In the aftermath of monsoon, and prior to winter, snakebites are rampant in countryside. Often people resort to superstitious techniques instead of running to a nearby clinic, delaying proper treatment, which in most cases prove fatal.
In a research by scientists of Jadavpur’s prestigious Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), it is found that “the seed extract of Strychnos nux vomica (SNV) — an Indian herb — could neutralise the toxins present in the venom of viper (Daboia russelii) and cobra (Naja kaouthia)“.
This is a big help since homeopathic and biochemic medicines are relatively affordable and available even in small towns. It is not uncommon to find homeopathic practitioners in small towns, who may be lacking formal studying of the subject, yet are able to give succor to poor people in need. In places where primary health centers are far off, at least some help can be had, going by IICB scientists’ findings, pending further care.
Herein below is a small excerpt from the article titled, Herbal cure for snakebite, by Biplab Das, that first appeared on 15 Nov’ 2004 in the science and environment fortnightly Down To Earth from New Delhi.
The venom contains a host of lethal enzymes that wreak havoc on healthy cells. Viper venom leads to excessive bleeding and build-up of abnormal body fluid. Cobra venom cripples cardiac muscles and nerve cells. After preparing the seed extract of SNV, Gomes and his colleagues measured the lethal dose (in other words that killed lab mice) by injecting the venom of viper and cobra into the tail vein of male mice. The lethal doses for viper and cobra venom were found to be 2.4 microgrammes and 3.09 microgrammes respectively. The extract even neutralised the adverse affects in guinea pigs and rats. The team also found that a combination of antiserum and seed extract was more potent against venom than antiserum alone.
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