In a shocking case, an 82-year-old Chinese woman swallowed eight small live frogs, thinking they would provide relief from back pain caused by a herniated disc. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), she was looking for a cure based on a folk tale. The unconventional method caused severe stomach pain, forcing the woman surnamed Zhang to be admitted to a hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. According to the report, her son told the doctor, “My mother ate eight live frogs. Now she can’t even walk because of the severe pain.”
Swallowing a Frog for Back Pain Relief
According to the report, this elderly woman was suffering from herniated disc problem for a long time. When someone told him that swallowing frogs could relieve his lower back pain, he asked his family to catch some live frogs for him. This strange theory is a misconception, as there is no medical evidence to support this claim.
Meanwhile, after swallowing a live frog, his digestive system went haywire and parasites such as Sparganum invaded his body. He was having severe pain, which made it difficult to walk. He was admitted to a hospital in Hangzhou and doctors examined him physically. Medical experts found an increase in oxyphil cells, which is a sign of several diseases, including parasitic infections and blood disorders.
The doctors also conducted some detailed investigations. A doctor at the hospital told the media, “The patient’s digestive system was damaged by swallowing the frog and some parasites, including Sparganum, had invaded his body.” After two weeks of treatment, he was discharged from the hospital.
