Botulinum Toxin is most often thought of as a cosmetic product. It can be used in medicine for many purposes that most people don’t know about. Botulinum Toxin was approved in medical treatment for two eye muscle disorders over 30 years ago. This chemical was discovered accidentally while being used to treat eye conditions. It has been FDA-approved for 11 therapeutic indications. It can also be used “off-label” for many other conditions.

These are five Botulinum Toxin uses you might not know:

Chronic Migraines

Can be used to block pain transmission pathways that can lead to migraines and headaches. Multiple injections are required to treat migraines. These injections should be made in the neck, temple, and forehead. This treatment should only be performed by a trained doctor.

Hyperhidrosis

Extreme and sometimes unpredictable sweating. Hyperhidrosis can cause excessive sweating, even at rest or in cool temperatures. It can be used in the armpits (axilla) and off-label in other areas such as the palms. It can also reduce sweating by up to 6-12 months.

Cervical Dystonia

Is a painful condition where the neck muscles contract involuntarily, causing the head and neck to turn towards one side. These muscle contractions can be relieved by Botulinum Toxin injections.

Inactive Bladder 

It can be injected into the bladder to relieve urge incontinence and overactive bladder symptoms (involuntary urine loss).

Depression

This is the only one of the five mentioned that is currently not FDA-approved. It has been the topic of much discussion. There are many theories about Botulinum Toxin’s effectiveness. One of the most well-known is the “facial Feedback Hypothesis“, which dates back to Charles Darwin. It states that Botulinum Toxin can be used to reduce frowning, whether it is through injections or not.

Botulinum Toxin can be used for many other purposes than just treating wrinkles. Botulinum Toxin was named “The Drug that’s Treating All” by Time Magazine in 2017. It is one of the most researched medicines in the world and has a remarkable list of potential future benefits.