Botox has revolutionized aesthetic medicine due to its ability to smooth wrinkles on the face, allowing people who undergo treatment to look younger, but Botox has other lesser known applications, which may surprise you. In Russia, it was used successfully in a clinical trial to regulate the heartbeat in people with atrial fibrillation, a very common condition that can cause heart failure, blood clots and strokes.
Botox improved or cured depression of about a third of the patients who participated in a trial conducted in the United States, which basically consisted of injecting this drug into the between the eyebrows of patients. The idea arose from a statement by Charles Darwin, who said that facial expression could influence a person's mood.
People with migraines are another population group that could greatly benefit from the existence of Botox. An investigation concluded that, when injected around the head and neck, Botox can treat headaches, nausea and vomiting caused by migraine.
In the United States, Botox has been used since 2013 in patients with urinary incontinence who have not responded well to medicationsAlthough it has side effects such as the inability to empty the bladder completely, which requires self-catheterization and a higher incidence of urinary tract infections. Research is currently underway to make injections more efficient (meaning patients can last longer between injections), as well as reducing the risk of side effects.
Psoriasis improves with Botox, according to research from the University of Minnesota. This skin problem is chronic and is characterized by patches, called plaques, that can form on the elbows, scalps, hands, and feet. Preliminary results have been good, but more research is still required, as side effects appear ranging from simple itching in the injected area to swallowing and breathing difficulties.