INTRODUCTION

• The 43 species of medicinal insects were identified

• They belonged in 16 families in 6 orders and include

grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, bugs, mealy bugs,

beetles, butterflies, ants, and bees.

• The number of insects per order ,arise from 9 in the

Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants) to only 3 in the

Lepidoptera (butterflies).

• Although, for the most part insects were used in the

adult stage, it must be mentioned that usually only

certain parts of any given species of insect were

considered efficacious and were employed in the

medicinal preparation.

Are Insects Ever Used in Medicine?

Do we have to eat insects to get cure ?

What if it will do harm to our body ?

Since early times, insects and their products have

been used directly and indirectly in the medical

systems of different human cultures throughout the

world

Insects have proven as sources of drugs for

modern medicine since they have immunological,

analgesic, antibacterial, diuretic, anesthetic and

anti rheumatic properties (Yamakawa, 1998).

Insect by-products are also very important both as

folk medicines and potential modern drugs

It has no side effects and also no resistanceproblem was found for any diseases

Medical Entomology is the study of

insects of medical importance.

Ethnoentomology is the study of the

relationship between insects and people.

Entomotherapy is the study of use of

insects and insect products for treatment

purpose

Subject of Entomotherapy can be studied

into two parts :

1. Insects bearing parts that resemble human body

parts, was thought to have useful relevance to

those parts, animals or objects.

e.g. the femurs of grasshopper, which were said to

resemble the human liver

2. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) includes the

use of herbal medicine along with insects as an

integrated part.e.g. Centipede is typically dried, ground into a paste,

and applied to the afflicted area to cure snake bite,

headache and muscle soreness.

e.g. The Chinese Black Mountain Ant,

(Polyrachis vicina) is supposed to prolong life

and have anti-aging properties

3. India and Ayurveda

Ayurveda is ancient traditional Indian treatment which also

mentioned

e.g. Use of termites and mound are together

ground and consumed to cure ulcers, rheumatic diseases,

and anemia

e.g. Jatropha Leaf Miner are harvested, boiled, and

mashed into a paste induce lactation, reduce

fever, and sooth gastrointestinal tracts

Insect Tribes Diseases Parts used

Ant Paniyan tribes Scabies Anthill

Black beetle Irular tribes Malaria Insect

Wasp

(Eumenes sp)

Kurichchan Headache Wasp nest

Termite

(O. formesanus)

Kurichchan Ulcer Termite

Mudugar

Irular

Kanikkaram

Anaemia

Rheumatics

Anemia

Enhance lactation

Termite

Termatorium

Termite

Insects & insect products in South Indian traditional medicine

Wilsanand et.al, 2012

Indian J Traditional Knowledge , 6(4): 563-568.

4. In Africa

e.g. Grasshoppers were typically collected, dried in the

sun, and then ground into a powder. The powder can then

applied to the forehead to alleviate the pain of violent

headaches

5. In America

e.g. Chapulines or grasshoppers are said to serve as

diuretic to treat kidney diseases, to reduce swelling, and to

relieve the pain of intestinal disorders

e.g. The silkworm (Bombyx mori) immatures and boiled

pupae were eaten to treat apoplexy, bronchitis,

pneumonia, convulsions, hemorrhages, and frequent

urination

It consists of

Maggot Therapy Apitherapy Leech Therapy (Non Insect) Blister Beetle and Spanish Fly Ant sutures Psychoactive Scorpions (Non Insect) Insect enzyme as medicine

The first recorded use of it was during World War II

Wound antisepsis (putrefaction)

“infection of the organs or tissues of man or animals by

fly larvae for a period of time, those feed upon the dead

tissues.”

Order- Diptera

-family Calliphoridae - the BLOW FLIES

-family Sarcophagidae - the FLESH FLIES

The commonly found/used species :

Phormia regina , Lucillia sericata

Production procedure:

• Eggs are surface sterilized and placed on a

food source (horse meat normally)

• 2 day old larvae inoculated into wound larvae

flushed out with saline in 3 or 4 days and

younger larvae added as necessary.

History The U.S. FDA allowed the production of

Phaenicia sericata larvae (January 2004)

Marketed under the brand name Medical

Maggots (TM).

In February, 2006, the British National

Health Service (NHS) permitted doctors to

prescribe maggot

STEP - 1 STEP - 2 STEP - 3

In this therapy live, disinfected fly larvae introduced into non-

healing or soft tissue wounds of a human or other animal for

the purpose of selectively cleaning out only the necrotic tissue within a wound in order to promote wound healing.

Benefits :

– Especially helpful in cases of bone infections

– Along with cleaning up of dead tissue, they also

produced an endogenous antibiotic

– They secrete ammonia & calcium carbonate

which promote quick healing

– A resurgent technology

– No side effects

Comparative study of Conventional Vs maggot therapy

against Diabetic Foot Ulcer

(Ronald A. Sherman, MD

Department of Medicine, University of

California, Irvine, California )

HONEY

PROPOLIS

BEE WAX

BEE POLLEN

ROYAL JELLY

Apitherapy is the medical use of honeybee and bee

products such as honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and bee venom against disease and disorders

BEE VENOM

Apipuncture is the therapy by means of bee sting

One of the major peptides in bee venom, called Mellitin

Mellitin used to treat inflammation in sufferers

of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis

It blocks the expression of inflammatory genes, thus

reducing swelling and pain

It is administered by direct insect sting or

intramuscular injections

Direct sting

Intramuscular injectionBee venom

1. Prevent cancer and heart disease

2. Reduce ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders

3. Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal

4. Increase athletic performance

5. Reduce cough and throat irritation

6. Antioxidants

7. Heal wounds and burns

8. Probiotic

9. Beautiful skin

10.Blood sugar regulation

BEES WAX- ( Vitamin A )

Cell development & skin epithelium antiseptic

property

Body lotions, coating for pills-facilitates

ingestion

POLLEN - Vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, C, E), amino

acids, and Ca, Fe, K, P, and Na.

Skin diseases, health restorative, ulcers etc.

ROYAL JELLY-

Used to treat anemia, gastrointestinal ulcers,

arteriosclerosis, hypo- and hypertension,

and inhibition of sexual limitations

Cell regeneration & bone marrow production

and balance the endocrine system

Hirudotherapy is a medical treatment that uses leeches

It is discovered by J. B. Haycraft in 1884

Approved as a medical therapy by the U.S. Food and

Drug Administration (FDA)

At first, leeches were used for headache, gangrene and

imbalances of the blood flow

Today used Effectively for :

Reddness and Swelling (inflammation).

Improving blood circulation.

Venous obstruction & in plastic surgery

Hirudo medinalis

How does it work?

Used for conditions where blood clots is a problem

Leeches secrete a natural blood thinner (Hirudin)that helps keep the blood flowing and improves

survival of the tissue

It injects an anti-clotting chemical that can keep blood

leaking from the wound for hours

Dosing

For skin grafts and similar conditions: 2-5 leeches are

applied until they fall off after about 15-20 minutes.

The process is then repeated if area is large

( Leech therapy for finger thrombosis in leg )

Blister beetle or Spanish fly-

Mylabris postulata, Lytta vesicatoria

Meloidae : Coleoptera

- A defensive chemical produced by

blister beetles to ward off predator attacks by

reflex bleeding

Beetles contain up to 1% cantharidin by weight

This was accepted by the FDA in 2004 as

treatment for warts, skin problems

Inhibit ovarian cancer cell, uro-genital tract

and kidney infections and act as sex stimulant

Blistering agent of 30 mg is

fatal dose for humans

• It is an ancient practice, the mandibles of soldier

ants have been used as stitches.

• The ant, most commonly carpenter, leaf-cutting, or

army ants

Commonly used ant genera:

– Camponotus spp. - carpenter ants

– Atta coclombica- leaf-cutter ants

– Eciton bruchelli - army ants worker

E. BurchelliDorylus grobodoi Camponotus vicinus

Procedure

The mandibles were placed around the wound or

cut to be stitched and then the mouth allowed to

close. The ant's body was then pinched away,

leaving the head to clamp the wound shut.

Before Treatment During Treatment After Treatment

In Afghanistan and India people used to smoke

dried scorpions or use scorpion stings to get high

when heroin is not available

The ‘scorpion sting craze’ increased in India due to

decreasing availability of drugs and alcohol to youth

USE:

• Venom used for preparation of Cancer medicine

• For preparation medicine for alcohol addict person

• Evidence of use for preparation of anesthesia

Venom Ingredients:

Buthotoxin (Katsutoxin), Hydroxylamin, Lecithin,

Cholesterol, Stearinsaure, Palmitinsaure,

Trimethylamin, Betain,Taurin.

1. Honey

2. propolis

3. Shellac or Lac

4. Carmine

HONEY :

There are at least 40 types of honey from Alfalfa

Blueberry, Buckwheat, Clover, Manuka, Orange blossom

– each one has distinctive taste and unique medical

properties

Darker honey tends to have higher antioxidant levels

Monofloral honey (honey from a single plant species)

usually has the lowest glycemic index (GI)

Lac is the scarlet resinous secretion of a number of

species of lac insect, of which the most commonly

cultivated species is Kerria lacca.

Scientific Name(s): Laccifer lacca . Family: Coccidae

Common Name(s): Shellac , lac , gommelaque , lacca

Sticklac Seedlac

TYPES OF LAC

Insect secretion coated branches of

the host trees are cut and harvested

as sticklac

Sticklac is crushed, sieved and then

repeatedly washed and the

resulting product is known as seedlac

MEDICAL USE

Lac is used in folk medicine as

a hepatoprotective and anti-obesity drug

It is mostly used as furniture finish, but also been

used in the pharmaceutical industry, dentistry and in

cosmetics.

Dentists used shellac as binding agents for dentures,

restorations and mouldings as a constituent in

“artificial calculus” for training purposes in dental

work.

Also used as an ingredient in hair spray and also

used against mushroom toxins in mice.

Used for medications for skin allergies

Also called crimson lake, cochineal, natural red 4

It is a pigment of a bright-red color obtained content

carminic acid

The pigment is produced from scale insects such as

the Cochineal scale and certain Porphyrophora speciesUSE :

Used as a food dye in many products such as juices, ice

cream, yogurt, and candy for good digestion and also

prevent skin disorder when applied

Also used in cosmetic products like eye shadow and

lipstick

( Porphyrophora sps.)( D. coccus )

PROPOLIS (An Ancient Healer)

What is Propolis ?

Bee combine the sap with their own discharges and

beeswax to create a sticky, greenish-brown product that is

used as a coating or sealing their hives called ‘propolis’.

Thousands of years ago Greeks used it to treat

abscesses.

Assyrians put it on wounds and tumors to fight infection

Egyptians used it embalm mummies.

Today, propolis is an ingredient in many beauty and skin

care products.

Topical forms include creams, ointments, and lotions

Propolis can also be taken orally and comes in tablet,

liquid extract, and capsule form

Medical uses

For fighting infections

Boosting the immune system

Healing genital herpes and cold sores

Treating skin injuries

Helping the mouth heal after dental surgery

As a treatment for allergies

As an antioxidant

In cancer treatment and cancer prevention

Most importantly prevent hair fall and stimulate

new growth

( PROPOLIS HAIR GROW TEST )

(Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Dec 10 08:10:32 EST, 2014)

Serrapeptase

It is an enzyme produced by serratia bacteria living on

silkworms.

Used in treating arterial plaque (Mazzonie, A.,1998),

migraine, back pain, sore throat, asthama etc.

Alternative to NSAIDs, salicylates, Ibuprofen

No neurological and gastrointestinal side effects

Inhibit Carpal tunnel syndrome

Mechanism

Breaks down the insoluble protein ‘fibrinogen’

(glycoprotein helps in formation of blood clots)

Inhibiting the release of pain-inducing amines

• As we all saw that there are a lots of beneficial

insects those can be used as medicine so we must

explore there other importance by research on this

field

• There enormous richness and diversity of

arthropods provide a vast field to study on them for

biomedical research

• Still no side effects of the medicines have seen so

popularly adopted by people

• In India motivation and facilities must be provided to

scientists to study and work for ethnoentomology

• According to my view instead of killing lots of insects

regularly its better to collect and use them in

medicinal researchs

Journals: Human Ecology, Vol. 30, No. 2, June 2002 Eraldo Medeiros

Costa-Neto

J. Elhnobiol. 8(2):195-202 Winter 1988

Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 6(4), October

2007, pp. 563-568

Websites: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20806997

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnoentomology

www.youtube.com

www.altmedrev.com/publications/15/2/124

www.entomon.net/use-of-insects-in-medicine-

agriculture.shtml

http://www.amazingleeches.com/leeches-in-non-surgical-

therapy.html

http://darkshadowghosttours.blogspot.in/2014/08/using-insects-

for-medical-healing.html