An in-depth look at the use of snail slime in medicine
Snail slime is a central element in the history of medicine, both in the Western and Eastern traditions.
The first evidence of the use of this substance dates back to Ancient Greece , and this particular substance is still the subject of interest and study in the medical and cosmetic fields.
This article will provide a detailed overview of the evolution of the therapeutic use of snails over the centuries, starting from ancient medical beliefs up to the most recent pharmacological perspectives.
Snail slime therapy in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome
In the context of ancient medical practices, highly prestigious figures such as Hippocrates , considered the father of scientific medicine, and Pliny the Elder , proposed treatments based on snail slime for conditions such as burns, abscesses and inflammation.
The works of the physician Galen of Pergamum, who practiced in Rome in 200 AD, also describe the use of snail secretion in the treatment of hydrops fetalis and other clinical conditions.
After the period of Ancient Greece and Rome, interest in snail slime in medicine seems to have faded until the 18th century.
18th-19th centuries: the revival of interest in snail slime in medicine
Medicine from the 18th to 19th centuries witnessed a resurgence of interest in snail slime , with leading figures proposing remedies based on this ingredient to treat various pathologies.
Of note is the Frenchman George Tarenne, who in 1808 published a book discussing the use of snail secretion to treat hernias.
Louis Figuier, scientific communicator and professor of chemistry in various French medical and pharmacy faculties, in 1840 outlined various pharmaceutical formulations based on snails (including snail slime syrup ), highlighting their use against resistant colds, tuberculosis, acute and chronic thoracic and intestinal inflammation.
Baron-Barthelemy, a French pharmacist published a report on the pharmaceutical preparations based on snail secretion approved for the Universal Exhibition of 1855 . Specifically, Baron-Barthelemy described the benefits of snail slime against numerous diseases, including:
- respiratory diseases such as cough, cold, bronchitis, asthma, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, flu and even pneumonia
- intestinal pathologies such as gastritis
- diseases with skin rashes such as measles, scarlet fever, smallpox
- dermatitis
But interest in snail slime did not stop in the 19th century: despite the passage of time, interest in the therapeutic use of this substance persists.
Snail slime in the 20th century
1945 saw further interest in snails, so much so that Dorvault's edition of that year (a pharmacy manual widespread in 19th and 20th century France) dedicated an entire paragraph to the therapeutic use of snail slime.
In the following years, scientific research confirmed the therapeutic and biological properties of snail slime.
Currently, snail slime is a strong object of medical-scientific interest because, by analyzing its chemical composition, researchers have discovered that it is rich in antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and healing substances.
The Advancing Discovery of Snail Mucins Function and Application study details the current and potential applications of snail secretion.
For example, snail slime facilitates the healing of wounds - including gastric ulcers - and is used in bioinspired materials and It is being studied as a potential agent against melanoma.
(McDermott M, Cerullo AR, Parziale J, Achrak E, Sultana S, Ferd J, Samad S, Deng W, Braunschweig AB, Holford M. Advancing Discovery of Snail Mucins Function and Application. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2021 Oct 11;9: 734023. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.734023. PMID: 34708024; PMCID: PMC8542881.)
Conclusions: Snail slime between history and medical innovation
In conclusion, snail slime has spanned centuries of medical history, emerging as a protagonist in both Western and Eastern traditions.
Today it is at the center of advanced medical-scientific studies thanks to its properties that can be exploited for the treatment of numerous clinical conditions.
Ultimately, snail slime, with its long history and new scientific discoveries, presents itself as a precious and versatile resource in the panorama of contemporary medicine, promising innovative perspectives and still unexplored benefits.
Sources:
Bonnemain B. Helix and Drugs: Snails for Western Health Care From Antiquity to the Present. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2005 Mar;2(1):25-28. doi: 10.1093/ecam/neh057. Epub 2005 Jan 28. PMID: 15841274; PMCID: PMC1062150.
McDermott M, Cerullo AR, Parziale J, Achrak E, Sultana S, Ferd J, Samad S, Deng W, Braunschweig AB, Holford M. Advancing Discovery of Snail Mucins Function and Application. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2021 Oct 11;9:734023. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.734023. PMID: 34708024; PMCID: PMC8542881.
