Maybe these will replace handing out antibiotics like candy! 
CROCODILE BLOOD IN A CAPSULE
Research team finds way to make reptile's blood safe and convenient for consumption
Story by ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA
Forget the scary image of crocodiles. The reptile's blood is good for your health.
A research team from Kasetsart University's faculty of zoology is now developing freeze-dried crocodile blood capsules to make it safe and convenient for human consumption.
The consumption of crocodile blood is not new, though.
"Prior to our research, certain groups of people had a simple way of consuming the reptiles' blood, by killing them, taking the blood and having it sun-dried. But that method may not be safe enough," said Associate Professor Win Chaeychomsri, head of the research team.
There is a Chinese belief that crocodile blood can heal asthma and strengthen people's health, while scientists in the western world have found that it has strong anti-bacterial powers which helps to heal serious injuries rapidly and almost without infection.
"It started from scientists noticing that crocodiles fight a lot and often bite off each other's limbs in the process, leaving huge gaping wounds. Then came the question of how these crocodiles survive in tropical swamps full of pathogenic microbes with giant bleeding wounds without getting infected," said Mr Win.
Many studies have shown that crocodile blood has a natural defence system involving a group of proteins that can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi.
A UK study also found a quirk in crocodile haemoglobin which appears to keep more oxygen circulating in the blood.
"Thailand has many large crocodile breeding farms which produce and export luxurious crocodile leather goods. Countries like China also order crocodile meat and bones for making traditional medicine. The blood is mainly left unused, and sometimes released into the natural water. So we took it for our research," said Mr Win.
With funding from the Thailand Research Fund, the researchers have cooperated with Sriracha Moda Co, a crocodile breeding farm, to develop the best methods of storing dried crocodile blood without losing its anti-bacterial property.
"Our method starts with shocking the crocodile with electricity, then using a special needle to collect the blood from its anterior dorsal sinus," said Chusak Setsampan, a senior student in the research team.
The blood is then stored in a clean, closed container and frozen at minus 80C before being put in a freeze-drying machine for one or two days. Unlike heat, the cold does not destroy the protein in the blood. Then a plate of freeze-dried blood is ground and put into a capsule. One capsule contains 250mg of dried blood.
"One crocodiles give about 300-500ml of fresh blood. Usually we take the blood when the crocodile is three years old, as it is young and the blood is free of smell and hormones," said Mr Win.
Many people who heard about the research have volunteered to try the capsules.
Some with asthma said the symptoms improved after taking the capsules for a few weeks.
"Women who tried the capsules also said it helped them to menstruate normally," Mr Win said.
He said the crocodile blood capsules can be taken as a food supplement as it has no side effects.
As the structure of crocodile haemoglobin is better than that in humans, the faculty is conducting another study on whether the blood could heal anaemia.
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