Digging Beetle is the larva of the antlion, an insect of the family Myrmeleontidae. It is also known as sand valley cow, ant lion, and golden sand cow. It has the effect of detoxification and diuresis, and can be used in modern medicine to treat kidney stones. Now let's learn about the medicinal value of the digging beetle.
The digging beetle antlion has a body length of 32mm and a wingspan of 73mm. Its body is thin and elongated, resembling a dragonfly. The head is wider than the prothorax, with two brown compound eyes. The head is black, the mouthparts are yellow, and the antennae are black and rod-shaped with a yellow scape.
The prothorax is yellow with two wide brown longitudinal bands on the back, and has long yellow hairs. The mesothorax and metathorax are black and larger than the prothorax. The legs are yellow and have long yellow hairs. The wings are transparent with a faint iridescent color, and the wing membranes are soft and fragile. The shape and size of the fore and hind wings are similar, and the wing veins are yellow. The abdomen is dark brown.
The larva resembles a spider, with a body length of 6-18mm. It is yellowish to dirty white, with black and brown markings. It has scattered and tufted black and brown hard hairs on its body. It has a pair of pincer-like mandibles on the head, no wings, three pairs of thoracic legs, and a larger abdomen.
1. Treatment of malaria
Take eleven digging beetles and swallow them with wine. Take one dose half an hour before the onset of malaria. For chronic malaria, take it for one week.
2. Treatment of malaria in children
Take seven digging beetles, fry and grind them into powder, and swallow with boiling water.
3. Treatment of carbuncle and abscess
Take seven digging beetles. Crush six of them and apply the powder to the top of the carbuncle, while leave one intact and place it on the head of the carbuncle, wrapped with a cloth. (Note: The prescription is from "Secret Recipes of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Guizhou Province")
4. Treatment of lymphadenitis and ulcers
Mix digging beetle with borax and a little borneol, crush it and apply it to the wound, cover it with adhesive plaster. (from "Essentials of Chinese Medicinal Properties")
5. Treatment of bamboo or wood thorns and iron sand embedded in the flesh
Apply digging beetle mixed with pumpkin pulp to the affected area. (from "Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Annals")
