Botulinum toxin, produced by the bacterium C. botulinum, binds to nerve endings, impairing the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that tells muscles to contract. Injected intravenously, one-millionth of a gram can kill a human. Injected into a muscle, one billionth of a gram is therapeutic. In food, 10 millionths of a gram can be fatal.
“The toxin drastically weakens skeletal muscles, causing partial paralysis and respiratory failure. The toxin’s impact on the skeletal muscle system is what makes it such an effective drug in the treatment of certain diseases,” says microbiologist Eric Johnson. “At low concentrations, injections of botulinum toxin provide remarkable relief to patients suffering from a variety of diseases caused by spasms and other uncontrollable muscle disorders. The toxin ‘paralyzes’ the designated muscles and minimizes pain, physical disfigurement, or uncontrollable muscle movements.”