How does soaking a cloth in egg whites and placing it on the soles of your feet draw a fever away?

Question

How does soaking a cloth in egg whites and placing it on the soles of your feet draw a fever away?

Please explain using the concept of protein denaturation

I have been stumped on this quesiton for days and whoever gets a reasonable answer is most likely a genius.

Answer 1

As a medical professional, I have never heard of such a treatment as this to reduce a fever. Maybe in doing such, it will keep the soles of your feet smooth. I have heard of using egg whites to make your hair smooth and silky. As far as protein denaturation, it basically means the protein in eggs is altered by means of "folding eggs" ( scrambled) then the protein is broken down. Denaturation: is the alteration of a protein or nucleic acid's shape through some form of external stress( applying heat for example), in such a way that it will no longer carry out it's cellular function.Yeah, technical. When food is cooked, some of it's protein becomes denatured ( protein destruction). This is why boiled eggs become hard and cooked meat becomes firm. Egg whites are transparent and liquid in it's natural state. I hope that this helped some.

Answer 2

I would say simply IT DOESN'T , unless by "draw a fever away " you mean decrease the temperature locally at the feet .
Well , as you know , proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids . The amino acids need strong bonds to bind them so they form a protein .
If you want to damage a protein , by taking apart the amino acids , you need to "GIVE" it energy that is higher than the energy in the AMINO ACID BONDS leading to a process called "denaturation"
As the denaturation NEEDS energy , it will draw heat from a hot source , and spend it in overcoming the chemical bonds between the amino acids .

Amino acids = Protein + energy (contained in the chemical bonds)

Protein + enegy (to break the bonds) = Amino acids

It's the same reason cold water will decrease fever . Water needs energy to form VAPOR , so when it is in contact with skin , it will draw the heat from it and use it in vaporizing some molecules of water .

Water + energy = Vapor

Answer 3

Hmmm I have never heard of doing that. I have however heard of using onions. Dont know how it effects a fever though, sorry.

Answer 4

Never heard of it. Sounds like an old wives' tale.

Answer 5

Never hear of this. Sounds like an urban myth, where did you hear this idea?

Answer 6

what classes are you taking ???

voodoo one on one

all the best
Ian