Does Chewing Cashew Tree Bark And Swallowing Its Juice Extract Neutralise Snake Bite Venom?
Umoh Umoh
On September 29, 2022, an X user, @NgomaTshiamo made a post claiming that chewing and swallowing the juice extracted from the bark of cashew trees can neutralise the venom of a poisonous snake.
The caption on the post which has the image of a seed bearing cashew tree reads: “A life saving tip, if you are a victim of snakes bites that are poisonous, just look for a cashew tree. Break of the bark of the cashew tree. Chew the bark and swallow the juice but don’t swallow the chaff. The juice will neutralize every poisonous substance.🤧”
n the comment section of the post, @MotsohiThabang wrote “I know a place here in WC where they keep them. Plse come with the bark and fruit and we’ll have wonderful and epic test. Can you imagine the fame and endorsements that will come your way? I’ll ensure we have the anti snake doses in case you’re lying.” while @CrozierMark said “You are putting people’s lives at risk by spreading falsehoods.”
VERIFICATION
Snake venom is a complex mix of proteins and toxins that spread through the bloodstream and tissues, requiring immediate medical attention, such as antivenom, to counteract its effects. A venom can be either hemotoxic, cytotoxic, or neurotoxic.
A former state minister of health in Nigeria, Olorunnimbe Mamora, confirmed that 2,000 people die from snake bites annually. In a 2024 BBC report, it was revealed that the country has “limited availability of anti-snake venom” and a vial can cost up to 80,000 naira, in a country where 56 percent of its citizens live below poverty line. The cost and limited supply of antivenom has created a gap being exploited by traditional medicine practitioners.
How Does Antivenom Work?
An antivenom, a medication that is used to treat the effects of a venomous snake bite, is created by injecting a small amount of the venom into an animal, such as a horse or sheep, and then harvesting the antibodies produced by the animal’s immune system in response to the venom. These antibodies are then purified to treat snake bites. Anti-venoms are specific to the type of venom involved, and attempting to use unproven remedies or treatments could be dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
Is Cashew Bark an Anti- Snake Venom?
The cashew tree is a tropical evergreen tree grown for its fruits. The scientific name of the cashew tree is Anacardium occidentale. The bark of the cashew tree, which is greyish-brown in colour and has a rough texture, contains a thick layer of tannins and is used for various purposes in traditional medicine. The bark contains several compounds, including anacardic acid and cardol, that have been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.
A study on mice conducted by the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Mysore in India found that the extract from cashew tree bark prevented bleeding, swelling and muscle trauma at the snake bite site. The venom was still lethal, but it took longer for the mice that received the extract to die. The researchers concluded the extract was a “beneficial first-aid treatment in viper bites.”
What Are Experts Saying?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises that in the event of a snake bite, traditional and herbal treatments should be avoided. “Antivenoms remain the only specific treatment that can potentially prevent or reverse most of the effects of snakebite envenoming when administered early in an adequate therapeutic dose.”
Dr Illiya Stephen, a doctor at the General Hospital in Kaltungo, Gombe state, where snakebite treatment is rampant, said “There is no scientific backing to this claim. I have worked at this hospital for over 13 years and we treat snake bites, but this is my first time hearing such”. He added that “snake bites goes into the bloodstream, which makes it more lethal, whereas, swallowing such juice moves into the digestive system and this does not correlate”. He advised that “victims of snake bites should go to the hospital for an antivenom injection”, and most hospitals including the one he works with, give the injections free of charge.
CONCLUSION
The claim that chewing and swallowing the juice extracted from the bark of cashew trees as a neutralizer for snake venom is MISLEADING as it remains a myth with no scientific basis. The only research on cashew tree bark as an antivenom concluded that the extract was a beneficial first-aid treatment in viper bites, and the venom still remains lethal in the test subjects. Experts like the WHO advise that antivenoms remain the only specific treatment for snakebite, not traditional nor herbal treatments.
