wrinkles actually paralyzes facial muscles on injection, making the face look smoother. Botox is shockingly easy to get in the United States and can be administered from everyone from plastic surgeons and dermatologists to spa physicians.  

Cervical dystonia.  Botox injections are used to treat this neuromuscular problem that affects the head and the neck. 

Weight loss.  Botox is in the trial stages to aid in weight loss.  The drug can potentially speed up gastric emptying time.

Here are some of the other problems that can be aided with the help of Botox: 

-Achalasia--the lower aesophagus will not relax 

-Incontinence--aids in overactive bladders and incontinence in adults and children 

-Parkinson’s disease.

-Stroke.

-Multiple sclerosis.

-Cerebral palsy. 

-TMJ disorders.

-Wounds.

-Too much saliva. 

-Vocal cord problems. 

It’s surprising that Botox injections have gotten such a bad rap for being cosmetic drugs when it can help ease people's problems with so many different kinds of ailments.  It’s also a bit strange that despite its common use in the 1950’s, it’s seen as such a modern drug.  Perhaps Botox will continue in its scope of uses and also in people’s perceptions of what it does.