Botulinum toxin has long been associated with rejuvenation, but in medical practice it is increasingly used as a full-fledged therapeutic agent. It is a purified protein from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which temporarily blocks the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles - and it is this mechanism that allows to alleviate a number of conditions that impair the quality of life.
Injections are most often used for chronic migraines, hyperhidrosis, spastic disorders after stroke or trauma, bruxism, and in ophthalmology - in particular, for strabismus and blepharospasm. In dentistry, Botox relaxes overstrained chewing muscles, reducing jaw pain and enamel wear. In neurology, it helps manage spasticity when standard medications are insufficiently effective or cause side effects.
Provided the doses and administration technique are correctly selected, the drug is considered safe and not addictive. The effect usually lasts from three to six months, after which the course can be repeated - with the supervision of a specialized doctor and strict adherence to contraindications.
Scientific groups are actively testing the potential of botulinum toxin in new areas, from depression and anxiety disorders to Parkinson's disease symptoms and appetite regulation. Many of these approaches are still undergoing clinical trials, but the trend is clear: Botox has ceased to be a purely cosmetic procedure and is gradually becoming established in medical protocols as a tool for targeted symptomatic therapy.
