The Latest Medical Technology is... Maggots???
That's correct... Clinical trials are underway in the US and UK to evaluate the medical value of maggots. Turns out the little dudes are remarkably effective at safely cleaning and disinfecting leg ulcers and other persistent wounds.
In Britain, patients whose wounds have been treated with sterilized greenfly larvae report less pain and faster healing. Both the US Food and Drug Administration and the British National Health Service recognize maggot therapy as a valid medical treatment.
Maggots were used in medicine for hundreds of years before the era of antibiotics. Recently, maggot therapy has caught on around the world, most notably the US, UK, Israel and Germany. Practitioners claim that the demand for their services has grown markedly over the last five years.
Source: Reuters (Excite)
In Britain, patients whose wounds have been treated with sterilized greenfly larvae report less pain and faster healing. Both the US Food and Drug Administration and the British National Health Service recognize maggot therapy as a valid medical treatment.
Maggots were used in medicine for hundreds of years before the era of antibiotics. Recently, maggot therapy has caught on around the world, most notably the US, UK, Israel and Germany. Practitioners claim that the demand for their services has grown markedly over the last five years.
Source: Reuters (Excite)
posted by Brian on
3/19/2005
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