Site Meter Dealing With Headaches » Blog Archive » Don’t Believe The Botox Hype

Don’t Believe The Botox Hype

by

Common botox injection sites for headache sufferesIn 2005, word got out from Botox users with headaches and migraines that they were having less head pain. At the time, it was thought that getting Botox injections in your head helped to relieve severe headaches or even migraines. All the claims lead to a more clinical study. Well, that study has found that Botox does nothing to help ease the severity or frequency of headaches or migraines. In other words — Botox as a headache cure was just another desperate housewives’ tale.

Some Specifics

Botox is short for botulinum toxin A. If that first word looks familiar, it’s becuse Botox is the more more popular relation in the botulism family. And toxin means exactly what you think it means — toxic. It is infamous for making your skin puff out to smooth wrinkles. It is also about $500 a shot.

When Botox users started claiming a redction in their headaches was happening, there were some clinical trials done in Thomas Jefferson University and the Mayo Clinic. The results were promising. But it definately didn’t work for everyone, as is the case with any treatment or medical therapy.

But the latest study in Croatia makes you wonder if Botox works for anyone. Five hundred migraine sufferers were given Botox injections in their neck or face or a an injection of saline solution (a placebo). There were no significant reduction in migraines for either those given Botox or those given a placebo.

If You Want To Use Needles In Your Head, Anyway

If you just have to have a needle stuck in your neck or head, consider accupuncture instead of Botox. Accupuncture is a science that has been around for thousands of years. Accupuncturists have to have medical liscences in order to perform any accupuncture treatments. The needles are extremely thin and said to be painless. But, of course, not everyone with migraines will respond to accupuncture. But at least you are not sticking anything potentially toxic into your body.

And before starting any treatment, check with your doctor and you health insurance. Sometimes a few accupunture sessions are included in some health care plans if your doctor perscribes them. But check with yours for details.


4 Responses to “Don’t Believe The Botox Hype”

  1. Cosmetic Surgery » Don’t Believe The Botox Hype Says:

    [...] You’ll find more information about this here [...]

  2. Dealing With Headaches » Blog Archive » Oh, Rats — Don’t Botox Your Brain Says:

    [...] Rats — Don’t Botox Your Brain by Rena Sherwood I’ve never been a big fan of botox (”Don’t Believe the Botox Hype”.) The “bo” part of the name stands for botulinium toxin A. That means it’s in the [...]

  3. Dealing With Headaches » Blog Archive » YouTube Clip of the Week: Mayo Clinic “Migraine & Aura” Says:

    [...] dips up and down in this little video. Also, the migraineur interviewed in this video was taking botox injections as part of her migraine treatment. Botox injections are controversial treatment which I personally [...]

  4. Dealing With Headaches » Blog Archive » Acupuncture Vs Aspirin for Chronic Headache Says:

    [...] in the severity and duration of their attacks while only 45% of the aspirin group did. Comparing sham acupuncture to real acupunture, sham acupuncture didn’t do too shabby at 45% while real acupuncture gave 53% relief. [...]

Leave a Reply


About Dealing With Headaches

This site is about dealing with headaches. It discusses natural treatments, medicines, and support sites to resource.

Dealing With Headaches Author(s)

Science & Health Channel Posts

  • What The Heck Is Treatment Resistant Depression?
    This is a dreadfully named type of chronic depression. Please, someone in the medical community rename this thing. When you're depressed, you're always convinced that you cannot be cured or helped. [...]
  • Victoria's Secret? She's a Vegan!
    Victoria's Secret is no longer hiding in closet. The lingerie and beauty product brand is getting loud and proud about veganism. Pink Body is a new line of Victoria's Secret cosmetics - including [...]
  • I binged
    Yes. I am not all perfect and cured. I totally had a binge last night. It was my own fault. I had junk food lying around the house for the "future" and needless to say, I pounced on the food last [...]
  • Is Volumetrics for you?
    [caption id="attachment_756" align="alignnone" width="339" caption="Volumetrics "][/caption]"Free foods" are those that help you get more bang for your buck because they contain a lot of water, [...]
  • Psoriasis and Earache
    I'm going to be honest and beg the blogosphere for information of psoriasis and earache. I have psoriasis and now it seems to have spread to my right ear. It causes a dull ache, but not bad enough [...]
  • Dear Non-Vegans, Love Eccentric Vegan
    Eccentric Vegan compiled a great resource post, called "Dear Non-Vegans," all about why meat, eggs, all other animal products are not healthy, humane, or environmentally friendly on Vegan Soapbox. I [...]
  • Top Ten signs of Alzheimers Disease
    [caption id="attachment_1800" align="alignnone" width="67" caption="Alzheimers"][/caption]Memory loss that disrupts everyday life is not a normal part of aging. It may be a sign of Alzheimer's [...]
  • The best way to measure body fat
    [caption id="attachment_796" align="alignnone" width="104" caption="Tape Measure"][/caption]When does "putting on a few pounds" cross the line into needing to lose weight? Neither scale, BMI, pinch [...]
  • Exacts on how you too can run up expensive therapy bills for your children.
    Ok, so see, as I said, I’ve never been away from my children much.  And, I have missed not one, not two but on Saturday, I will have missed three of my son’s basketball games.  Never in [...]
  • Published Letter to the Editor
    My first letter to the editor was published this week in the Middle Tennessee State University student newspaper, Sidelines. Here's the published version of what I wrote in response to their article [...]

Hot Off The Press