Botox injections are medications that use botulinum toxin to temporarily paralyze specific muscle activity to treat several health problems. Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning that results in paralysis. However, when diluted and injected in small doses (depending on the condition being treated) the toxin weakens or paralyzes certain muscles and blocks certain nerves, limiting their activity.
The injections are often used for health problems such as repetitive neck and shoulder contractions and chronic migraine headache.