study
Wrinkle-free and in a good mood: Botox helps against frown lines and depression
© Maria Korneeva/Getty Images
Antidepressants and psychotherapy – this is how depression is usually treated. But now there are new findings and they have to do with Botox. The neurotoxin helps According to the study, it not only prevents crumpled faces, but is also proven to improve your mood.
While Botox has so far been used primarily to combat unwanted wrinkles, more and more positive properties of this neurotoxin, which is otherwise viewed critically, are now coming to light. As researchers at MHH have now discovered, it not only helps against migraines and heavy sweating, but also improves mood. “If Botox is injected into the forehead, it relieves depression. “It also permanently dampens negative emotions in people with borderline disorder who suffer from extreme mood swings,” says the MHH. This is what Professor Dr. Tillmann Krüger, senior physician and research group leader at the Clinic for Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Hannover Medical School (MHH), together with a colleague from Hamburg, demonstrated this years ago. Using MRI scans on borderline patients, doctors have now been able to find out how and where Botox influences emotional control.
Botox alleviates emotions
Botulinum toxin affects the so-called amygdala in the brain, also known as the amygdala region in the temporal lobe, where fears arise and are processed. By injecting Botox between the eyebrows, the “constant emotional fire” is reduced and the mood is lifted. The first successes were visible after just four weeks. A comparison group that was treated with acupuncture, however, showed no neuronal effects in the MRI examination.
Friendly face, positive mood
If we’re in a bad mood, you can usually tell. Depression not only shows itself internally, but is literally written on our faces. Especially in the glabellar region, i.e. the area between the eyebrows and the bridge of the nose, where anger or worry lines form their furrows, the angrier and more worried we are. If these muscles are paralyzed, the intensity of emotions is reduced because facial expressions and psychological well-being are closely linked. If the brain receives the information that we are frowning, this can increase negative emotions. When this feedback is blocked by Botox, it appears to calm the emotional center. “A relaxed forehead conveys a more positive feeling, so to speak,” explains Professor Krüger.
Botox also works for anxiety disorders
But the neurotoxin is not only effective for depression and borderline disorders: In collaboration with the University of California San Diego, Professor Krüger and his colleagues found that Botox can also alleviate anxiety disorders. To do this, it must be injected into the muscles of the head, the muscles of the upper and lower limbs and the muscles of the neck.
Fast and affordable help for mental illnesses
To date, Botox treatment for mental illnesses is not yet covered by health insurance companies. For the approximately 5.3 million people affected in this country, this would be a quick solution to alleviate the symptoms. Especially when you consider how long the waiting times are for a therapy place. Other advantages of Botox: The treatment rarely needs to be carried out as the effect lasts at least three months. The injections are less expensive than other alternative therapy options and the treatment is well tolerated. And there’s also the anti-aging effect on top.
Sources: www.mhh.de/presse-news