GB2314772A

GB2314772A - Production of herring oil for topical pharmaceutical use

Info

Publication number: GB2314772A
Application number: GB9614027A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jennifer Reilly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-04
Filing date: 1996-07-04
Publication date: 1998-01-14
Also published as: GB9614027D0

Abstract

A process for producing herring oil for use in the treatment of skin diseases comprises contacting whole frozen herring with a solution such as distilled water and salt, agitating the mixture e.g. for two weeks, to facilitate extraction of the oil from the fish and separating the oil from the remains of the fish. The oil may be useful against eczema, allergic skin reactions, insect bites or stings from plants.

Description

Medicinal Remedy This invention relates to a medicinal remedy for certain dermatological disorders by topical application wherein the active principle is fish oil.

Skin problems such as eczema, allergic skin reactions, insect bites or stings from plants, infectious or contagious disorders of the skin are usually treated by the use of steroid creams, hydrocortisones and other chemicals which, although they relieve the aforementioned conditions, very often produce unpleasant side effects. However, herbal treatments have also been developed over the years and have had limited success in relieving skin conditions, injuries, etc. Many are taken internally or used as poultices; others are added to an emollient cream base, an ointment base or lotion, or soaked in neutral oil which allows the active ingredient to be applied topically to the affected area.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means of alleviating the skin conditions mentioned above.

Accordingly this invention provides a medicinal remedy for the aforesaid purposes by use of fish oil, particularly from the herring, for preparation of a medicament for topical application to alleviate the symptoms of and/or relieve skin disorders, diseases and irritations such as infectious and contagious diseases, eczema, allergic skin reactions, insect bites or stings from plants.

Preferably the oil is obtained by taking a whole, freshly caught herring, contacting said herring with a solution thus forming a mixture of same, and subsequently agitating said mixture for a period of time to facilitate extraction of the oil from the fish. The oil is then separated from the remains of the fish and optionally mixed with a suitable ointment or lotion thereby providing a medicament ready for topical application or the extract containing oil itself may be applied without further treatment.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of the following specific example but it will be understood by those in the art that other variants are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

According to the present invention there is provided a medicinal remedy comprising fish oil. The fish oil is generally obtained from herrings by the following method.

Whole, freshly caught herrings are taken and then frozen. After the herring has been fully frozen for example by a suitable quick freezing method they are then thawed in a holding tank which contains a solution of distilled water and salt. Generally the salt is pure NaCl but ordinary sea salt with impurities can be used. Once the herrings are put in the tank the solution will contain approximately equal weights of herring, water and salt. The tanks are then sealed and the solution is then agitated in the tank for two weeks. The herring melts in the salt water during the agitation of the holding tank. The oil is subsquently drawn from the fish into the surrounding solution. Once the two week period is over the remaining parts of the fish are removed by filtration and the filtrate can then by used directly as it is to treat the skin or it can form the basis of a medicinal cream etc.

In use of the invention the solution is applied to the affected parts of the body, which are immersed in the solution several times a day.

The advantage of this remedy is that it can be use for all types of skin disorders whether they be infections, contagious or simply picked up by persons in the course of their employment, such as bakers, persons working with plastic materials, engineers working with oil.

Claims

CLAIM8

1. A process for producing a medicinal remedy comprising the steps of (a) taking whole freshly caught herring; (b) subjecting the fish to freezing; (c) contacting said frozen fish with a solution thereby forming a mixture of same; (d) agitating said mixture for sufficient time to facilitate optimum extraction of the oil from the fish; (e) separating the oil from the remains of the fish.

2. A process according to Claim 1 wherein the solution is contained in a sealable holding tank.

3. A process according to Claims 1 and 2 wherein the solution is provided as a mixture of distiled water and salt.

4. A process according to Claim 3 wherein the salt is provided as NaCl or as sea salt containing impurities.

5. A process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fish is thawed by placing same in the holding tank containing the distiled water and salt solution.

6. A process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the resultant mixture in the holding tank is made up of equal parts of fish and water.

7. A process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holding tank is sealed and the resultant mixture therein is then agitated for about two weeks.

8. A process according to Claim 7 wherein the herring melts through agitation of the mixture thereby drawing the oil from the herring into the salt solution.

9. A process according to Claim 8 wherein the mixture is filtered to remove the remaining pieces of fish from the mixture leaving the oil/salt water mixture in the holding tank as a filtrate.

10. A process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the filtrate is packaged for direct use as a topical application.

11. A process according to any one of Claims 1-9 wherein the filtrate is then mixed with a suitable ointment or lotion thereby providing a medicament for topical application to the skin.

12. A medicinal remedy made according to the process of Claim 1 wherein the remedy comprises fish oil, particularly from the herring, for preparation of a medicament for topical application to alleviate the symptoms of and/or relieve skin diseases and irritations such as infectious and contagious diseases, eczema, allergic skin reactions, insect bites or stings from plants.