Beneficial venom ...?
Chamomile
for stomachaches, lemon and honey for your flu, and the always well received
aloe vera for healing scars; grandma always says that there isn’t better thing
than nature’s products, and among life continues scientists have done a lot of
efforts to reinforce that thought.
A most
recent discovery involves an always feared and not so beloved animal, but after
this that situation may change. I’m talking about the Black Mamba, one of the
most dangerous snakes in South Africa, whose venom have been proved to contain
a powerful painkiller that may surpass the well-known morphine.
Opiates
such as morphine are known for being used by several well-known artists because
of its effectiveness in treating pain, but is also known because of its addictive
qualities and for causing vomit, strong headaches, muscle twitching and
difficulty thinking to consumers. But this recently discovered pain-reliever
molecule has all the benefits of a painkiller but without the side effects
mentioned.Snake
venoms contain toxins that can lower pain by activating some parts of the
brain. Scientists tested isolated pain-killing proteins taken from this animal
on mice - named mambalgins - , and the result was a total pain relief which
later studies tested on human cells proved to work in a similar way in people.
Although this
is still in diapers and needs for more testing, scientists and doctors are
pretty optimistic in the development and effectiveness of this new drug which
promises to make a change in lots of treatments, don’t you think?
Opiates
such as morphine are known for being used by several well-known artists because
of its effectiveness in treating pain, but is also known because of its addictive
qualities and for causing vomit, strong headaches, muscle twitching and
difficulty thinking to consumers. But this recently discovered pain-reliever
molecule has all the benefits of a painkiller but without the side effects
mentioned.Snake
venoms contain toxins that can lower pain by activating some parts of the
brain. Scientists tested isolated pain-killing proteins taken from this animal
on mice - named mambalgins - , and the result was a total pain relief which
later studies tested on human cells proved to work in a similar way in people.
I have heard something about this, but I’ve never put any attention. It‘s amazing the way in which nature works. There are several plants that help us to relieve pain and now the venom of one of the scariest snakes is also uncharged of it. But not only the Black Mamba’s venom has this effect, also the Trinidad Chevron Tarantula and the Cobra have been put into scientific trials in order to get which of their properties may be useful for medical purposes, as their poison don´t have any toxic effects, such as paralysis, convulsions or breathing difficulties as the common medicine (morphine) does.
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