Botulinum in its purest form is a deadly poison , but it can help stroke victims with pain . Botox is considered a poison with a purpose . Millions of Americans use it to help smooth their wrinkles . As more people use Botox as the ultimate wrinkle remover , doctors are realizing that its benefits go far deeper than the skin . Now it 's being used to help stroke victims . A study showing these benefits was released in October 2005 . What is Botox ? Dr. Sanjay Gupta , CNN chief medical correspondent : Botox is a brand name for botulinum toxin type A . It 's produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum . In its purest form , botulinum is one of the deadliest poisons known to humans . It can cause death by paralysis . What does Botox do ? Gupta : In 1989 , long before physicians injected Botox into faces to smooth wrinkles , the FDA approved it for patients with debilitating neurological diseases such as dystonia . In these conditions , faulty connections between brain and muscle cause parts of the body to spasm . Muscles are locked into uncomfortable , often excruciating , positions . Amazingly , Botox liberated many of these patients by actually chemically allowing their muscles to relax . On a basic level , that is what 's happening with Botox for wrinkles -- the muscle is loosening its grip on facial skin . This ability to stop the brain from triggering the muscle malfunction led researchers to use Botox for a whole host of other conditions . Up to four in 10 stroke survivors suffer from spastic disability . You may recognize it as stiffness on one side of the body , often seen in a club-like hand or foot . These people lose their independence -- the ability to wash themselves , to eat , even walk . Botox has been used for years in these stroke patients in combination with physical therapy . It allows some of them to gain back mobility and function in their muscles . Is Botox the perfect solution ? Gupta : Botox is n't a cure-all . It can have minor side effects and more studies need to be done on long-term use . But for many patients , Botox provides the muscle relief that will allow them to better move their muscles . Does it matter how much time lapses between the stroke and the patient getting Botox treatment ? This is definitely a case where the sooner the patient can receive the treatment , the better , so that they can regain mobility and function of their muscles .
Bottom line : Botox can help stroke or ease a painful side effect .