Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating

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Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« on: August 21, 2006, 10:44:46 AM » by AndysJess

My niece was bitten by a rattlesnake on Saturday afternoon. They got the anti-venom into her pretty fast, but they had to airlift her to Tucson, AZ to monitor tissue damage. She is seven years old, so they said that is in her favor. An important part of her therapy is keeping the blood flowing to the damaged area.
My question is...can anyone recommend something to help heal/prevent the tissue damage. I believe comfrey is a healing herb. I would love to hear some good ideas. Thanks

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2006, 10:46:31 AM » by amazonmama2five

Go to bulkherbstore.com and type in snake bite. It should give you lots of information.
We will pray for her,
Lisa

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2006, 07:44:14 AM » by Keetonmamma

I know there is a natural product out there called Xango. It is the pureed mangosteen fruit. It is all natural and is loaded with stuff to help with the natural rebuilding of tissue. It is a litte pricy , but a few bottles at a time like this may be a good investment. Try Xango.com or check a local health food store. There are many products out there that are like xango, and have other fruit juices mixed, but I don't think they are quite as powerful as actual xango brand mangosteen juice.
We will remember her in our prayers.

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2007, 08:56:53 AM » by Whiterock

We live in snake country and I like to pick blackberries and rose hips, etc. so I'd like to hear what info y'all have on treating snake bites.

Don't get me wrong, this is something I would go to the hospital for, but it would still be good to have info on what should be done immediately and what should be done long term until healed.

Also, not everyone lives where they can get to a hospital right away, so lets talk about it as if you don't have access to medical help.

WR

« Last Edit: July 02, 2007, 03:57:14 PM by Whiterock »
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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2007, 09:22:12 AM » by wyomama3

Here's the blessing in the snake bite. They are discovering that victims of rattlesnake bite don't develop cancer, or certain types. I have not researched this area, but have read about it from different sources. There is a lady in our area who was given just a few more months to live and was outside and a rattlesnake bit her. That was years ago, and she is a happy grandma now.
One piece of advice I do have with rattlesnake bite - and the need for antivenom: Call ahead to the hospital. Not every hospital (even here in rattlesnake country) carries the antivenom. They tend to stock it in regional areas. The hospital will then have the anitvenom flown in. Then they have to activate it by sloooowly, and gently shaking the vials. My cousin was bitten a few years ago. That is how our family learned all of this, over activating vials.

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2007, 09:41:49 AM » by africamissy

Rattle snake is not fatal--except possibly for small children. I'm not certain on copperheads, coral snakes, & cotton mouths. The best advice I've ever heard on dealing with snakes is to always send kids out in pairs and get a dog to go with them. (better the dog is bit & you have to treat the dog) When picking berries, you can carry a stick and poke the bushes to make certain nothing is in them. Watch where you step.

Otherwise, tourniquet the limb to slow blood flow and don't move it. Try to keep the blood with the toxin from flowing through your body. Do not elevate the limb. Keep anti-venom on hand at your house and my husband swears by electric shock. Growing up in Kenya his family had a small wind up motor that they would use to shock the injury which is supposed to change the composition of the venom. You merely shock the area of the bite. I believe his uncle had to do this once. This is what we plan to do in East Africa--where we have puff adders, cobra, black & green mombas-- should we be faced with the situation.

Snake bites in general are very toxic and often need treatment whether the snake is venomous or not--they can cause major infections.

I've heard lots of vit c (mega doses) can help flush the system. I'll let someone who knows herbs better answer for herbal treatments.

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2007, 09:48:19 AM » by Whiterock

Quote

When picking berries, you can carry a stick and poke the bushes to make certain nothing is in them. Watch where you step.

Good advice. When I was growing up my family always carried sticks and "beat the bushes" when we went berry picking. That way, we never surprised a snake. So I still do it that way.
WR

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2007, 10:36:44 AM » by BJ_BOBBI_JO

We go berry picking about every day they are in season. I mostly stay on the 4 wheeler and drive right up to the vine patches. Also like others said hitting the bushes with sticks helps. My dogs are always on the watch for creatures also.

I dont know of any herbal care for snake bites but I carry a cell phone ALWAYS as I am berry picking incase of a bad snake bite. I live in NE Indiana and snake bites is not a major issue here but a few weeks ago I saw an agressive black snake in the creek swiming towards my dogs in an agressive manor. I called them out of the water and went and told my hubby and he went to the creek to shoot it but it swam away.

I guess the Indians were smart to wear buckskin pants when in the woods to help lessen the damage from thorns and bites. Wearing cowboy boots helps also since the snake would most likely bite the ankle area.

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2007, 02:11:10 PM » by Whiterock

That sounds like a Water Moccasin. They are very aggressive and will even come out of the water to chase you.

WR

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2007, 03:50:41 PM » by healthybratt

Quote from: Whiterock on July 02, 2007, 09:48:19 AM

Quote

When picking berries, you can carry a stick and poke the bushes to make certain nothing is in them. Watch where you step.

Good advice. When I was growing up my family always carried sticks and "beat the bushes" when we went berry picking. That way, we never surprised a snake. So I still do it that way.
WR

Also, step on rocks, logs, etc instead of over them. This gives you a longer stride away from a possible hiding spot for snakes. Grin

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #10 on: July 02, 2007, 03:59:29 PM » by denim&lace

Quote from: herbfever on July 02, 2007, 02:59:11 PM

WHILE WAITING FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION

2. Remove the venom. IF you have a snakebite kit, use the suction cup to remove the venom, preferably in the first five minutes after the bite occured, before the venom starts circulating. Do NOt use your mouth to suck out venom as you can end up being poisoned. Do NOT cut into the flesh. Remove constrictive items such as rings, bracelets or shoes as swelling may occur.

My dad used the vacum hose on a truck he was working on when he got bit by a copperhead once. It must've worked as he never went to the doctor with it... He's been bit 3 times I know of by copperheads, he's probably got some kind of immunity to them by now.

I wonder if you could use the hose off your vacum cleaner to suction out the venom if you didn't have the suction cup.?.?

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #11 on: July 02, 2007, 09:18:00 PM » by denim&lace

Quote from: herbfever on July 02, 2007, 04:09:04 PM

Quote from: smileyfacecurlyhead on July 02, 2007, 03:59:29 PM

Quote from: herbfever on July 02, 2007, 02:59:11 PM

My dad used the vacum hose on a truck he was working on when he got bit by a copperhead once. It must've worked as he never went to the doctor with it... He's been bit 3 times I know of by copperheads, he's probably got some kind of immunity to them by now.

I wonder if you could use the hose off your vacum cleaner to suction out the venom if you didn't have the suction cup.?.?

Funny you should mention a vacuum. The author of Naturla First Aid said when her & her dh lived far from a hospital with no telephone(they had electricity) they improvised using a vacuum wand.

Hmmm, well, I guess you can! Thanks.
We don't worry about snakes when we berry pick up here. Just bears. Shocked

At least you can generally see them coming (or hopefully GOING!

)

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #12 on: September 04, 2007, 04:41:53 AM » by berthday

Keep anti-venom on hand at your house and my husband swears by electric shock. Growing up in Kenya his family had a small wind up motor that they would use to shock the injury which is supposed to change the composition of the venom. You merely shock the area of the bite. I believe his uncle had to do this once. This is what we plan to do in East Africa--where we have puff adders, cobra, black & green mombas-- should we be faced

Oh my! i have nightmares of my kids being bit by snakes!!!! Would using a shocker work on small children? My DH has a shocker and I didn't know what would happen if you had to use one on kids.

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2009, 06:25:27 PM » by Jade

The weather is warming up, and with it, the return of snake season! Have any of y'all ever heard of using ascorbic acid (injected or otherwise) for snake bites? I've read some interesting stuff about it and wondered if anyone has any input.
I'm including links to several sites that mention using Vitamin C , bromelain, or ascorbic acid for snake bites, and also a link for snake-proofing fences. One article mentions that the "ascorbic acid" that was referred to was actually sodium ascorbate. Huh

Anyway... for someone interested in some reading material, here 'tis:

Vitamin C is a positive neutralizing agent in snake bite [53] , spider bite [54] and insect stings. Our use of ascorbic in snake bite was limited to the Highland moccasin, a member of the copperhead family. Other poisonous snakes are more deadly but we can easily calculate from our experience what dose to employ. In a 4 year old receiving a full strike from a mature Highland moccasin, 12 gm was required. Unlike a virus that will continue production until completely destroyed, the venom of the snake is constant in that there is no later increase in amount. I would suggest 40-60 gm, as a starter, in a large diamondback or cottonmouth. Additional vitamin C can be given if needed since the patient will be well on the road to recovery with the first injection.

http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/HEALTH/vitc.htm
http://www.greatdane.co.za/article%20-%20snakebite.htm
http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/mega_1_1.html
http://www.holisticanimalmedicines.com/snake-bite-emergency-for-all- species.html
http://phoenix.about.com/cs/desert/a/snakebite.htm

Here's the link about snake-proofing fences:
http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/snakeproof.htm

And here's a link for a snake "trap":
http://www.snakeguard.com/how.html

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2009, 10:21:33 PM » by hi_itsgwen

Quote from: healthybratt on July 02, 2007, 03:50:41 PM

Also, step on rocks, logs, etc instead of over them. This gives you a longer stride away from a possible hiding spot for snakes. Grin

Or just go for the rocks. I remember reading in a Nancy Drew (or was it Bobsey Twins) mystery that the bad guy got caught during the dramatic chase because he stepped on a log, and his foot went through it. Nancy, however, knew never to step on logs, as they may be rotten. Grin

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Re: Snake Bites: Avoiding & Treating
« Reply #15 on: June 15, 2009, 04:03:07 PM » by WellTellMommy

Our farm in Mo. was nick named "Copperhead Haven" by the original owners before DH's grandparents bought the place from them, Cottonmouths were common around my parents house,and pond,and now we're in diamond back country Dh has dealt with all three and has a respectful dislike of them.
I really appreciate this thread and all the info given esp. this link from above.

http://phoenix.about.com/cs/desert/a/snakebite.htm
I believe the fourth page of this link gives Eighteen things done to help that I see beneficial to print and keep in a folder, or at least bookmark.

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