Don t piss-off a jellyfish!

By ACSH Staff — Jun 22, 2012
Though urban legend holds that urine can be used to treat jellyfish stings, the science actually indicates otherwise. There s no doubt that jellyfish stings are quite painful, but the latest research warns folks to avoid peeing on them! Seriously though, according to a rather interesting meta-analysis led by researchers from the University of California-San Diego, it turns out that hot water and topical pain-relief ointments are actually the best remedy.

Though urban legend holds that urine can be used to treat jellyfish stings, the science actually indicates otherwise. There s no doubt that jellyfish stings are quite painful, but the latest research warns folks to avoid peeing on them!

Seriously though, according to a rather interesting meta-analysis led by researchers from the University of California-San Diego, it turns out that hot water and topical pain-relief ointments are actually the best remedy.

This new study specifically looked at those jellyfish common to North America and Hawaii. In addition to hot water and topical creams, the authors also advise folks to use such items as the edge of a credit card, for instance, to remove venomous jellyfish sacs that are often left behind on the skin after a sting.

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