Taking the sting out of a jellyfish bite

Cornmeal mush helps one reader's toe fungus, gas as a drug side effect, using gelatin for hip pain

By Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, King Features Syndicate

4:30 PM EDT, May 25, 2011


Q: I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay. We would swim in the bay every summer as kids. We all got stung by jellyfish. You didn't cry to your mama; you just put some meat tenderizer on the sting and you went through the same routine the next day. I guess that's why the people there are so tough. It's weird — you went swimming and got stung, just a part of life there.

A: One-quarter teaspoon meat tenderizer mixed with 1 teaspoon water to make a paste is a time-honored remedy for a variety of stings (Journal of the American Medical Association, April 24, 1972). The papain enzyme breaks down the protein in the venom. We have heard from people who have used it on bee stings, wasp stings and ant bites as well as jellyfish stings. Mixing the powder with vinegar also seems to help.

Q: I soaked my foot in a pan of warm water containing half a cup of cornmeal several times over several weeks. Now the big toenail that was infected with fungus is growing out normally. How does this remedy work?

A: We have no idea, but others have told us that they, too, have had success against nail fungus by soaking feet in warm cornmeal mush.

Q: I am having a problem with gas and am at my wits' end. I am really desperate for something that will work. I am taking Zoloft (sertraline) for depression and wonder if that could be a factor. I am not a pleasant person to be around, especially at work. My co-workers know I have a problem, and I am so embarrassed. I know gas is natural, but for some people like me it is really too much. Can you send me any information about flatulence?

A: The problem might be linked to your medication. Sertraline can cause flatulence as a side effect. Health care providers don't always mention this complication. Other drugs that can contribute to gas include Fosamax (alendronate), the statin lovastatin and Aleve (naproxen). Don't stop taking sertraline. Sudden discontinuation of antidepressants can trigger serious side effects.

Q: My husband has a lot of hip pain. The remedy we read in your column using gelatin sounds very helpful. He would like to try it, but we need more information on how to use it. I assume we use plain gelatin, but do you let it sit or just drink it after it has been mixed with water?

A: We asked the reader who sent his testimonial to offer more details. He uses Knox unflavored Gelatine. Usually he stirs a packet of powder into the yogurt he eats for breakfast. It also could be mixed into juice, though it takes a bit of stirring to get it dissolved. He goes on: "You can mix it into tea or coffee and it dissolves well, but it gives the drink a slimy texture. Hot oatmeal or any hot cereal is a very good choice because it dissolves well and the texture issue is irrelevant. I've also mixed it into soup." He says the benefits still hold, but if his hip starts to act up, he doubles the dose for a few days. As with any home remedy, there are no studies and no guarantees.
