Using Gecko to Treat AIDS May Put Patients at Risk

Submitted by Annabel Tautou on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 09:22

The Philippines’ officials are reported to have cautioned against using geckos to treat AIDS and impotency, as the traditional practice in parts of Asia may place patients at risk.
Also, environmental officials have raised concerns regarding the increasing trade in the ‘wall-climbing’ lizards in the Philippines, as a 300-gram gecko is said to be sold for at least 50,000 pesos.
The health department stated, “the use of geckos as treatments has no scientific basis and could be dangerous because patients might not seek proper treatment for their diseases”.
Geckos are reported to be carnivorous, nocturnal reptiles from the family ‘Gekkonidae’ found in tropical countries, as well as exported to Malaysia, China and South Korea, where they are used as aphrodisiacs and medicine for asthma, AIDS, cancer, tuberculosis and impotency.
However, there is a probability that fraudulent people may have penetrated the trade owing to the expensive prices displayed online by buyers demanding geckos weighing at least 400 grams, as those in the wild grow up to 200 grams while geckos fattened in captivity grow up to 300 grams.
Moreover, it’s reported that the Environment Secretary, Ramon Paje warned that: “collecting and trading geckos without permit can be punishable by up to four years in jail and a fine of up to 300,000 pesos”.