RxMike

Sharks & Medicine – Two of My Favorite Topics

// August 3rd, 2010 // Pharmacy Technician, Scuba Diving, Sharks, Uncategorized

This Monday marked the beginning of the Discovery Channel’s famous Shark Week, and if you are just as fascinated by sharks as I am, then you have been looking forward to it all year. Sharks have been a source of inspiration, fascination and fear in mankind for centuries. There are probably as many ancient legends and myths surrounding sharks as there are books and movies in today’s popular culture. Some of these myths still persist today. Cultures portray sharks as vicious man-eaters, some revered sharks as gods and spirits to be worshipped and respected, and some myths attest to the health benefits of sharks.

Here is a list of the top four myths surrounding the health and medical benefits of sharks and the facts behind the myths that pharmacy technicians can share with their friends, family, co-workers and fellow shark enthusiasts.

1. Shark cartilage helps cure cancer: This is one of the most recent myths about the health benefits of sharks, and it started with the 1992 publication of the book Sharks Don’t Get Cancer by I. William Lane. According to the book, sharks have powerful immune systems that protect them from cancer, viruses and many other kinds of human diseases. Humans can take a piece of that immune system by taking shark cartilage. The cartilage is often extracted from the heads and fins of sharks and sold as a dietary supplement under the names Carticin, Cartilade™, BeneFin™, Neovastat (AE-941). Researchers are still looking into the possible health benefits, if any, of shark cartilage, but little to no evidence exists that shark cartilage has any effect on cancer. Also, modern studies have proven that sharks actually do get cancer like everyone else.




2. Shark fin soup increases virility and is full of nutrition: Shark fin soup is a dish served in Asian countries, but no scientific studies have proven that it has any significant health benefits.  In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued advisories for consumers to avoid eating shark due to the fact that it can contain high levels of mercury.




3. Shark liver oil will protect against any disease: Shark liver oil has been used for centuries as a folk remedy to treat wounds. In fact, some formulations of Preparation H contain shark liver oil. Some proponents claim that shark liver oil is rich in vitamins, omega fatty acids and alkylglycerols (all of which are believed to help boost the immune system) and will protect against any disease from the common cold to Alzheimer’s disease to cancer. While shark liver oil does have some common uses,  researchers have yet to find a definitive link between shark liver oil and increased immune function.




4. Capsaicin works as a shark repellant: As many pharmacy technicians know, capsaicin is often used in topical creams to relieve arthritis and other pains, but it is also the chemical that gives chili peppers their spice. For this reason, capsaicin was featured on a special Shark Week edition of Mythbusters. The myth was that Kuna people of Panama used the capsaicin that gives chili peppers their spice as a shark repellant. The Mythbusters put the myth to the test by filling balloons with a special mix of water and habanero pepper juice and attaching the balloons to a bait box inside a shark swimming pool. Unfortunately, the capsaicin did nothing to make the bait any less desirable to the sharks.

Have you heard a myth about the health benefits of sharks or other animals? Share some of the most interesting myths you’ve heard about animals and medicine with NPTA on Facebook, Twitter or the comments section of this blog!