Botox

Botox! It’s the little shot that takes the wrinkles out, but did you know it’s poison? [Screams] That might bring a few of them back. If neurotoxins interest you, sit back, relax, and get a big ol’ dose of What You Ought To Know.

“Botox” is a registered product name, like Kleenex or Band-Aid. Its real name is Botchulinum Toxin-A, but that doesn’t sound very friendly. Are you ready for your toxin?

So where does it come from? It all starts with a little bacteria called Clostridium Botulinum. When it gets its groove on, it creates a protein called Botulin.

Isn’t protein good for you?

This one likes to get right between your nerve cells and your muscle fibers. It keeps anything from happening – that means it paralyzes you. Very, very relaxing…

If it ends up in your lungs, for example, your nervous system can’t tell your muscles to contract and, well, your stop breathing. Death. You get the idea.

So where does this deadly little beast lurk? Well, clostridium bacteria is found just about everywhere. [Whimpers] But before we panic, you need to know it can’t survive in oxygen.

Oh.

The most common way to get Botulism (that’s the poisoning, paralyzes you, thing), is from improperly canned food. So if you have a can that looks like it’s bulging, and you eat it without cooking it…

Mmm-mm, mm… These beans are to- are to die for!

The bacteria makes spores that protect it from oxygen, and they “wake up” when they get into a non-oxygen environment. Like a can of corn, or your lower intestine.

Now I know what you’re thinking. Right now you’re wondering how the medical industry pulled this fast one on you, and you’re going to the phone to warn Aunt Edna. But the truth is, when it’s injected into a muscle group, there’s minimal risk of having it spread.

Doctors say minimal because they always say minimal – it helps with insurance issues.

In a typical Botox treatment, the toxin just sits there, paralyzing the muscles in your face. They can’t contract and, consequently, they can’t cause wrinkles, until your body gets rid of the toxin and the shot wears off.

On the plus side, sometimes keeping your muscles from contracting can be a good thing, too. Botulinum toxin’s been helping with all kinds of problems since 1989. In fact, it’s now being tested for things like chronic back and neck pain.

It’s funny that injecting yourself with a potentially deadly toxin may make you more beautiful. That’s the magic of Botox.

Seriously, you can still buy canned food. And you can eat it, too. Gosh, I love this stuff! Mmm, when’s lunch?

Transcribed by: FanOfAr

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