Ah, botox. The famous toxin that helps make wrinkles disappear and faces look younger. But where does it come from? Is it a natural substance, or is it the result of some twisted scientific experiment gone wrong? In this article, we’re going to explore the origins of botox and how it went from being a potentially deadly poison to one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in existence.

What Exactly is Botox?

Botox is derived from botulinum toxin, which is produced by bacteria known as Clostridium botulinum. It’s an incredibly potent neurotoxin that can cause paralysis if ingested. However, when used in tiny doses, it has been shown to have therapeutic benefits such as reducing muscle spasms and treating migraines.

It was first identified in 1895 by Emile van Ermengem but was not linked to food poisoning until 1904 when Belgian physician Justinus Kerner made the connection after conducting experiments on himself with infected sausages (not recommended btw!). Since then scientists have been studying this intriguing toxin endlessly!

Where Does Botox Come From?

The bacterium that produces botulinum toxins can be found all over the world-in soil samples and marine sediments-but tends to thrive in areas where oxygen levels are low. This includes environments like improperly canned foods (ugh) which make for some terrible meals, decomposing animals which nobody should investigate or contaminated wounds!

Fast forming spores allow C.’s long survival even under less friendly conditions/ There are seven types A-G of Botulinin Toxin: However Type A (BTX-A) & Type B (BTX-B) finds its way into clinical practice predominantly (translation : type A &type B whose properties fit for medical use).

Interestingly enough BTX-A doesn’t just target human subjects! It has been used to control populations of feral animals and also is found sparingly in cosmetic products so we look good even outside our homes.

The History of Botox

The history of botox dates all the way back to the early 1800s. In those days, German physician Justinus Kerner observed patients suffering from food poisoning by eating a meat dish that had been improperly canned. He linked it to “sausage poisoning” and how after the initial symptoms began taking effect, vision became blurred as eyesight-carrying muscles became weakened – yet he was intrigued by this ‘food poison’. After further experiments on himself (seriously not recommended!)he identified botulinum toxin as the cause of these effects with regard to paralyzing individual muscle groups only.

Fast forward over half a century later when scientists at Cambridge University found new therapeutic value in BTX-A during laboratory tests done on Wistar rats. Ophthalmologist Dr Alan Scott then took interest unknowingly leading us forwards into one specific direction: exploring the use of Botulinin Toxin for its potential benefits beyond treatment-of nothing less than strabismus, a condition characterized by having one’s eyes or binocular system misaligned–which led up north USA!

It wasn’t until 1989 that BTX-A was approved for clinical use-primarily for treating blepharospasm-a condition where involuntary spasms in eyelid muscles cause your eyelashes curl downwards making you look like Gomez Addams. Can you imagine living with that? /

From there, it didn’t take long for Botox injections’ cosmetic applications (facial expression smoothening)to become popularised worldwide—even if they were pricey/ And people continued shelling out increasingly absurd amounts TO get rid of pesky wrinkles!

And thus..those unsatisfied may reach out to a famous Botox brand name ‘Allergan’ to get their fixes, which holds about the same level of control over the botox industry that Coca Cola once held over soda pop.

How is Botox Made?

So where does botox come from? It’s not like you can just find it lying around on the ground (although it would be delicious).

Botox is actually made by taking purified botulinum toxin and diluting it with saline solution. This creates an injectable liquid that can be used for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes./

Not all boils down to BTX-A liquid though- before getting here, harvesting/bottling/testing stages ensure quality!

Popular brands such as Allergan use a specific method in which they medically induce C. botulinum into producing more BTX-A specifically and then before bottling it goes through extensive purification processes including chromatography AND steps to make sure we’re safe along with it!

The whole process isn’t easy or risk-free but continues without stumbling issues even post-production.

Conclusion

Despite its deadly origins, botox has become one of the most popular treatments for wrinkles and facial expression smoothening worldwide-and frankly at times seems almost magical..(and also offers some protein rich meals /s). Yet when using this neurotoxin remember-it might have taken years worth of studies,to curb potential side effects from dentures falling out (jk on this sarcastic bit…but seriously why was he putting two Stradivarius Cellos beneath his teeth?)

But in light of all our progress so far/ going ahead-BTX-A remains unarguably one of modern medicine’s greatest achievements-for ethical reasons-most obviously-with regard to problems caused by muscle malfunction/stutterers etc./