Is Botox Naturopathic?

As a naturopath, I hold tightly to certain values and perspectives in my life and in helping my patients with their health and wellbeing.

Some of those values are:

-       Do No Harm (or reduce harm as much as possible to the patient and the planet)

-       Disease Prevention (preventative medicine is SO critical)

-       Doctor as Teacher (explain, discuss, teach and offer options)

Because I offer Botox and microneedling with PRP “vampire facial” in my office, I often get asked the question, “Is Botox really naturopathic?” 

What is Botox?

This is a neurotoxin produced by bacteria (Clostridium botulinum) that essentially blocks the conduction of nerve impulses to muscles.  This neurotoxin is produced by these amazing little bacteria, is then purified and packaged so that it can be injected in tiny amounts for a controlled response from the nerves and muscle cells. 

Our facial expressions are largely controlled by voluntary muscle groups, and the more we flex or use those muscles, the higher likelihood there is of wrinkles forming over time from repeated use or contraction.

Although our facial structure can vary widely, we tend to use the same muscle groups in generally the same ways for different expressions ie: smiling, frowning, surprise, etc..

Botox injections provide a tiny controlled change in the conduction of nerve impulses to target the strongest muscle groups in the face that temporarily (3-4 months) stops those muscle contractions and weakens or atrophies these muscles.

Botox is an effective treatment not only for eliminating these muscle contractions at the time of the injection (and for 3-4 months afterwards), but generally weakens the muscles so that new wrinkles are less likely to form (preventative medicine at work!).

How is Botox Preventative?

I really truly feel that Botox injections can be used preventatively.  A little goes a long way, and the earlier patients get started, the less intense, expensive and painful treatments they’ll need to do later in life for aesthetics and wrinkle-reduction.

Botox prevents “dynamic wrinkles” which are the wrinkles that form during active movement of muscles.  But Botox can also be used to prevent the development of “static wrinkles” that are visible without any facial movement and tend to occur more frequently after we age, especially after the hormonal shifts that happen before and during menopause.

The other nice thing about using Botox preventatively is that you may not need to get injections every 3-4 months exactly, but at first can see how much benefit you get from 2-3x per year and use Botox in conjunction with other skin healing treatments like topicals, microneedling, diet and exercise.   

Is Botox naturopathic? 

Although Botox is created in a lab, the multiple uses and benefits of Botox treatments are definitely in-line with naturopathic values.  I am very picky about which aesthetic treatments I offer my patients and I firmly believe that Botox is:

-       Minimally invasive and painful

-       Works as a dynamic treatment for 3-4 months after injections

-       Works preventatively for long-term wrinkle reduction

-       Very minimally harmful to the body and has no systemic effect/impact