What is the best antidote for a jellyfish sting? (Clue: it's not urine)
by Amy Lewis from on (#2NVA9)
A new study of the man o' war jellyfish found popular remedies like lemon juice and shaving foam make stings worse. Vinegar followed by heat is most effective
What should you do if a jellyfish stings you? Scientists have found that applying vinegar is the best solution, and that popular remedies including urine, lemon juice, and shaving foam could make the situation worse.
A recent study in Toxins, which investigated the efficacy of various remedies for stings from the Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis) concludes that rinsing with vinegar before applying heat is the most effective treatment. The commonly recommended treatment of seawater and ice was found to cause more harm than good.
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