It is a safe bet to say that about 70%
of people today have heard the myth that if they were to get stung by a
jellyfish, they should have someone pee on it to relieve symptoms of stinging
and swelling. Opposite to popular belief, peeing on a jellyfish sting does not
relieve stinging or swelling, yet has been shown to increase such symptoms and
worsen the severity of the jellyfish sting (Fact or Fiction).
It is unclear as to the point in which peeing on a jellyfish
sting became a popular belief, yet several factors in history aided in the vast
following of such belief. The term “urine therapy” is a common form of
alternative medicine in which human urine is used for medical or cosmetic
application. The use of urine for medicinal purposes dates back to ancient
times, reportedly used in Rome, Christianity, Hinduism, and France, to whiten
teeth, cure sores, cancer and disease, and strep throat.
Though urine therapy may have supported
the belief that peeing on a jellyfish sting is beneficial, nothing influenced
its vast following than the television show FRIENDS.
In 1997, FRIENDS, a television show
that grossed over 15 million viewers aired an episode in which one of the
characters, Monica, got stung by a jellyfish on a beach trip. Joey, another
character mentioned watching a documentary in which peeing on a jellyfish sting
would lessen the pain. In the episode, Joey and Chandler urinate on her
jellyfish sting, and Monica was cured (Curtin, C. 2007). Since television is
such an influential source of media in today’s era, society took this episode
as fact, thus the myth was created.
Skewed
Science Backing
There
are some scientific truths about urine that may positively influence the belief
of peeing on a jellyfish sting as a remedy, thus continuing its popular belief.
According to wiseGeek, urine is ph-balanced, non-toxic, anti-viral and
anti-bacterial. This allows it to be the perfect remedy for acne, cuts,
abrasions, wounds, and infections of the skin. Another
scientific reason, by which people believe this myth, yet lack proper
interpretation, is due to urine containing uric acid. People believe that uric
acid is used to neutralize pain since other acids such as baking soda, alcohol,
and vinegar do so. Urine is mostly freshwater regardless of how much uric acid
it contains. Freshwater on a jellyfish sting will disrupt the ph-balance,
causing the nematocysts to flare and release more venom (aquaviews.net). These
true, yet misrepresented facts about urine are suggested to be the basis for
why people believed this myth to be true in the past as well as in today’s society.
Jellyfish stings are a common occurrence estimating at 150
million cases every year. The symptoms range from skin inflammation, itching,
burning sensation, rash, and erythematic wheals. When a
jellyfish stings, cells release venom containing neurotoxic peptides, bioactive
lipids, and pore forming toxins (Tibballs, et al, 2011). These cells contain nematocysts,
which are distributed throughout the entire tentacle. After the initial sting
from a jellyfish, nematocysts can still be on the skin. Pressure from pulling
them off can induce more venom to be secreted causing more pain (Curtin, C,
2007). Urinating on the sting will also cause more venom to be released because;
urine will disrupt the ph-balance between the inside and outside of the cell.
Since nematocysts are accustomed to salt water, urine being freshwater will
only agitate the nematocysts resulting in further discharge of venom. Another
complication occurred by peeing on a jellyfish sting suggest bacteria from the
urethra as urine leaves the body can cause infection.
Photo credit: iStock
With research and proper utilization of scientific evidence,
one can deem peeing on a jellyfish sting, a myth that if followed, can cause
more damage than believed. Suggested treatment for jellyfish stings involve
rising with salt water, which does not disrupt the ph-balance of the
nematocysts, and the use of vinegar which has been proven to inhibit
nematocysts discharge. Fortunately
many sources online have disputed the myth, giving scientific evidence
suggesting alternate beneficial forms of treatment. Even with suggestions
leading away from peeing on jellyfish stings, many people who have experienced
the occurrence first hand report feeling relief from urine on the sting. Thus,
continuing the myth’s common popular following.
Curtin, C. (Jan, 4, 2007). Fact
or Fiction? Urinating on a Jellyfish Sting is an Effective Treatment. Scientific American. Retrieved from
Tibballs, J., A Yanagihara,
Angel, C Turner, Helen, & Winkel, K. (2011).
Immunological and Toxinological Responses to Jellyfish Stings. Inflammation And Allergy- Drug Targets, 10(5),
438-446.
Great topic Van! I wonder that does anyone really try this myth? It seems unusual way to treat a jellyfish sting. There are many ways to treat a sting, but I usually use warm water to relieve the pain. We can also use ice to make the sting less painful. You should never try to scratch the sting, it only makes the sting worse.
ReplyDeleteI hear this myth before but never tried this. Well, if the situation is an emergency, peeing is the great solution. However, if he/she can get better treatment, does he/she has enough courage to let you do that? Moreover, maybe urine is free and fast. That's why people would like to be cured by urine.
ReplyDeleteInteresting read. I've never been stung by a jellyfish, but I hear the experience is very unpleasant.
ReplyDeleteAs for that episode of Friends, people are always imitating what they see on TV. I guess we're just lucky they didn't try to cure the sting with a chainsaw or something like that.
Apparently, peeing on a jellyfish sting will just make it worse.
There are a lot of myths when it comes to emergency treatment, but this is actually the first time I heard this. I think the reason for why most of these myths are still floating around is that one person got this method to work on his body and he tells everyone to do it if they have the same problem. I think that different people reacts to differently and some of these myths work on somebody but doesn't on the others.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! I love the subject because it is common in Caribbean Islands. Why don't people try a heat pack from a first aid kit instead? Vinegar is most effective way to treat this injury and it works better than urine. The question is who brings vinegar to the beach? Just make a small bottle of vinegar and put it into the fist aid kit in case of emergency you can use it immediately.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post and great information and evidence to back up your piece. I went to Belize in January and the jelly fish myth was debunked for me too. In my opinion thinks like Web MD and other online sites can often lead to skewed information. Although these sites are credible for the most part they have to put disclaimers like, if you are feeling chest pain go to the hospital immediately you mighe be having a heartattack!” I think a similar thing has happened with the jelly fish myth. It's kind of like the game telephone where someone saying that urine may be “ideal” because some of its properties to treat jelly fish stings can turn into completely different wording!
ReplyDeleteWow! This article made me laugh. Think of all of the feet legs and arms that have been peed on for no reason. I was stung once and I iced it because who wants to be peed on, but I was in so much pain that had someone offered I may have taken the offer thinking it would relieve the sting! Thanks for the information. Very noteworthy.
ReplyDelete