[ukmicky (OP)]

I was told many years ago that eating your own snot was healthy and prevented
colds and flu

Are there any snot eaters out there.Is it true.

[neilep]

....what would happen if you ate someone elses snot ?

....actually, I've been pondering since I made that quip, and perhaps the snot is healthy because it acts as a barrier preventing infection getting in.........rather than having to be ingested !

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!

[ukmicky (OP)]

As you walk around you breath in from lots of different germs from lots of different strains of colds or flu. There viral spores (if that’s what there called) then become attached to your snot and if you then eat your snot you then become immune to them strains.
It’s like getting an injection to protect you against flu, but you’re ingesting the virus rather than it being injected into your arm.

And personally i think I would puke if I eate someone else’s snot. nasty

[Ultima]

I have the inkling this is an old wives tail. You are under attack from viral and bacterial infection all the time anyway, just from breathing and cutting your skin. Quite often really nasty stuff gets in but your body deals with it pretty quickly, it’s only when your auto immune response is sluggish for other reasons you get sick (like stress). Flu gets you because it crosses the species barrier so it’s very different every time you catch it. Flu jabs are just vaccines against generic strains that have previously been seen, when I had them it helped but I still occasionally got the flu. It would be better to leave your snot in situ since it prevents all the nasties getting in, in the first place. Snot and mucus were “designed” to make a nice home for bacteria so your body could expel or dispose of it (via the stomach) all in one go.

wOw the world spins?

[ukmicky (OP)]

Are there any doctors out there who can answer the question.

[NLJB]

Well I would think because nasal drip does not have an immunity affect, that eating your snot wouldn't either, I think because It is exposed to the air and the germs on your hand, tongue, etc. that it would have the opposite affect. Also the mucus that lines your organs is used to catch bacteria, etc, etc. and then it is expelled. I would think because it would carry particles of dust, bacteria, etc. you probably wouldn't want to eat it (considering your body is trying to get rid of it). If this is a little unclear, In my own defense it is very late, and I had a little too much caffine....
I'm going to hit the hay..

-"I don't mind if you shoot me, just don't tell me"- Bob Dylan

[Strizh]

I have a question, sorry for curiosity. What will you eat if you have a colorectal illness?

[WordsInGray]

I was actually told bya doctor that when you swallow the snot that drains down your throat, you are actually irritating it and that is a cause of sore throats.

-michael

[neilep]

quote:Originally posted by Strizh

I have a question, sorry for curiosity. What will you eat if you have a colorectal illness?

Hi Strizh,

You may want to repost this question in a new thread under the medicine, human and cell biology section as the nature of it is in a different league to eating one's own snot !!

It should receive more attention there.

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!

[DoctorBeaver]

I think this is 1 for Dr Chris. Not that I'm calling him snotty! [:p]