An 82-year-old woman in China seeking relief from back pain ended up in the hospital after consuming eight live frogs as part of a folk remedy.
Identified only as Zhang, she reportedly ate the live frogs over two days after being told that doing so could ease discomfort caused by a herniated disk. The frogs, said to be smaller than the size of an adult’s palm, were sourced with the help of family members, who claimed they were unaware of her plan to ingest them.
Shortly after, Zhang developed severe abdominal pain and was admitted to a hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Her son, alarmed by her condition, told doctors: “Doctor, my mother swallowed eight live frogs, and her stomach pain is so severe that she can’t walk.”
Medical tests revealed the presence of parasites in her body. She was hospitalised for two weeks and has since been recovering.
A senior doctor at the hospital, Wu Zhongwen (transliteration), noted that they have encountered similar cases involving elderly patients using unverified folk remedies, including consuming snake or fish gallbladders or applying frog skin. He warned that such practices carry serious health risks and have no proven medical benefit.
He added that Zhang was fortunate to have sought medical help early, which prevented further complications.
Source: AsiaOne / South China Morning Post (SCMP)