Vitamin C vs Venom

[Kurzix]

DISCLAIMER: I AM IN NO MEANS SAYING YOU SHOULD HANDLE VENOMOUS ANIMALS AND TAKE VITAMIN C THINKING IT WILL CURE YOU!!!

Ok this post is gunna sound a bit bonkers...but I just gotta post it somewhere.

Today at work, someone asked me for the details on exactly what Vitamin C its various forms are good for. So I turned to my trusty book and looked it up.

At one point it said that very high dosages of vitamin C have been used to treat and neutralize the venom from a black widow bite. My first thought was thats BS and totally ludicris.

However I decided to do some research on it upon getting home...

Apparently its true. Dosages of 350-700MG of Vitamin C per KG of the patients body weight, given IV or IM, have been used to neutralize the toxins from spider, insect and even snake bites. (for the record only sodium ascorbate can be given IV or IM without seriously buffering the solution).

I hesitate to include the websites I got this information, because I'd like if other people would do the research on their own and either prove or disprove what I found. I figure either way it could be an intresting thread.

DISCLAIMER: I AM IN NO MEANS SAYING YOU SHOULD HANDLE VENOMOUS ANIMALS AND TAKE VITAMIN C THINKING IT WILL CURE YOU!!!

[Matt]

mmm..thats certainly an interesting thought.....i would be hesitant to believe it, but you never know.
look forward to some comments on this

[Gregg M]

I think that treatment would work as good as electric shock or a trip to your local JuJu or medicine man........
None will work against snake bite........
Hey if I get bit (knock on wood) by one of my 5 and a half foot gaboons with a venom yeild of atleast 400 to 600 mg all I need to do is drink a gallon of OJ........ LOL......
I know, I know, You did not mean it like that........LOL
I am just saying that the only treatment for a serious snake bite would be antvenin.........
No ifs, ands, or buts about it....... Shaking a turkey feather or pumping yourself with vit.C will not help you in the event of a venomous snake bite.......
Gregg

[Cruciform]

Vitamin C via intravenous or intramuscular injection. I wonder if that would hurt at much as the bite :)

[jtpRUGGER]

I was recently bitten by my male guyanan redtail, and proceeded to drink some OJ later that day. aside from the abrasions caused by the teeth, I haven't noticed any ill effects...maybe it just works for non-hots. :)

[Mustangrde1]

Heh ho i miss this thread,,,,, Perhaps some Vodka with the OJ would help.....

[anders_240sx]

I am not here to start an arguement ..but to state that only anti-venom works is kinda narrow minded. Though obviously it does work... there is other natural and new scientific ways in which to prevent snake bite deaths.... The US army has developed a general antivenom sorta thing combined with a few other tools for their soldiers.... Plus native indonesians etc. has their own methods for neutralizing venom ...

[Gregg M]

I think I am being realistic in saying that the only real way to treat snake bite is with AV........ Answer this...... Why were black mamba bites 100% fatal until the introduction of AV......... Check and see how many people die in those countries where instead of seeking out modern treatments they go to a medicine man........ There is big reason to believe that the ones that did not die were not seriously envenomated or bitten by a mildly venomous or non-venomous species........ The fact is if you are bitten by a moderate to highly venomous snake and do not get AV, you can kiss your arse good bye...... Plain and simple....... Tropical plant leaves and chanting does NOT cure snake bites........ It is not narrow minded, it is a fact......... Also cutting the skin and using a venom extractor does not work and can actually make the situation worse......... Once the venom is in, it aint comming out........ So what tools did the Army come up with to treat snake bite???? All I know is if I am ever bitten, I am going to the hospital with my bite protocal, treatment instuctions, and 12 vials of AV...... I cant see how injecting 600mg of vit C can stop the affects of snake venom........ Especially when there are snakes that can iject more venom then that.......... An example would be Eastern diamond backs, King cobras, Gaboons, red bellied blacks, and a few others....... Can you say that 1 mg of vit C can neutralize 1 mg of nuro, hemo, and cytotoxic venom????? I dont think so....... Get with the times...... The thing the boyscouts taught you does not work......LOL

[Mustangrde1]

Some people""" MAY """" survive a bite of certain venomous without AV but the higher venomous species I would not want to bet my life on a witch doctor or some military cure that is not 100% proven..... Keep in mind the Militaries cure for prevention of shark bite in ww2 was thrashing and screaming and kicking at the shark. Ask any survivor of the Indy how well that worked.

[anders_240sx]

according to the study it would be 350-700mg of vit c per kg of body weight ... I am about 100kg so that would be 35000 mg - 700000mg of vit c.... thats insane