Animals and Insects in Medicine

Unusual methods of medication have been used through out history, from the beginning of time in countries all over the world. Some of the methods I will discuss are from ancient times and are still practiced, some are newer ideas and medical advances. All of the following practices involve an animal or insect directly. This stuff is not for the faint of heart! Most will be thought of as disgusting.

Starting in the United States itself, is treatment of Multiple Sclerosis by repeated bee stings. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. It is very serious and deadly. some patients of MS have been experimenting with the bee's venom in specific amounts to ease the degeneration of this disease. The results have been very promising, not only slowing the damage MS does to the body but even reversing it. It is thought to greatly improve circulation. This method is not yet practiced by many and should not be attempted without a doctor's supervision.

We all know that leeches have been used medically for quite some time but with the invention of more modern methods they became thought of as a barbaric method and virtually unnecessary. So the scientific world has turned back to the leech and found it even more beneficial than first believed. No longer are the used as in the old days for blood letting as it has been discovered that it is not possible to bleed disease from the body and many would even perish from anemia. Instead, this blood thirsty, slimy creature with around 300 teeth is being used by some doctors during surgery. During a leech feeding, they can consume enough blood to grow 4 or 5 times their regular size. The leech's saliva also contains a natural blood thinner.

Perhaps the strangest of all is a practice done in Turkey. Victims of skin disease or disorders make appointments with the fish! Flesh eating fish! It is similar in appearance and size to a sardine but it comes from the flesh eating family. This fish only eats dead or diseased skin however and so it is very beneficial to those with bad skin conditions who sit in the steaming water and allow these fish to nibble away. They are jokingly referred to as doctor fish. By the way these treatments are pretty expensive.

As most of us have heard, anti-biotics have proven less effective than first believed. There are many virus' and infections that just don't respond to anti-biotics or are too slow for the desired results to be very useful. Some England doctors are presently going back to basics and using leeches for things such as festering wounds, infections and ulcers that could otherwise take limbs or even lives. The maggots are sterilized and bandaged to the wound where they will eat the diseased and dead tissue which then allows the wound or ulcer to heal. It has been found to work in cases where anti-biotics weren't.

A strange and ancient cure for asthma is used to this day in India. A small live fish called a mural is stuffed with an herb coated paste and then stuffed down the throat of asthma sufferers, still wiggling. It is believed that the fish clears out mucus on it's way to the stomach and then the paste stuffed inside starts it's work. Many Indians swear by this remedy while others believe it is a matter of mind over body.

In the Amazon Rainforest the Bi-colored frog is hunted but not harmed. This is an extremely venomous species. Once caught they are swabbed on the back for it's poison secretions and then released unharmed. The venom is used to treat a rainbow of medical problems from simple fatigue to a major illness. Small burns are made on the patient and the venom is put directly in the burn holes. Within minutes the body goes into shock. There can be sweating, vomiting, and even passing out. After that the body is supposedly cleansed and the body relaxed and energized inproving all around health. This method, like many discussed is highly questionable but then who would have thought that painful bee stings could be helpful to a deadly disease. Perhaps many methods thrown away or thought ridiculous deserve a second look.

swimatyourownrisk.com/2008/11/22/flesh-eating-fish-cure-for-psoriasis/
www.livescience.com/health/050419_maggots.html
www.ask.com/bar