The idea that the slime of land snails or slugs has medicinal properties is an ancient one. Pliny the Elder, for example, suggested treating burns with snail pulp.
But anyone considering testing this should remember that snails and slugs carry the intermediate stages of human parasites - so I would definitely not recommend it!
However in past centuries, concoctions of snails brewed with wine, milk, salt or sugar have been used to treat ailments ranging from nephritis to vertigo and whooping cough to insanity.
Slime does have some active ingredients. It is certainly antibacterial and also contains substances that will relax the bronchi. Using snail mucus on a burn should therefore reduce infection and protect the wound from drying out.
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Similarly, in the treatment of lung complaints, a covering of mucus protects inflamed areas and keeps airways open.
As for its anaesthetic properties, this seems unlikely and any effect is probably due to lubrication: covering the taste buds might stop them working, appearing to deaden the mouth.
Anyone considering testing this should remember that snails and slugs carry the intermediate stages of human parasites - so I would definitely not recommend it!
