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Email a friendMeat Tenderizer Against Stings
Newspaper Columns, Herb & Home Remedy Q&A July 23, 2007
Q. Let's talk about the crawling wasps and hornets of the American Southwest--fire ants and scorpions. These critters give a wallop of a bite or sting without the warning of a buzz.
Years ago, when I moved to Texas with a toddler I was freaked out just by seeing a scorpion. Poison control in San Marcos, Texas, told me to keep meat tenderizer—the kind with papaya extract in it—on hand for bee stings, scorpions and fire ants. Add a little water to a scant handful of tenderizer and put the paste on the sting immediately. It works!
The poison control people also said we should keep tetanus shots up to date because stinging things, especially fire ants, can spread infection.
A. The papaya extract in meat tenderizer breaks down proteins, including the proteins in stings. It is a time-honored treatment for bee and wasp stings. Scorpion stings might be too serious for home remedies. If a child is stung, medical attention would be prudent.
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
© 2007 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Reader Comments
In 2005 the Mediterranian Sea
was swarming with jellyfish.
They go in cycles. When I went swimming off the island of Malta I got stung three times. Boy it really hurts and very irritating. My cousin first cleaned the spot with alcohol then applied a paste made from meat tenderizer and water. It took the sting out quickly although the mark itself took longer to heal. So, meat tenderizer, made into a paste, helps with other stings as well. One should carry alcohol and meat tenderizer anytime you go outdoors and swim in the ocean or sea. You never know when a jellyfish may strike.
Posted by: Noemi Weil | July 27, 2007 11:23 AM
I had been in the high desert of Oregon several years ago, artifacting ,(arrow heads, etc.) and when I saw an arrow head lying beneath some sage brush, I picked it up, and I felt a sharp prick on the back of my hand, and really thought nothing of it, since there were shrp thorns around the area as well, but later that evening, my hand had a swelling starting and there was a "purplish" discoloration around that area. Well, being with the rest of"The Desert Rangers"... we knew what to do.... we applied the "Adolphs " treatment! This treatment was told to us by a Paramedic, from when we took a first aid course. He said that was the "preffered treatment" for bee stings, etc. However, he said that the Paramedics could not say that they had put a substance on the sting, that was not "approved" , so they called it the "Adolphs Treatment"!
As an aside,as a little kid, and getting stung by bees when playing, Mom always made a paste of baking soda and we put that on the sting... that fixed it up just fine... Mom's know what to Do!!!
Posted by: Robert H. Spielman | July 27, 2007 12:43 PM