But Isn’t Botox Poison?

Occasionally I run into articles on the Internet overstating the dangers of BOTOX® and issuing dire sounding warnings about how BOTOX® is a deadly poison. Well, so what? Did you know that many drugs are made from what we call poisons? Let me tell you about some. Some examples would be the chemical weapons of sea creatures. A very poisonous cone shell snail in the sea produces a toxin to ward off predators that is now used as a pain medication. The drug is called Prialt™ and it is 1000 times more powerful than morphine! Some of the lethal venoms produced by sea animals on coral reefs paralyze and some sting. In either case, these poisons protect the slow moving critters from the faster ones that want to eat them. Some of the most poisonous animals on the planet are found on coral reefs being researched for medicine. Click that link to see a beautiful video!

Meanwhile, rattlesnake venom, a certain viper venom, and a type of leech venom are all made into anticoagulants used either in heart medications, or to prevent blood clots from forming. One lizard venom becomes an anti-diabetic drug, another venom treats hypertension. Yes, medicine from poisons. Even potentially toxic herbs are the base for many pharmaceuticals. Digitalis (a heart medicine) is made from the lovely but poisonous flowering Foxglove plant. The bark of the Yew tree can lead to coma or death yet it is made into taxol, an important chemotherapy drug.

Oh, and did you know derivatives from arsenic are used to this day to treat African sleeping sickness?

So when you hear that BOTOX® is made from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, one of the most poisonous substances known, remember that many, many other drugs are also made from what would be considered poisons if scientists did not research their healing potential!

BOTOX® is now being used for dozens health problems from upper body spasticity to incontinence, and more research is being done. Don’t be afraid of BOTOX®, just be sure you research your cosmetic surgeon who is injecting it. At Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center your BOTOX® will be injected by a board certified cosmetic surgeon.

Dr. Branman

Call Melinda at the front desk to set up a consultation 501-227-0707