The Benefits of Botulinum Toxin

July 2023

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It’s Not Just for Wrinkles

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Botulinum toxin injections are well-known for their use smoothing out wrinkles. They’re available under brand names such as Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, Myobloc, and Jeuveau. While wrinkle removal is the most common use, it’s not the only one.

The first use for botulinum toxin injections came out decades ago. It was for treating certain eye problems. Since then, doctors have been finding that the injections can help treat all kinds of conditions.

Botulinum toxin is a poisonous substance that’s made by certain bacteria. It’s actually one of the most potent toxins found in nature. It causes botulism, a rare but potentially lethal form of food poisoning.

It may sound odd that something so dangerous could be helpful. But the very properties that make botulinum toxin dangerous also make it useful. It works by blocking the nerve signals that tell muscles to tighten, or contract. When this happens in the muscles that control breathing, it can cause you to suffocate. But some medical conditions involve muscles contracting too much or at the wrong time. Botulinum toxin injections can treat these conditions by forcing the muscles to relax.

Botulinum toxin can also relieve certain kinds of pain. It’s been shown to relieve a recurring type of headache called chronic migraines. It can block your body’s ability to make sweat and saliva, too. So, it can treat conditions in which your body makes too much of either of these. See the Wise Choices box for more about the conditions that botulinum toxin is used to treat.

Two NIH researchers, Dr. Pamela Stratton and Dr. Barbara Karp, have been studying botulinum toxin for treating pain associated with endometriosis. Endometriosis is when tissue normally found in the uterus grows outside it. This causes pain in the pelvic area. It’s usually treated with hormones or surgery to remove the abnormal tissue. But sometimes the pain remains even after these treatments. In a small, proof-of-concept study of women with endometriosis, Stratton and Karp found that botulinum toxin injections helped improve the pain.

Botulinum toxin treatments use very small amounts of the toxin, and only at the treatment site. When used properly, the injections only affect the muscle or organ being treated.

Side effects are usually mild. They can include pain where the toxin is injected, mild headaches, or flu-like symptoms. These usually clear up on their own. “It’s remarkably safe for a deadly toxin,” Karp says.

That being said, botulinum toxin isn’t risk-free. If it’s not given properly, the toxin might spread beyond the treatment site. Then it can affect other muscles in the body that you don’t want it to. This could cause muscle weakness or vision problems, or make it harder to talk, swallow, or even breathe. Because of this risk, always get botulinum toxin treatments from a licensed health care provider who has experience using it for your condition.

People who have certain health conditions shouldn’t get botulinum toxin injections. And it’s not recommended for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you’re considering botulinum toxin treatment, talk with your health care professional. They can confirm if the treatment could help you and guide you to an experienced provider. They can also tell you if there are any reasons you shouldn’t get the treatment.

NIH Office of Communications and Public Liaison
Building 31, Room 5B52
Bethesda, MD 20892-2094
[email protected]
Tel: 301-451-8224

Editor: Harrison Wein, Ph.D.
Managing Editor: Tianna Hicklin, Ph.D.
Illustrator: Alan Defibaugh

Attention Editors: Reprint our articles and illustrations in your own publication. Our material is not copyrighted. Please acknowledge NIH News in Health as the source and send us a copy.

For more consumer health news and information, visit health. nih.gov.

For wellness toolkits, visit www.nih.gov/wellnesstoolkits.

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Pulses are good for health | FAO

FAO has compiled a series of fact sheets covering all the key messages of the International Year of Pulses. These materials provide an in-depth understanding of why pulses are good for health and nutrition and how they contribute to biodiversity conservation, food security and climate change adaptation.

Nutrition is very important for health – and it can also be the cause of disease. Most countries face nutritional challenges, ranging from malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, obesity, diet-related diseases (such as type II diabetes and some types of cancer), and combinations of these problems. Pulses are rich in nutrients, so as part of a healthy diet, they can help fight malnutrition in both developed and developing countries.

Rich in beneficial nutrients

With their extremely high nutritional value, pulses are very rich in protein, twice as high in these small grains as in wheat and three times as high as in rice. Pulses are also high in complex carbohydrates, micronutrients, protein, and B vitamins, all vital components of a healthy diet. Pulses are low in fat and high in fiber, so they are great for helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, digestive health, and energy levels in the body.

Strengthen the body

Despite their low calorie content (260-360 kcal per 100 g of dried beans), pulses are high in complex carbohydrates and fiber, which means that they are slowly absorbed and give a feeling of satiety.

Pulses promote slow and gradual calorie burning, and their iron content is involved in the transport of oxygen in the body, which increases its ability to produce energy and improve metabolism.

Fiber is not absorbed by the body at all and therefore increases the volume of the stool and improves its passage. In addition, fiber binds toxins and cholesterol in the intestines, helping to eliminate these substances from the body. It improves heart health and lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Combines well with other foods

The protein found in legumes is high in lysine and low in sulfur-containing amino acids.