Meat tenderiser
What is meat tenderiser?
Meat tenderiser for bites and stings
How to use meat tenderiser
Warning
References
What is meat tenderiser?
Meat tenderisers are sold in supermarkets. Their main component is proteolytic enzymes or proteases, which are enzymes that break the peptide bonds between amino acids found in complex proteins. Collagen is a complex protein that gives meat its structure, and these protein-digestive enzymes break it down. The other way to tenderise meat is with a hammer or a press - in other words, to give it a good whack! Meat is often tenderized before cooking to make it less tough.
Meat tenderizer comes as a powder. You sprinkle it on the meat and it dissolves some of the sinewy connections within the meat within a few minutes at room temperature. If you leave it on the meat for too long it can become squishy and lose its special texture.
Bromelain is one common protease in meat tenderiser. Bromelain is harvested commercially from the stems of pineapple plants. It exists throughout the entire plant, but is harvested from the stems because they would otherwise be a waste product. Bromelain is also an excellent anti-inflammatory agent, blocking the metabolites that cause swelling. It is used to treat sports injuries and the swelling caused by arthritis.
Another common protease in many meat tenderisers is papain. Papain occurs naturally in green pawpaws (papaya).
Meat tenderiser for bites and stings
Meat tenderiser is an effective home remedy for the following. The proteases in meat tenderiser break down protein toxins in the venom in:
- jellyfish stings
- bee stings
- wasp stings
- mosquito bites
- ant bites
- It may also be a remedy for stingray wounds
How to use meat tenderiser
Mix the meat tenderiser with water into a thin paste, about 1 part powder to 4 parts water. Apply to the skin for 15-20 minutes. A cotton wool ball may be the best applicator.
In 1987 a study (1) concluded that meat tenderiser was of no use in treating fire ant stings. However, there was one big flaw in the way the researchers set it up - they injected measured quantities of the venom, rather than letting the ants sting the student volunteers. The venom was probably unrealistically deep under the skin. What the study does confirm is that meat tenderiser will not act deep below the surface of the skin.
I read of a case where meat tenderiser was used for snake bite. If you can get meat tenderiser into the fang skin punctures it may be helpful, but otherwise it is unlikely to be able to penetrate the skin deep enough.
Warning
Meat tenderiser is suitable for once-only use after a serious bite, but should not be used regularly as it can break down skin structure and possibly cause damage to the skin.
References
1. Ross E.V. Jr, Badame A.J., Dale S.E.
Meat tenderizer in the acute treatment of imported fire ant stings.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987 Jun;16(6):1189-92.