Centipedes are a commonly used Chinese medicine with a certain level of toxicity, but the toxicity is relatively low. They have the effects of clearing heat, detoxification, dispersing blood stasis, and reducing swelling. They are mainly used to treat gallstones and injuries from falls or blows.
[Morphological characteristics of centipedes]
Centipedes are soil animals and belong to the order Geophilomorpha. They are natural enemies of fish.
The appearance of centipedes may look terrifying, but what causes trouble for other small organisms is the chemical substance they spray from their abdomen. The sprayed chemical substance can be directed towards their enemies with great convenience. They have 31 to 181 pairs of legs.
Centipedes are a unique species of centipedes in China, with various appearances, but mostly long and slender. They are more commonly found in southern China, and the largest known individual can reach 35cm+ in length.
Their appearance is medium width in the head and narrower in the tail. Although they are called centipedes, they do not belong to the general centipede family but belong to the order Geophilomorpha in China. Therefore, the largest centipede in the world cannot be found on the internet.
They have low toxicity, prefer damp environments, and generally feed on small insects. They do not actively attack humans.
[Medicinal value of centipedes]
Centipedes have a bitter and sour taste, are cooling in nature, and enter the liver, gallbladder, kidney, and bladder meridians. They have the effects of clearing heat, detoxification, diuresis, dispersing blood stasis, and reducing swelling.
1. They are used to treat jaundice-type hepatitis, cholecystitis, gallstones, urinary tract infections and stones, and edema. The recommended dosage for decoction is 15-30g (60-120g for fresh product).
2. They are used to treat mastitis, boils, swelling and toxicity, injuries from falls or blows, and snake bites. The fresh product can be mashed and applied externally, or the juice can be ingested.
Centipedes contain saponins and lactones. The decoction has a choleretic effect, possibly by promoting the secretion of bile by liver cells and relaxing the sphincter of Oddi. It also has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus in vitro.
They can also dissolve urinary stones, and potassium salts have a diuretic effect. Animal experiments have shown inhibitory effects on both cellular immunity and humoral immunity.
