Buzz
Insects are often dismissed as bothersome pests that invade our homes—if we even notice them at all. The term “worm” might bring to mind earthworms or, for some, a rather eerie sea creature, depending on your perspective.
While it’s annoying to deal with a fly or wasp buzzing around your room at night, some tiny creatures play a crucial role in medical advancements, helping to treat various illnesses and diseases. Here are ten examples of unconventional yet highly effective medical treatments that utilize creepy-crawlies.
10. Cancer Treatment Using Wasp Venom
Among all diseases, cancer stands out as one we are most eager to cure, making any progress in this field worth celebrating—even if it involves the venom of wasps. Researchers have discovered that the venom of a Brazilian wasp species, Polybia paulista, contains a toxin called Polybia-MP1, which targets and destroys cancer cells without harming healthy ones. This toxin exploits the abnormal lipid composition of cancer cells, penetrating their membranes and causing essential molecules to leak out, ultimately leading to their demise.
While the idea of being injected with wasp venom might not sound appealing, many would endure it for a chance to combat one of the deadliest diseases. Currently, this treatment is in the experimental phase for humans, but early results are promising, suggesting it could become a groundbreaking advancement in cancer therapy.
9. Stitching Wounds with Ant Heads
In moments of severe injury, the method used to close a wound might be the least of your concerns—even if it involves the heads of decapitated ants. Driver ants, primarily found in Africa, are known for their powerful jaws that can latch onto flesh with a painful grip. While their bites are notoriously difficult to remove, their heads can serve as makeshift sutures in emergencies. This practice, applicable to other ant species as well, offers a temporary solution for wound closure.
This method is as gruesome for the injured as it is for the ant, requiring the ant to bite the wound before twisting its body to detach the head, leaving the jaws and severed head to act as a temporary suture. This macabre yet effective technique was famously illustrated in the 2006 film Apocalypto.
8. Drinks Infused with Parasitic Worms
Ulcerative colitis, a condition marked by bowel inflammation, can be excruciating for those affected. While medications and dietary adjustments can alleviate symptoms, a definitive cure remains elusive. However, Dr. Joel Weinstock and his team have discovered a promising treatment: consuming beverages containing parasitic pig worm eggs. This unconventional approach has shown significant potential in early trials.
Weinstock’s team initially tested the treatment on a patient with a chronic bowel disorder by mixing the eggs into a soft drink, resulting in noticeable improvement. Expanded trials involved 54 ulcerative colitis patients and 29 Crohn’s disease patients, with 47.8 percent and 72.4 percent, respectively, reporting symptom relief. The theory suggests that these worms, naturally present in our digestive systems, help regulate immunity. Modern hygiene practices may have eliminated them, increasing susceptibility to immune-related diseases like ulcerative colitis.
7. Powdered Centipedes as a Remedy
Powdered centipedes, known as wu gong in China, have long been used in traditional medicine. Associated with the liver meridian, this remedy is employed to treat various conditions, including convulsions, seizures, and lockjaw. Historically, it has also been utilized as a cancer treatment for centuries in Chinese medicinal practices.
While some may doubt traditional Asian remedies, Western scientists have acknowledged the tumor-inhibiting properties of wu gong. Experiments on cancer-afflicted rats and mice demonstrated that centipede extract effectively suppressed tumor growth. Although not yet adopted in Western cancer treatments for humans, this suggests that traditional Eastern medicine may hold valuable insights we have yet to fully embrace.
6. Maggots That Consume Dead Tissue
While the idea of using ant heads to stitch wounds is already unusual, cleaning wounds with maggots takes it a step further. Though it may sound unpleasant, maggot therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for specific wound types, gaining official recognition in 2004. This practice dates back even further, with Napoleon’s army doctors and American surgeon William Baer during World War I utilizing maggots for wound cleansing.
Maggots serve a dual purpose in wound care: they consume infected or dead tissue while sparing healthy tissue, and their secretions help regulate the immune system’s “complement response,” aiding infection control. Concerns about maggots migrating within the body are alleviated by containing them within the wound using a nylon net and tape barrier.
5. Heart Repair Patches Made from Silkworm Silk
Silkworms possess an almost magical quality, and their silk holds surprising potential for heart attack survivors. While many survive heart attacks, the damage to cardiac tissue is often permanent due to its inability to regenerate. Researchers have long sought materials to create patches that promote new cell growth, but many options were either rejected by the immune system or too fragile. A promising solution has emerged from an unexpected source: the tasar silkworm.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology created coin-sized disks from tasar silkworm silk, ideal for heart patches due to their rough texture and protein content, which aids in binding cardiac muscle cells. Successful tests on rats have been conducted, but for humans to benefit, a method to harvest sufficient cardiac cells must first be developed.
4. Wart Removal Using Blister Beetle Secretions
Warts on visible body parts can be highly embarrassing, prompting many to seek any remedy, even those derived from beetle secretions. Blister beetles, found globally, produce cantharidin, a substance that causes skin blistering. While typically harmful, this property makes it effective for wart removal.
Dermatologists began using this treatment in the 1950s, typically as a last resort after methods like freezing or salicylic acid fail. The process involves applying cantharidin to the wart, covering it with a bandage, and removing it after six hours. After washing the area, the skin blisters or scabs, and the wart eventually falls off.
3. Burn Treatment with Bee Honey
Honey isn’t just a sweet treat; it’s also a powerful remedy for various ailments and injuries. For instance, honey poultices are a well-known treatment for burns. Applied after cooling the burn with water, honey creates a protective barrier, reducing pain and rehydrating the skin. Its antiseptic properties also help prevent infections. Manuka honey, produced by the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), is the most commonly used type for this purpose. Introduced to New Zealand by European settlers, this honey is now widely available there.
Manuka honey’s benefits extend beyond burns, proving effective for pressure ulcers and bacterial infections. The FDA approved its use for wound treatment over a decade ago. Clinical trials have shown that it accelerates burn healing compared to film or gauze dressings, while also reducing inflammation, scarring, and odor during recovery.
2. Flu Vaccine Derived from Caterpillars
The flu is a common illness that, while rarely life-threatening, can be highly uncomfortable. Flublok Quadrivalent is a recombinant flu vaccine, unique in that it doesn’t rely on egg-grown virus cultures. It’s the only vaccine of its kind available in the US, with clinical trials showing a 31 percent higher effectiveness in preventing flu compared to traditional egg-based vaccines. What sets Flublok apart is its use of armyworm caterpillar cells in its production.
A portion of the flu virus is combined with an insect virus and introduced into armyworm ovary cells, which are harvested during the caterpillar’s pupal stage. This method allows the virus to grow and develop into the components needed for the vaccine. This innovative approach significantly speeds up production compared to conventional methods.
1. Medicinal Leeches
In the 19th century, leeches were widely used in the US, Asia, and Europe to drain blood, based on the mistaken belief that this could cure various ailments. Today, however, leeches have found a legitimate place in modern medicine, particularly in aiding recovery after skin grafts. They help by removing pooled blood from veins or beneath grafts, restoring circulation and preventing tissue death.
Leeches are also effective in treating other conditions. Research shows that applying them to the knees of arthritis patients significantly reduces pain. Additionally, a Russian study found that the saliva of medicinal leeches can alleviate ear conditions like tinnitus. In this treatment, one leech is placed behind the ear and another on the jaw, though the exact mechanism remains unclear, as doctors still don’t fully understand what causes tinnitus.
