On Feb 27, 2:36*pm, "James Silverton" >
wrote:
> *cshenk *wrote *on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:26:04 -0500:
>
> > "James Silverton" wrote
> >> JonquilJan *wrote:
> >>> Just a side note. *MSG when spribkled on the problem area
> >>> will also significantly reduce the pain/itching/swelling of
> >>> mosquito/spider bites and also bee/hornet/wasp stings.
>
> >> Interesting, I'd never heard of that! The only culinary thing
> >> I have seen suggested is meat tenderizer and that's logical
> >> because a lot of insect bites involve protein venoms that can
> >> be degraded by tenderizer.
> >Grin, hate to tell ya but most 'meat tenderizers' I am thinking of on
> >the market are MSG.
>
> I had a look at the bottle of tenderizer on my shelves and the active
> ingredient listed was the enzyme papain (from papaya). Bromelain from
> pineapples is also used. Bromelain is the reason why uncooked pineapple
> cannot be used in jello.

Exactly. It is the papain that does it. It's supposed to be very
good for jellyfish stings, according to one of my zoology profs.
>
Bromelain makes my mouth hurt. I always regret eating raw pineapple,
which I otherwise like a lot. Cooked doesn't do it, but I dislike
cooked pineapple..
>
> James Silverton
> Potomac, Maryland
>
--Bryan