People have always been interested in and fascinated by crabs and many other marine creatures. This has led to many stories and little-known facts about their possible benefits, such as their ability to heal wounds. Crabs aren’t used to heal wounds directly, but there are some interesting health and medicine-related things about them and the things they make.
Crab Compounds Can Help Heal
- “Chitin and Chitosan”: Substances found in crab shells have made one of the most important contributions to medicine. The shells of crabs are full of chitin, a protein that can be changed into chitosan. Many studies have been done on chitosan to find ways to use it in medicine.
- Because it is biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic, it can be used to cover wounds. Chitosan can help stop bleeding, kills germs, and speeds up wound healing by creating a moist space where new tissue can grow.
- Antimicrobial Properties: According to some studies, chitosan made from crab shells naturally kills microbes. An important part of the healing process is keeping cuts from getting infected.
Myths and Fun Facts About Crabs
Facts:
- Many Types: There are more than 6,700 types of crabs. They live in the sea, in rivers, and even on land!
- Different Sizes: Crabs come in many sizes, from the tiny pea crab to the huge Japanese spider crab with 12-foot-long claws.
- Not Insects: Crabs, like lobsters and shrimp, are crustaceans rather than insects.
- How They Move: Crabs can walk in any direction, although their legs allow them to travel most efficiently sideways.
- Ten Legs (Kind of): Crabs have ten legs, but the first two are claws, thus they walk on eight.
- Eat Everything: Crabs eat both plants and animals.
- Healthy Food: Crab flesh contains Vitamin B12, which is beneficial to the body.
- Helps Wounds Heal: Zinc in crab meat may aid in wound healing by producing collagen (more research is needed).
- Many Eggs: Female crabs can lay millions of eggs at once, which helps their species survive.
Myths:
- Cannot Walk Straight: Crabs can walk forward, backward, and sideways, but they usually move sideways.
- Crabs Experience Pain When Cooked Alive: According to research, crustaceans may not feel pain in the same way that humans do. Many places have rules in place to ensure humane harvesting practices.
- King Crabs Are True Crabs: King crabs are not actually crabs. They’re more like spiders and scorpions.
- Soldier Crabs Only March Forward: This concept may stem from the way they seem lined up. Soldier crabs may move in any direction.
- Hermit Crabs are true crabs: Hermit crabs are not actual crabs. They are a different type of decapod that lives in borrowed shells.
Practical Uses in Modern Medicine
- Wound Dressings: Modern medicine has used chitosan to create enhanced wound dressings. These treatments can hasten healing, decrease scarring, and help avoid infections.
- Drug Delivery: Chitosan is also being investigated in drug delivery systems because of its capacity to create gels and films that may be utilized to distribute pharmaceuticals in a regulated way.
- Tissue Engineering: Chitosan is used to produce scaffolds that promote the formation of new tissues, which is critical for healing serious wounds and injuries.
