Coconut Water, the perfect substitute for human blood plasma.

During World War II it was discovered that coconut water (not to be confused with coconut milk) is the perfect substitute for human blood plasma. It is isotonic to our own blood, has the right electrolytes, and won't be rejected by the body. If taken straight from the coconut it's also sterile. War doctors soon began tapping the fluid from coconuts and using it for plasma transfusions. Surprisingly, this treatment was (and remains) highly successful.
http://www.unclepaulsproduce.com/articles/walkabout/coconut/WA_julyAug05.html

 

Interesting. But I wonder what the medical proffesion really has to say about it.

 

Elsevier

American Journal of Emergency Medicine

 

There have also been periodic (and still ongoing at a low level) experiments with sterilized sea water as a blood plasma alternative. Atfer all, it WAS once our natural environment...

 

is adding plasma the same thing as adding blood to someone who has lost a lot of it?
I used to give plasma for money (yeah i know), they would drain a pint of blood from you, spin it in a machine, seperate the plasma. then give you back your blood. the body regenerated the plasma in two or three days (you could give twice a week).

So im curious as to exactly how medically viable and under what situations/wounds/ amount of blood loss, this coconut juice would help the soldier to survive: any former medics or doctors out there know?

 

Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood, with red and white cells removed. It's primary use in treating battlefield wounded is to increase blood volume to reduce shock, and help stabalize the patient. Plasma also contains minerals and clotting factors. The clotting factors help stop the bleeding and the minerals are necessary for proper bodily functioning. Plasma because it lacks the red and white blood cells does not replace the bodies oxygen carrying capacity of red cells nor infection fighting properties of white cells. Plasma can be stored for long periods and in the case of dried plasma extended periods. Whole blood degrades rapidly and can only be stored for relatively short periods before it becomes unusable.

 

Kind of off topic, but my WWII Marine Dad said they would drill a hole in a coconut and add a little sugar then put a cork in the hole. When the cork blew out they knew it had fermented long enough!!! No beer was available and this was the best they could do. He said it did the job but had a bad side affect of causing the sh**ts.

 

This is true! I never drank any fermented coconut juice. But during our first day on Pavuvu, tons of new Marines...well, let's just say the diarrhea parade started.