Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I dont have a clue. He is interested in cobra venom in particular..I told him id ask around and find out.im thinking I heard once that since it is just modified saliva that your own digestive juices render it harmless but Im not even sure where I heard this...Anyway, he has asked me more than once so an answer would be great..Thanks
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Assuming no open sores, ulcers or lesions in the person's mouth, throat or stomach it should cause no harm. It is a venom, not a stomach poison.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Agreed. The stomach would just digest it. There are actually, according to what I hear, people that mix and swallow venom from a few different species as a sort of "freak show" kind of event.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"Some things will never change. They just stand there looking backwards. Half-unconsious from the pain. They may seem rearranged. In the backwater swirling. There is something that'll never change-The Meat Puppets"

>>Agreed. The stomach would just digest it. There are actually, according to what I hear, people that mix and swallow venom from a few different species as a sort of "freak show" kind of event.
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>>Andy Maddox
>>AIM: thekingofproduct
>>MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
>>Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
>> Houston Herp Key
>> The Reptizone
>>
>>"Some things will never change. They just stand there looking backwards. Half-unconsious from the pain. They may seem rearranged. In the backwater swirling. There is something that'll never change-The Meat Puppets"

Yeah, Sean Bush has a patient that drinks venom because he thinks it will immunize him against rattlesnake bites. So far it hasn't worked...twice.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

I've seen that patient on the show before....but the guy still swears by it!
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As OH mentioned, so long as there are no open wounds, venom can be safely ingested.
Venom is comprised of branch chain amino acids which are easily broken down in the stomach and chains are broken, the individual components are rendered harmless.
This is an example why insulin is not available in oral form for diabetic patients, as insulin is made up of branch chain amino acids.

Jeff

>>As OH mentioned, so long as there are no open wounds, venom can be safely ingested.
>>Venom is comprised of branch chain amino acids which are easily broken down in the stomach and chains are broken, the individual components are rendered harmless.
>>This is an example why insulin is not available in oral form for diabetic patients, as insulin is made up of branch chain amino acids.
>>
>>Jeff

One caveat, though. Some of the components (toxins) can be absorbed through the thin mucous membranes into the bloodstream where they can cause toxicity. In the mouth that wouldn't be a big problem because the flow of saliva would effectively wash it away before it could absorb, plus the saliva itself will begin to break down the chains. However, if for instance, you were sprayed by a spitting cobra and some of the venom went into your nostril the neurotoxin may be absorbed by the mucous membrane in your nostril and cause toxicity. If it gets in your eye you WILL wash it out, trust me....it is painful, but if it were left in your eye it can absorb through those membranes too, and cause all sorts of problems, including permanent blindness.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have heard it's palletable with a vodka and lime chaser....(lol)

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

from this board and do appreciate the responses..
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.........
2.0 Ball Pythons (Titus and Hercules)
1.0 Western Hognose (Fuego)
1.1 cornsnakes (Asmodeus and Strawberry)
0.2 Bearded dragons (itchy and scratchy)
0.1 Rosehair T. (Jigglypuff)
1.0 dog BC..(Kippy)
2.1 cats (Thomas,Sunflower,Diablo(Boo))
0.0.1 Toad (squidward)