Ointments made from maggots help wounds heal faster?

Doctors on the battlefield hundreds of years ago were the first to realize that surgical wounds infected with maggots would heal faster than the remaining wounds.

Hospitals today around the world will grow some selected fly larvae in sterile environments. These 'biological maggots' are applied directly to ulcers and burns - wounds that are very difficult to heal.

Undoubtedly, this seemingly cruel healing technique is actually very effective. But the question of how this technique can help heal wounds early is still a topic of debate in the scientific world.

According to a recent study, the secret lies in liquids created by maggots that can destroy damaged tissues.

In many unhealthy wounds, tissue gradually rot and die, creating conditions for bacteria to thrive. This prevents the recovery of the wound later.

'We have produced an enzyme from maggots liquid that is capable of removing rotten tissue from the wound, allowing basic tissues to have a chance to recover,' said David Pritcharf, a researcher. a project at the College of Pharmacy at Nottingham University, UK.

Ointments and bandages that protect wounds from maggots are likely to appear soon in pharmacies.(Photo: National Geographic)

'Now that we understand the mechanism that helps treat wounds, we are turning these insights into effective wound healing products. '

Producing bandages with 'water' maggots is also a possibility. According to Pritchard, the solution containing maggots' enzymes is the most promising product. This solution can be applied to the surface of the wound to promote recovery.

These ideas will certainly make some patients feel shudder, but in fact, scientists believe that pharmaceuticals made from maggots actually do not have many side effects.

'None of the cases recorded adverse reactions to wounds for maggots, and the enzymes we are producing are taken directly from the body of biological maggots in wounds, so we think that the stain The wound will not react badly to these enzymes, ' Pritchard said.

However, the success of a group in research on maggots is unlikely to make them famous in the scientific world, Pritchard added.

' At first, we were accused of suddenly having too many flies appearing in the research institute. But when the fly is clearly identified, it is broken that they come from dead pigeons on the roof.