The key to real pain relief may be in the venom of a snail.
Researchers at the University of Utah think they may have a solution to the growing epidemic of opioid abuse and addiction. Doctors at the university are studying the venom from a type of snail that is a safer long-term treatment for people with chronic pain.
Their research shows the extract of cone snail venom can help treat the root cause of pain in the body rather than masking it for a short period. Pain relief with the venom extract actually continues long after traces of the venom are gone. Imagine that . . . real freedom from pain!
The research is being funded by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Defense Department. Pre-clinical testing is the next step in the process.