Centipede bites - treating with papain

[StampFan]

Just doing some online reading and couldn't find anything on arachnoboards.

One of the possible immediate treatments upon getting a centipede bite appears to be papain, found in meat tenderizer, papaya. Can allegedly break down the proteins in the venom. There are quite a references to this on the internet, but I'm trying to hunt down whether this is a real first aid treatment option, or just snake oil.

I've found a few academic links discounting this option for bee stings, but a few more suggesting that its possible to use papain along with ice/heat right after a centipede sting, as well as hydrocortisone, including from a few more reputable sources.

Anybody run into any legit academic articles suggesting papain is an option? Because if it is any keeper that's potentially bit by a T, scorpion, or centipede could easily keep a cheap bottle of papaya oil on hand as part of a first aid kit....

edit: it looks like at least minimal research has been done on bees, jellyfish, fire ants, etc. Would love to hear peoples' opinions as well.

 

[Bill S]

For it to be effective in breaking down proteins in the venom, it would have to reach those proteins. If the venom has been injected, it's already beneath the skin and into the circulatory system. How would you get the meat tenderizer into your blood stream to contact the venom? And would you really want to do that?

 

[StampFan]

For it to be effective in breaking down proteins in the venom, it would have to reach those proteins. If the venom has been injected, it's already beneath the skin and into the circulatory system. How would you get the meat tenderizer into your blood stream to contact the venom? And would you really want to do that?

Yep. Saw a further case doing my reading where they gave this stuff to someone stung by a Man O War and that person subsequently died....

 

[Bill S]

Yep. Saw a further case doing my reading where they gave this stuff to someone stung by a Man O War and that person subsequently died....

Yes, that would be a negative outcome.

But in truth, Man of War jellyfish stings can be serious, and the meat tenderizer may have only decorated an already deadly situation.