Experts have warned against a shocking new health trend in which people drink deer blood in the hope of turning back the clock on their brains and bodies.
In an image posted on [brain health supplement]’ that ‘saves energy to the digestive system’.
However, doctors have warned that engaging in this bizarre wellness ‘trick’ could expose you to the terrifying zombie deer disease, a growing threat in the US.
This lethal condition, medically known as chronic wasting disease, causes deer to develop “zombie-like” symptoms such as fatigue, disinterest in food, drooling and difficulty walking.
Some authorities have warned that it is possible for the disease to spread from animals to humans after contact with blood or tissue from a sick deer.
In a controversial scientific paper, the gruesome disease was retroactively declared the cause of the deaths of two hunters in 2022, who suffered telltale symptoms of the disease.
This Twitter user shared an image of a bag of Zyn nicotine, which he allegedly soaked in deer blood.
At least 33 U.S. states and parts of Canada have seen reports of a virus called “zombie deer disease” in animal populations. Indiana, not included in this map, was the last to confirm a case. No cases have ever been confirmed in people.
Sam Ghali an ER doctor, responded to ClassyRedneck’s original tweet saying, “I really can’t believe I’m saying this, but DO NOT soak ANYTHING in wild animal blood and put it in your mouth.”
The Florida-based vendor followed up with a second post that read, “This is how zombie apocalypses begin.”
Chronic wasting disease occurs when proteins in a deer’s body become deformed, disrupting normal brain function and causing a series of strange, zombie-like behaviors.
This includes slow and lethargic movements, lack of interest in food, and difficulty controlling body fluids, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. It is almost 100 percent fatal.
CWD belongs to a class of diseases caused by prions, not viruses or bacteria, that are incredibly difficult to treat and somewhat mysterious to scientists. Prions are also responsible for diseases such as mad cow and Creutzfeldt-Jakob.
It can take more than a year for an infected animal to develop symptoms.
Showing an image of a light pink Zyn, a nicotine pouch intended to help curb cravings. X user ClassyRedneck11 shared what he said is a “biohack,” a term used to describe a health tip that has anti-aging benefits.
He allegedly dips the bags in deer blood before putting them in his mouth between his gum and lip.
‘Zyn soaked in deer blood, don’t fade this biological trick. The blood content, especially in wild game, makes it a very powerful neutropic, even more so when it reacts with nicotine.’ X user ClassyRedneck11 published on April 28.
It’s unclear what ClassyRedneck meant when he called the damn bag “neutropic,” but it’s possible he was referring to a class of supplements called nootropics.
These chemicals are advertised as brain enhancers. The theory behind them is that they contain the precursors to make the molecules that make the brain function smoothly, called neurotransmitters.
There isn’t much evidence to show that nootropic supplements work, Katrina Green, a neuropharmacologist at the University of Wollongong who studies how nutrition affects the brain, he told the guard.
“It is a psychoactive substance, but the regulations on these substances are much more relaxed and we have very little idea of what their impacts on the brain might be,” Dr. Green said.
However, they are popular among internet personalities looking to hack your brain and get the most out of your brain function.
The current scientific information online about deer blood does not indicate that it has nootropic-like effects.
A deer with chronic wasting disease. It has a revealing and haggard appearance.
Aside from CWD, there are some other unpleasant and well-known diseases that can be contracted by coming into contact with contaminated deer blood.
First, there is brucellosis. You can get this disease if you eat or touch a deer that has this bacterial infection.
In humans it can cause fever, body pain, swelling of the testicles, headache and fatigue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Then there is deer parapoxvirus, which has been found in New Zealand and the United States. This disease causes scabby boils to form on infected cuts and nicks, like other forms of smallpox virus, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
You can also contract bugs you may be familiar with, such as E. Coli, which can cause urinary tract infections, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Finally, there is a disease called tularemia, which affects deer after being bitten by an infected tick. If you eat or touch a deer with this disease, you can develop pneumonia, fever, and skin ulcers, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Suffice to say, experts like Dr. Ghali have a clear answer to people interested in trying this trend: don’t do it.