Lady Narrates How She Survived Snakebite Years Ago, Mentions What Herbalist Used to Treat Her
- A Nigerian lady has recounted how she survived a snakebite seven years ago after travelling to her hometown in her second year at the university
- According to her, she did not see the snake when it bit her, as it was dark when it happened, but she remembered feeling something heavy on her leg that she had to shake off
- For two weeks after the terrible snakebite, she said she could not walk and was treated by a herbalist in the neighbouring town
- Snake expert, Dr Mark Ofua, in an exclusive chat with Legit.ng, spoke about the misconception about herbs treating snakebites
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A lady, known on X as Oma, who survived a snakebite seven years ago, has shared her story on social media following the death of Abuja singer Ifunanya 'Nanyah' Nwangene after a snakebite.
Oma said it happened when she travelled to her hometown in her second year at the university.
Source: Getty Images
How lady survived terrible snakebite
She said it happened at dark and that she could not see the snake when it bit her, but only felt something heavy on her leg, which she shook off, and it fell on her slippers.
After the snakebite, Oma said there was a blood clot in the bitten area on her leg, which began to immediately itch her. It was then she saw the snake. Oma narrated how she got a handkerchief to tie the affected area, to stop the venom from going to her upper body.
Afterwards, Oma was rushed to a herbalist in the neighbouring town, who she said used herbs to treat her and removed two snake teeth from her legs.
Oma noted that she could not walk for two weeks.
"I am a survivor of snake bite. 7 years ago during my 2nd year in school, I traveled to my hometown and got bitten by a snake. It was already dark that I didn’t see the snake but all that I remember is I felt something heavy on my leg so I had to fling my leg and it fell off including my slippers.
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"There was a sharp blood clot on that spot immediately and it started scratching me. Then I saw the snake crawling up, I looked around and no one was coming i now remembered what my mom said casually about using something to tie your leg or hand if you get bitten by a snake or scorpion.
"Luckily for me, I saw a piece of handkerchief around and I tied my leg so tight to stop the venom from going up. I headed home and was rushed to a herbalist in the neighbouring town, I was treated with herbs after the herbalist removed 2 of the snake tooth from my legs. It was a terrible experience that I couldn’t walk for two weeks," her tweet read.
Snake expert Dr Mark Ofua reacts
Speaking exclusively with Legit.ng, Dr Mark Ofua, a snake expert who has been practising since 2014, spoke about the misconception about herbs treating snakebites.
"Frankly speaking, none (no herbs can). At least none that we have confirmed yet. And we have tried all the popular herbs. And one reason is the route of action. The bite goes into the muscle, transported via the veins around the body.
"Whatever herbs are eaten go into the stomach, and spend about two to four hours before they enter the intestine for absorption into the blood.
"The patient ordinarily will be long dead. But why people strongly believe this narrative is firstly only 15% of snakes are venomous."
On why people give credit to herbs when used to treat their snakebites, he said:
"So, a non-venomous snake bites, I take herbs or whatever, and I’m fine, so I give the herbs credit. Also, even venomous snakes sometimes bite and give what we call a dry bite.
"They don’t release venom as the venom is like currency to them….Or they bite and release only a small dose of venom to conserve what they have. The victim chews whatever herbs and credits it."
Source: Getty Images
See her tweet below:
Snakebite: Lady's experience draws reactions online
Legit.ng has compiled some reactions to the lady's experience below:
@cdonbless said:
"That must have been a haunting experience. I've never been bitten by any of it and I don't want to know how it feels."
@Mac_O_Gee said:
"Closest I've been with a snake was in my hometown. Went swimming in the river. Suddenly, everyone was rushing out. Was confused, but right there in the water was just me. I just glanced at the water to start moving out only to look down and there was a trailing python's tail."
@BlawkPanda said:
"My dad got bitten by a snake and the first thing his brother did was use blade on the spot, made some marks, and sucked the venom out and spat it out, before rinsing his mouth with gin and using the same gin on that spot. Then they went herbal."
@eebieekennedy said:
"I intervened when a young boy was bitten by a snake ...I tied the leg, rushed him to the herbal doctor...he was treated.. The following day, more than half of the community were at my door.. knock, knock... I opened, Never seen such number of people say thank you before..."
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that a snake expert, Dr Mark Ofua, had pointed out the things that attract snakes to your house and compound.
Lady shares how she survived snakebite
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a lady had narrated how she survived a snakebite with local treatment.
She said she was bitten by a viper snake while she was a student, and unfortunately, the venom quickly affected her body. She said she was rushed to a hospital, but the facility reportedly did not have anti-venom available.
Due to how severe her condition had been, she was advised by the medical staff at the hospital she was rushed to against administering the antidote without knowing the exact type of snake involved.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
