Chinese medicinal bee larvae are the immature larvae of bees in the family Apidae, such as the Chinese honeybee. The male bees are slightly larger than the worker bees, with a round head and no venom gland or stinging needle. They do not have structures for collecting and storing pollen on their legs, and they lack wax plates and wax glands on their abdomen. Chinese medicinal bee larvae are used to treat diseases caused by wind and dampness, eyebrow loss, and ulceration of the skin and flesh.
Original Morphology
1. Chinese honeybee colonies are composed of worker bees, queen bees, and drones. The bodies of worker bees are covered with yellow-brown hair. Their heads are slightly triangular in shape. They have three thoracic segments, two pairs of transparent membranous wings, three pairs of legs with structures for collecting pollen, and a conical abdomen with venom glands and stinging needles. They also have four pairs of wax plates on the underside of their abdomen, which contain wax glands that secrete wax. The queen bee is the largest, with short wings, an elongated abdomen, well-developed reproductive organs, and a specialization in reproduction and egg-laying. The drones are slightly larger than the worker bees, with round heads, no venom glands or stinging needles, no structures for collecting and storing pollen on their legs, and no wax plates or wax glands on their abdomen.
2. Italian honeybees have bodies similar to Chinese honeybees, but they are larger.
Ecological Distribution Chinese medicinal bee larvae are bred in most parts of China.
Identification Bee larvae are white or pale yellow pupa-like objects, about 15mm long and about 5mm in diameter.
Taste and Nature Sweet in taste; neutral in nature.
① "The Classic of Herbal Medicine": "Sweet in taste, neutral in nature."
② "Supplement to Materia Medica": "Slightly cold, non-toxic."
③ "Japanese Herbal Medicine": "Cooling, toxic."
Meridian Affinity Spleen; Stomach meridian.
Dosage and Administration Internal use: roasted and ground into powder, 1-2g.
Contraindications
① "Commentary on the Collection of Herbal Medicine": "Avoid using with Scutellaria baicalensis, Paeonia lactiflora, and Ostrea gigas."
② "Herbal Medicine of Shu": "Avoid using with Pulsatilla chinensis."
