Natural-Born Painkiller Found In Human Saliva

New Scientist ^ | 11-13-2006 | Andy Coghan

[blam]

Natural-born painkiller found in human saliva

22:00 13 November 2006
NewScientist.com news service
Andy Coghlan

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Saliva from humans has yielded a natural painkiller up to six times more powerful than morphine, researchers say.

The substance, dubbed opiorphin, may spawn a new generation of natural painkillers that relieve pain as well as morphine but without the addictive and psychological side effects of the traditional drug.

When the researchers injected a pain-inducing chemical into rats’ paws, 1 gram of opiorphin per kilogram of body weight achieved the same painkilling effect as 3 grams of morphine.

The substance was so successful at blocking pain that, in a test involving a platform of upended pins, the rats needed six times as much morphine as opiorphin to render them oblivious to the pain of standing on the needle points.

Anti-depressive angle

“Its pain-suppressive effect is like that of morphine,” says Catherine Rougeot at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France, who led the research. “But we have to test its side effects as it is not a pure painkiller,” she says. “It may also be an anti-depressive molecule.”

[HamiltonJay]

I see, so when the hippies were screaming "Baby Killer" and spitting on our returning troops from Nam, they weren't trying to humiliate them, they were trying to take away their pain.... awe... how kind of them.

[Yo-Yo]

How comforting to know for us Republicans who are licking our wounds after the midterm elections.

[verum ago]

interesting...

uh oh; I just swallowed some saliva... time to get some naltrexone

[radiohead]

So this is why mommies kiss boo boos!

[listenhillary]

Adds to the enjoyment of certain pre-reproductive activities I presume?

[Joe 6-pack]

Well, I guess dentists can stop using novocaine now...

[Socratic]

I'd say milligram of drug per gram of rat weight. How many kilogram rats are out there? (Insert Dem. joke here).

[Kellis91789]

So when your mommy 'kissed it all better', she really knew what she was doing !

[workerbee]

Interesting. Maybe this is why, when you cut your finger, the first impulse is to put it in your mouth.

[Mariner]

If this pans out, it will be the biggest event in pain management since the poppy.

Those who now suffer needlessly due to the crazy paranoia of the DEA will, perhaps, one day live out their lives without dibilitating pain.

Currently, opiates/opioids are their only respite...but many doctors won't prescribe what they know will work for chronic, long-term pain because of intrusive scrutiny and prosecution by the FDA and DEA.

[July 4th]

So, does French kissing make you a drug dealer?

[Lazamataz]

Interesting. Maybe this is why, when you cut your finger, the first impulse is to put it in your mouth.

No, it is because we crave human blood.

Well, at least I do.

[workerbee]

Alllllllrighty, then.

[theFIRMbss]

>Natural-Born Painkiller Found In Human Saliva

"Thank you! From now on, I will insist you call me Doctor Monica!"

[gb63]

1 ounce (avoirdupois) = 28.349523125 grams

So 1000 / 28.3 = 35.33567905 oz.

So, about 2 lbs.

Some rats may actually weight that.
See:
"The average body weight for rats is 350–450 grams for a female, 450–650 grams for a male; mice 30 grams each sex. There have been a few adult male rats that weighed 2 pounds!"
http://www.afrma.org/rminfo1.htm

I know, you were joking....

[blam]

"Interesting. Maybe this is why, when you cut your finger, the first impulse is to put it in your mouth."

My first thought too.

Now, I think my dogs have antibiotic in their saliva. Their wounds heal faster when I leave them along to their licking.

[Screamname]

So when OJ slaps his women, he can just lick their face afterwards.

[metmom]

It doesn't work so well when I bite my tongue.