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Brief Description:

Insects have been used as medicine for thousands of years. It has been tested that insects are not only very nutritious but also beneficial in promoting the user’s health, especially their exoskeleton which are rich in chitin. Because of the insects’ unpleasant appearance, medicine makers dry and crush the insects into powder. That way, consumers can use the powder without subconsciously worrying about what it was made out of.

What is Chitin?

Chitin is a fibrous substance that can also be found in the shells of crabs, shrimp, lobsters, and other shellfish. When consumed, the chitin has been tested to stimulate the immune system of the consumer, relieve pain, lower cholesterol, thin blood, and boost recovery.

General Steps:

Sun dry insects, especially poisonous ones as it will remove or at least lessen the effects of the poison. Once dried, crush until the insects turned to powder. If you used poisonous insects, you may need to mix the powder with a diluted mix of antidote and water to make a caky, doughy substance in order to further lessen the efficacy of the poison. Let the mixture dry in the sun once more before crushing the final result into powder. Distribute the powder in 1 gram dosages.

Note: Careful not to take too much and limit dosage to maximum 3 doses as it would not be beneficial any more and could cause problems.

Uses:

Different insects have different uses.

Some examples are:

Centipede/Chaurus powder can be used to stop stroke spasms and relieve poison in snake bites. Grasshopper powder can be mixed with ash and water to form a paste which can be applied on the forehead to relieve migraines. Cricket/Silkworm powder is high in proteins and other nutrients. They are mixed with food to provide consumers the necessary dietary supplements. Black ant powder is rich in vitamins and can not only stimulate the immune system, but also act as an antioxidant. Roach powder can counter indigestion and can even reduce fever. Ladybug powder can be used to act as a painkiller and is usually used for toothaches. Oil beetle powder, when consumed, acts as an aphrodisiac.

More uses of insects in medicine will be introduced in later lessons.