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Morphine? Nope. Centipede Venom a Much Less Addictive Way to Kill Pain, Says Chinese Team

posted by cmn32480 on Saturday November 14 2015, @02:55AM   
from the getting-a-leg-up-on-pain dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Chinese scientists have found a new chemical compound in the venom of a centipede native to China that can act as a painkiller with no negative side effects like those associated with morphine.

The discovery could potentially help a country's military reduce its reliance on morphine for battleground injuries, or even create an army of soldiers with the ability to fight on after sustaining wounds in combat, pundits say.

"It is completely different from morphine," said Professor Lai Ren, the lead scientist of the study.

"Morphine is only intended for emergency use. It has many side effects and can lead to addiction over the longer-term," added Lai, who works with the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Kunming Institute of Zoology in southern Yunnan province.

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Original Submission

• Centepedes have venom!? Centepedes have venom!? (Score: 2) by drussell on Saturday November 14 2015, @05:35AM

  by drussell (2678) on Saturday November 14 2015, @05:35AM (#263085) Journal

  Who knew!? :)

  I guess I should start to watch out for the cute little dudes! :)

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• Re:Centepedes have venom!? (Score: 1) by x31eq on Saturday November 14 2015, @11:12AM

  by x31eq (5458) on Saturday November 14 2015, @11:12AM (#263173)

  I found a centipede in my bedroom once. Horrible thing, not at all cute, maybe a foot long or more. I heard later that it was venemous and actually quite dangerous.

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• Re:Centepedes have venom!? (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 14 2015, @02:28PM

  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 14 2015, @02:28PM (#263255)

  Looks venomous to me. [martingoss.co.uk]

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