Pain Killer ... in Spit
Remember when you skinned your knee, ran to Mom, and she said "Let me kiss it and make it better."? Mom was onto something. Researchers at the Pasteur Institute in Paris have discovered a pain killer more powerful than morphine .. in HUMAN SALIVA. The stuff, Opiorphin works in the nerve cells of the spine. It prevents the destruction of enkephalins, natural chemicals that regulate the body's response to pain. When given to lab rats with chemically induced chronic paw pain, Opiorphin reduced pain as effectively as three times the amount of morphine. And when rats were made to walk on a platform of pins -- think: tiny bed of nails -- Opiorphin was SIX times more effective at blocking pain. Scientists hope Opiorphin will spawn a new generation of natural pain killers without traditional drugs' addictive side effects. I know what you're thinking: "My six-month-old drools two gallons a day. We'll be rich!" Well, no. Although Opiorphin was isolated from human saliva, researchers believe it may be present in other parts of the body as well. It could even be produced synthetically. Further research is even planned to look into its potential as an ANTI-DEPRESSANT. But no-I thought that's what DOG saliva is for. You know? When your dog licks your face and oh you feel better! I mean, theoretically. If my dog did that.
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