Nitric Oxide Used For Snakebite Treatment

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New research has discovered that applying a nitric oxide containing ointment to the site of a snakebite will help slow the spread of some venoms. Application of this new treatment could be life saving as it may double the amount of time it takes for the poison to reach the bloodstream.
Since World Health Organization statistics show that about 20,000 deaths occur worldwide from snakebites each year, a nitric oxide containing cream may become a staple for snake bite first aid kids.

Snake bites are especially a problem in poorer rural areas where access to health services and antivenom are limited.

The Lymphatic system is responsible for the distribution of most venoms through your body and to the blood stream. The current recommended method of dealing with snake bites is called the pressure-immobilisation technique. This reduces spread of the venom by placing a firm bandage over a folded pad onto the bitten area. If applied properly, the pressure-immobilisation technique is simple, safe, and will not cause any tissue damage.

Scientists have known that nitric oxide slows down a pumping mechanism in the lymphatic system, which in turn slows down the transportation of the venom to the bloodstream. Dirk van Helden, a researcher at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, recently used this information to suggest nitric oxide as a possible treatment for snakebites.

To test his theory, Helden and fellow researchers injected a venom-like substance into one foot of 15 volunteers, and measured the amount of time it took for the substance to reach lymph nodes in the groin region. The results showed that when a nitric oxide inducing cream was spread around the puncture within one minute of the injection, the average time of transit dropped from 13 minutes to 54 minutes.

An experiment in rats yielded the same results. Rats injected with a venom that were treated with the ointment kept breathing 50 percent longer, as compared to rats who did not receive nitric oxide.

This study can have potential application for those who are bitten far away from any medical facility. The ointment cannot help victims if they are bitten by snakes such as the Black Mamba or cobra, since they release toxic proteins that are small enough to directly enter the bloodstream.

The full study can be found in Nature Medicine. The next step for study is seeing how long application of the cream can be delayed after being bitten by the snake.


About the Author:
Clinton is an independent distributor for the health and wellness company, Kyani. Please click on the link to learn about the company and the amazing health products that have been changing the lives of many people.

One of our products is Nitro FX, which uses extract of the Noni plant to help your body produce nitric oxide!

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