Spider venom for libido and caterpillars for pain – insects being used in medicine

(Image: Getty Images/500px) Tens of millions of us are scared of spiders , and around 13m are terrified of snakes, according to a recent poll. In fact, when it comes to phobias, the fear of creepy-crawlies far outstrips any modern-day stresses, such as running out of phone battery or no wi-fi access. But these attitudes may soon need to change as scientists discover more and more of their health-boosting secrets. Insect use in medicine is not new. Maggots have been used for centuries to clean infected wounds. Leeches are still deployed to improve blood flow when circulation is bad. But that could be just the start. In the search for new and potent treatments, scientists seeking answers are increasingly turning to the insects we love to hate. Could caterpillars cure sore joints? Researchers at Nottingham University recently discovered that a fungus growing on caterpillars could be a revolutionary new treatment for millions of osteoarthritis sufferers. The fungus contains cordycepin, a painkiller and anti-inflammatory compound thought to have fewer side-effects than existing medicines but potentially even more effective. It has been used in traditional eastern medicine for centuries, but is only now attracting attention from those developing pharmaceutical-grade drugs. Researcher Dr Cornelia de Moor predicts it will be a completely new type of painkiller within a few years. She says: “There was a lot scepticism from other scientists but we were stunned by the results we got from a pilot study.” Sea snail drug that zaps severe pain A drug that harnesses the power of deadly sea snail venom is given to patients who cannot tolerate treatments such as morphine. Called Prialt, it’s based on a toxin released by the Magician’s Cone Snail, usually found in tropical waters, such as in the South Pacific. The snail uses venom to paralyse […]

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