ORF-E
English
1 × 45 min
Worldwide

For some, it is THE magic remedy against wrinkles; for others, it is a neurotoxin. Few people know Botox can be used as a therapy for a wide variety of health problems. The principle of its action is simple: When botulinum toxin A, the medical name for Botox, is injected into muscle cells, it prevents muscles from receiving the command to contract. The result: you relax and this relieves painful muscle tension, among other things. Botox has been part of many successful therapies since the 1980s, for example, in neurology for chronic migraines, for special movement disorders in the head area, such as squint, eyelid cramps, swallowing disorders or vocal cord cramps. Botox is a new treatment for combating excess weight, and is used in the gut to target light to moderate obesity by reducing the feeling of hunger and increasing the feeling of satiety. First experiments with patients also show that this can melt away 10-15 kg of excess “ballast” within six months. The film shows how these non-invasive therapies are used for a wide range of diagnoses, and what cutting-edge medicine is required.