An 82-year-old woman in China was hospitalized after she reportedly swallowed eight live frogs in an attempt to cure her chronic back pain.
The Folk Remedy Gone Wrong
According to Mint, the woman, identified as Zhang, had been suffering from a herniated disc for years and decided to try a folk remedy she heard could relieve back pain. She asked her family to catch small frogs—without telling them what she planned to do with them.
Zhang swallowed three live frogs on the first day and another five the next. Soon after, she began suffering from intense stomach pain and was unable to walk.
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The Hospitalization
Her family rushed her to Zhejiang University’s No. 1 Affiliated Hospital, where doctors initially ruled out cancer. Further tests revealed that Zhang had developed a parasitic infection caused by consuming the live frogs. Medical reports showed an abnormal increase in oxyphil cells, indicating the presence of parasites in her system.
A hospital doctor explained that the frogs disrupted her digestive system and introduced parasites into her body. “The frogs disrupted the woman’s system and caused her to develop parasites,” the doctor said, adding that there has been a growing trend of people across China experimenting with unverified homemade remedies.
The Dangers Of Folk Remedies
Medical experts warn that consuming live animals poses extreme health risks, including parasitic infections, poisoning, and severe gastrointestinal damage. Despite ongoing public health campaigns, traditional “natural cures” persist on social media and within rural communities.