In my quest to lose weight over the past few years, I was researching everything from diets to exercise to supplements to juices. As a result, I discovered Aloe Vera juice through one article written by Swami Ramdev, the yoga guru. Ever since I started taking Aloe Vera juice, I have no constipation and I generally feel better.

The supposed benefits of pure Aloe Vera juice are many. It keeps the blood pure, kidneys clean, it is an overall health package. The only requirement the swami says is to get pure 100% aloe vera juice. Do your own research and see if you could benefit from Aloe Vera juice.

If you want to smooth out your wrinkles, there are several options including topical serum creams, Botox injections and fillers such as Restylane. Restylane contains hyaluronic acid which is a naturally occuring substance in our bodies. Hyaluronic acid is responsible for plumping our skin and providing the fullness to the skin. Unlike Botox which is a toxin injected into the skin to paralyze facial muscles temporarily, fillers such as Restylane contain non-animal biodegradable compounds that are used to fill the wrinkles. The hyaluronic acid is safely absorbed into the skin as the effects of the treatment wears off.
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A new type of Botox drug called Reloxin appears safe and effective in reducing forehead wrinkles, a new study finds.

The use of Botox to reduce forehead wrinkles and frown lines has long been a mainstay of cosmetic medicine. The medication works by preventing face muscles from contracting, an effect that lasts for several months.

As an alternative to Botox, Reloxin is now approved in 23 countries outside the United States to smooth wrinkles, the researchers noted. The drug has also been used outside the United States for more than 15 years to treat neurological disorders.

One of the differences between Botox and Reloxin is that Reloxin has less protein in its formula, noted Dr. Kamran Jafri, from Jafri Craniofacial Plastic Surgery, New York City. Reloxin also contains fewer antigens, which cause the drug to break down more quickly, said Jafri, who was not involved in the new study.

“Theoretically, because Reloxin has less of a protein load the body will break it down at a slower rate. That means from a clinical perspective that it should last longer than Botox,” he said. “However, some of the early trials are showing that Botox actually lasts longer than Reloxin.”
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Chiropractic care is a common treatment sought by patients with headaches. As some patients may not benefit from this care, chiropractors must be aware of alternative management options. Botox has more recently become a common treatment for headaches. A case of a 45-year-old female with chronic headaches and neck pain is presented. After lengthy trials of chiropractic manipulation, trigger point therapy, and acupuncture, the patient was treated with Botox-A. She experienced pain relief following the initial treatment that lasted up to 3–4 months and has since undergone subsequent trials of Botox with the same results. No side effects were experienced. As more health care practitioners are recommending Botox, the need for a better understanding of the evidence and criteria for referral for Botox treatment is required. As such, chiropractors should consider this alternative approach to managing headaches when chiropractic management is unsuccessful.

Botox-A is the serotype of a neurotoxin which, when combined with non-toxic proteins can be utilized for therapeutic purposes. It is injected into a target tissue and flaccid paralysis occurs, which decreases muscle hyper-activity and ultimately decreases pain within a short time frame. At the present time, Botox injection for pain management remains somewhat controversial, and more RCT studies as well as studies of the long term outcomes and outcome measures are necessary.
A case of a 45-year-old woman who was treated with Botox-A for chronic neck pain and headaches is presented. She was initially treated with conservative care including manipulation, acupuncture and trigger point therapy, however, this only provided short-term relief. Following Botox-A treatment she experienced pain relief immediately which lasted up to 4 months. She has been receiving Botox-A injections approximately every 4 months for one year and has noticed an increase in energy and overall improvements in her normal daily activities. This case illustrates the importance of having alternatives to conservative treatment for chiropractors. Development of a research proposal is suggested for the next steps in creating guidelines that can be utilized by chiropractors and other professionals in determining suitable candidates for this treatment alternative.

The FDA recently approved Dysport, an alternative to Botox. Both Dysport and Botox are similar in terms of being made from Botulinum Toxin A. For the longest time, Botox by Allergan was the only game in town, now it seems there is some competition in the market. Hopefully, this will lead to better pricing for consumers. Dysport made by French company, Ispen has been in use in Europe and Brazil for at least 10 years. In the US, it will be marketed by Arizona based Medicis under a license agreement.

The FDA continues to warn consumers that with the growing use of Botulinum toxin A products, there is a risk of the toxin spreading beyond the injection site. The box is expected to carry a label warning consumers.