Okra is not a remedy for snake bites, health specialists have confirmed to AFC.
Published on May 2, 2023, by a Facebook account and shared in the group “Les histoires de PERGO,” the information claims that okra is a remedy for snake bites.
The post states: “It’s a natural remedy for snake bites. If someone you know is bitten by a snake, to save them, get fresh okra, cut it, and apply the okra juice to the bitten area…”
Contrary to these claims, the information is false according to specialists.
Verification:
In an interview with AFC, Dr. Mbary Siolo Mada Bebelou, head of the Nutrition and Food Hygiene Service at the Ministry of Health, dismissed this information: “False, I know that okra has many virtues, but there is no scientific evidence that okra can cure or alleviate snake bites, so I cannot confirm such information.”
According to Dr. Kosh Komba Jess Elio, an oncologist and pediatrician whom we interviewed, “This is false information. Using substances can waste time and worsen the situation of the bite; transporting the patient to the hospital as soon as possible for treatment remains the best option.”
Further research using Google led us to articles on this subject. For example, AFP reported on June 22, 2022, that this claim is false and that the only effective treatment for snake bites is antivenom, according to toxicologists contacted by AFP.
It is important to disinfect the bite and take the victim to a health center. Rapid evacuation of the patient to the hospital to receive antivenom and appropriate care is part of emergency medical treatment.
By Marie-Paule Vopiadé / AFC
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