What are the Benefits of Botulinum Toxin?
While it is widely known that there are dangers associated with botulinum toxin, and with botulism, Ashley Henshaw writes in Symptom Find that there are a "…variety of medical and cosmetic procedures" that are helpful for humans. In the 1950s, research began into potential positive uses for the botulinum toxin, and in the 1970s, Henshaw writes, the toxin was used with success on humans "…to temporarily paralyze specific muscle impulses" (Henshaw, 2012, p. 2). Some of the cosmetic uses include: a) certain eye conditions (like crossed eyes and "uncontrollable blinking") can be treated by "injecting botulinum toxin"; b) "upper motor neuron syndrome" (when certain muscles are not able to "lengthen properly") can be helped by injecting Botulinum toxin; c) people who are afflicted by excessive sweating can be treated with Botulinum toxin; d) cervical dystonia (a muscular disorder that affects the head and neck) can also be treated with Botulinum toxin; e) people who suffer from migraine headaches "may experience relief" when they get injected with Botulinum toxin; and f) by using Botox, a cosmetic procedure which contains Botulinum toxin, individuals can reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the face (Henshaw, p. 3).
In conclusion, the incident in Thailand, which was caused by botulism in bamboo shoots, is ample evidence that the nations of the world need to be more fully prepared for an outbreak that could infect...
Meanwhile, citizens should be educated as to how to safely preserve foods and to watch out for prepared foods in grocery stories that might be candidates for botulism. Also, this paper covered the fact that there are positive health uses for the Botulinum toxin, albeit it doesn't seem that the good that comes from the Botulinum toxin outweighs the potentially deadly results, but knowledge of both outcomes is important for health agencies and citizens throughout the world.
Works Cited
Aldis, W., Braden, C.R., Chunsuttiwat, S., Olsen, S.J., Ueno, K., and Ungchusak, K. (2007).
The need for global planned mobilization of essential medicine: lessons from a massive Thai botulism outbreak. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 85(3), 238-241.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). There are three main kinds of botulism.
Retrieved July 4, 2012, from http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/botulism/factsheet.asp.
Chongtham, Nirmala, Bisht, Madho Singh, and Haorongbam, Sheena. (2011). Nutritional
Properties of Bamboo Shoots: Potential and Prospects for Utilization as a Health Food.
Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Vol. 10, 153-169.
Henshaw, Ashley. (2012). Dangers and Benefits of Botulinum Toxin. Symptom Find. Retrieved July 4, 2012, from http://www.symptomfind.com/health/botulinum-toxin.
Journal of Environmental Health. (2003).…
