By Marge Roberts, BSN MSHP DAHom
Just-In-Case is derived from snake venom – as are several pharmaceuticals.
You may be surprised to learn that both pharmaceutical companies and homeopathy utilize snake venoms in developing therapeutics. A 2019 article in the journal Toxins states, “While the preliminary effort with regard to snake venoms was to understand the effects of snakebites on humans and to elaborate the actions of the toxins, snake venom components were also understood to be medical tools for thousands of years in Ayurveda, homeopathy and traditions/folk medicine for the treatment of a variety of pathophysiological conditions.” and “With the advancement of modern biotechnology, the use of animal venom components a source of potential therapeutics values attracted the attention of the pharmaceutical industry.”[1]
Did you know that the active ingredient in the first ACE inhibitor, Captopril (heart medication), was originally derived from the poisonous Brazilian viper? John Vane, Nobel prize winner, initially tested peptides from the venom and found that they were able to block the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme. He then proposed an ACE inhibitor research program to a major drug company and after numerous experiments and revisions, Captopril was realized in 1975 and received FDA approval in 1981.
In 2008, Dr. Bart Demaerschalk, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist, researched the use of snake venom to see if it could help stroke victims. And in 2012, Mayo Clinic’s Cardiorenal Research Laboratory was awarded a $2.5 million grant by The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to conduct research examining the use of snake-venom peptide to treat heart attacks.
And what do you think they make the anti-snake venom out of? You guessed it – snake venom!! Of course, it passes through another animal, often a horse, who makes the antibodies, which are then injected into you. But it begins with snake venom.
Pharmaceutical companies research the individual components of each individual snake venom (there are estimated to be 100-500 pharmacologically active compounds in venoms) and identify how each component may affect the body. They can then patent the resulting medication and target it for a specific action. “Snake venoms are not composed of a single component but instead are complex mixtures of toxic and biologically active proteins and peptides.” [1.]
Conversely, homeopathy uses the venom in its entirety, not the individual components. One might consider it a more wholistic approach. Also, homeopathy uses the venoms according to traditional homeopathic practices, using a materia medica as a guide, not pharmaceutical clinical studies. It’s kind of like eating the whole broccoli plant instead of dividing up all the components of the broccoli and taking each supplement separately in a pill. It was interesting to learn that certain snake species have a different preponderance of toxins in their venom, so when making a drug, a certain species is selected depending upon the components of each snake. Homeopathy on the other hand, uses a materia medica to determine which snake venom is indicated for which condition. Although most snake venoms share common indications, there are unique aspects to each defined in a materia medica. For example, according to traditional homeopathic practice, Crotalus and Lachesis are indicated for bleeding conditions, but Naja causes no bleeding, only edema.
Homeopathy is based on the principle of Similia Similibus Curentur which is Latin for Like Cures Like. Homeopathic Rhus tox. (Poison ivy) is indicated for a poison ivy rash; homeopathic Coffea cruda (coffee) is indicated for difficulty sleeping. Homeopathic Allium cepa (onion) is indicated for burning/watery eyes and homeopathic Ipecacuanha (Ipecac) is indicated for nausea and vomiting.
Just-In-Case contains 8 homeopathic snake venoms, including Crotalus (rattlesnake), Cenchris (copperhead), and Elaps (coral snake, from the same Elapidae family as the King cobra). What systems are affected when bit by a poisonous snake? Using the principle of Similia Similibus Curentur – what might it be indicated for?
Just-In-Case also contains Bryonia, a detoxifying remedy according to traditional homeopathic practice and Phosphorus, a polychrest (indicated for many conditions- including fever), also used according to traditional homeopathic practice. Another polychrest, Arsenicum album (for nausea/vomiting, sore throat, fever), is included as well.
Might want to keep a bottle in your medicine chest, duffle bag, camping pack – just-in-case.
References
- El-Aziz, Tarek Mohamed Abd; Soares, Antonio Garcia; Stockand, James D. Snake Venoms in Drug Discovery: Valuable Therapeutic Tools for Life Saving