Jellyfish Sting



Does urine help relieving pain from a jellyfish sting?

The widespread belief that urine is the best cure for a jellyfish sting is probably the best known from an episode of Friends in which Chandler has to urinate on Monica’s leg after she is stung.

But is that really a thing? Jellyfish release stingers which attach to the body part in contact. These stingers contain venom which is highly alkaline and can only be neutralized by an acid. The sting affects the nerves of the skin – causing pain, burning, and tingling.

Urine is only slightly acidic, which is not enough to neutralize the alkaline venom. Some studies even say that urine causes the stingers to release more venom.

One of the ways to treat a sting is to get out of the water to avoid getting stung again. Once out, slowly pouring seawater over the sting will help ease the pain.

Pouring vinegar instead of sea water may be better as it neutralizes the venom in the sting. Avoid using fresh water or solvents and don’t rub he sting.

Urinating on a jellyfish sting does not help with the pain and it’s not something anyone would like to see at the beach.


Debunked!

Sources:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-urinating/
https://www.buzzfeed.com/carolinekee/does-pee-help-jellyfish-stings
http://uamshealth.com/healthlibrary2/medicalmyths/urineforjellyfishsting/
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/to-pee-or-not-to-pee-red-cross-says-using-urine-on-jellyfish-stings-wont-help-8738107.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-23502032


P.S. - If you have any urban legend or superstition that you are doubtful of, just comment it and I will try to debunk that.

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