risk of eating scorpions.

[Ganoderma]

I know it may not be the popular thread here, b ut its a reality. lots of cultures eat and use spiders, cebtipedes, scorpions etc.

I am wondering as to the risk and toxicity of orally consumed scorpions. my concern is that commercially available products have not removed the stinger.

So my questions are
Would roasting neutralize the poison?

The risk seems to be more for people with ulcers, internal bleeding etc, would simply dried and powdered poison pose the same, or diluted risk, as the fresh?

Appreciate any input as the industry as it stands is very poorly regulated.

 

[viper69]

Heat will destroy the conformation of venom. However that doesn’t automatically mean all the peptides will not be harmful. I’d never try it.

 

[8 legged]

Would roasting neutralize the poison?

Yes, for a large part you do not ingest food through the vein, the gastric acid also breaks down certain proteins, so that damage by the enteral route appears very unlikely or even impossible!
Still, it would be just stupid to eat the sting!

 

[Dry Desert]

Yes, for a large part you do not ingest food through the vein, the gastric acid also breaks down certain proteins, so that damage by the enteral route appears very unlikely or even impossible!
Still, it would be just stupid to eat the sting!

In some cultures the sting is used as a toothpick after eating the scorpion.

 

[8 legged]

In some cultures the sting is used as a toothpick after eating the scorpion.

I know, the indios use every part - but they don´t eat the sting - they know it will damage their mucous membrane in some way.

 

[Poonjab]

Wouldn’t matter if you cooked or ingested it raw, as “venom” which these creatures have, needs to get into the blood stream to be effective. Eat a Caine toad, which releases poison, and you have a whole other story, even once cooked. What’s more dangerous is said cultures of the world eating anything that moves. Why we’re in the middle of a pandemic. Yet they never seem to learn. As we’ve been here time and time again.

 

[Ganoderma]

Thanks for the info.

But this is an.issue i still think is plausible. lessions in the stomach, esophagus etc could possibly lead to it entering the bloodstream.

In my county we have a number of health issues from ulcers, to cancers to other organ diseases. i am curious as to how the venom when ingested could interact with an "open" wound internally. as betel nut and alacohol abuse are both very high here, are minor lessions on the way down.

Curious if the vonom is baked at ___ degrees would it become a non issue if entering the bloodstream?

It seems risky to me, but not being very familiar with the toxins i really want to learn more.

 

[jc55]

I was told by my doctor that stomach acid will literally break down anything but my concern would be any gum disease or infection could offer a pathway for toxins to enter the body before the stomach so it would be best in my opinion to stay away from eating questionable things period.

 

[Edan bandoot]

not a good idea to eat the stinger, you might have lesions or similar things in your stomach/throat/intestines that let some venom into your bloodstream. I reckon it would be safe for a completely healthy person to do though.

 

[Dr SkyTower]

I probably wouldn't eat a hypodermic needle that injects venom, lesions, gum disease or not. The sting is the only part of the scorpion not chowed down on - even animals in the wild bite it off before they eat the scorpion (and what human would want to eat an animal that has no nutritional value anyway. Even crickets, grubs and locusts have more protein in them)

 

[Ganoderma]

Absolutely. though to be fair to the medicine guys, they powder it. my worry isnt the stinger, but the poison once dried entering the blood internally.

 

[Edan bandoot]

Absolutely. though to be fair to the medicine guys, they powder it. my worry isnt the stinger, but the poison once dried entering the blood internally.

The venom is stored and produced completely within the stinger, I'm not sure any scorpion is poisonous

 

[Ganoderma]

Sorry, i meant venom.

 

[Ferrachi]

I'm guessing it would be similar to eating the wrong parts of the Blowfish