Centipede, also known as Tianlong, is a common insect on hillsides and sandy land areas, which is widely used for medicinal purposes due to its high medicinal value, but because it is toxic, many people are afraid of it; It is also often seen in daily life, what should I do if I am accidentally bitten?
Centipede structural characteristics
Centipede (Centipede) is a carnivore with long, flattened limbs, each with a pair of feet. Originating from the Silurian period (Silurian), 2,800 species still survive today. Like arthropods, it is known for its multi-arthropods.
Centipedes are oblate strips, 9 to 17 cm long and 0.5 to 1 cm wide. The whole consists of 22 sections, with the last section being slightly smaller. The two sections of the head are dark red, with 1 pair of antennae and 1 pair of poisonous hooks; Brownish green or dark green on the back, shiny, with 2 longitudinal edges; The abdomen is pale yellow or brownish yellow, wrinkled; From the second section onwards, each body segment has 1 pair of feet, born on both sides, yellow or reddish-brown, curved as a hook. The texture is brittle and there are cracks in the section. The gas is slightly fishy and has a special pungent odor, which is spicy and slightly salty. The quality is better than those with dry bodies, long and complete insect bodies, and red and green heads.
Centipede's life habits
1, like to live in groups: centipedes have the habit of living together in large and small groups, and centipedes in the same group can get along harmoniously.
2, the centipede is timid and frightened, slightly frightened, will stop feeding, nest to escape, or curl up, the female centipede that is laying eggs will immediately stop laying eggs, and the incubated centipedes will eat the eggs after being frightened.
3, like dark and damp. Wild centipedes mostly inhabit hillsides, fields, roadsides, overgrown areas, or between firewood and roof tiles.
4. Roost in the nest during the day and come out at night. 8 to 12 o'clock in the evening is the peak of centipede activity, generally until 4 o'clock in the morning to return to the nest to rest, after dawn it is difficult to see the centipede.
5. Have the habit of licking. Centipedes use the dense villi on the end of the first small jaw and the basal segment protrusion, the brush-like bristles on the back of the second small jaw segment, and the saliva spit out of the mouth, often licking the tentacles and stepping out of the foot, and also licking their nests clean.
6, the temperature centipede is a temperature change animal, all its activities are often related to temperature. The optimal temperature for centipede growth and development is 25 °C ~ 32 °C, when the temperature is 11 °C ~ 15 °C, the centipede's foraging is reduced, mating and spawning are stopped.
7. Humidity; When the relative humidity of the air in the feeding room is 60% to 70%, and the humidity of the nest soil is 10% to 20%, all the life activities of the centipede are the most active, that is to say, this is the most suitable humidity for the growth and development of centipedes.
8, centipedes are typical carnivores, a wide range of diet, especially like to eat a variety of insects and their eggs, pupae, larvae, etc., but also eat worms, earthworms, snails and various livestock, poultry, aquatic animals meat, internal organs, blood, cartilage and so on.
About the centipede's feet
Centipede is also known as a hundred feet, but it is not that there are a hundred legs, in fact, there are only 20 pairs, but due to different varieties, some centipedes may have hundreds of pairs, some only a dozen pairs, such as medicinal centipedes generally only 21 pairs of foot and 1 pair of jaw feet, money string centipedes only have 15 pairs of foot and 1 pair of feet, and some centipedes have 35 pairs, 45 pairs, the maximum of 173 pairs, so the specific number of pairs depends on what kind of centipede.
About the classification of centipedes
There are many types of centipedes, which can be divided into red-headed centipedes, blue-headed centipedes, black-headed centipedes, multi-spined centipedes, less spiny centipedes, less spiny centipedes, less spiny centipedes, flat-eared centipedes, Yellow-tailed Centipede, Peruvian Giant Centipede, Vietnamese Giant Centipede, Chinese Red Dragon Centipede, Galapagos Giant Centipede, Amazon Giant Centipede, North American Giant Centipede, Puerto Rican Giant Centipede, etc.
Red-headed centipede
Chinese red dragon centipede
North American giant centipede
Peruvian giant centipede
Giant Vietnamese centipede
About the characteristics of centipede venom
The second pair of centipedes is a poisonous stinger (poisonous hook), which is pincer-shaped, sharp, and has a poisonous gland opening, and when stinging, the venom secreted by the poisonous gland is injected into the human body through the tip of the poisonous sting and causes poisoning. Centipede venom contains toxic components similar to bee venom, such as histamines and hemolytic proteins, and contains formic acid, the venom is acidic, has nerve venom, hemolysis, sensitization and other effects, but the sensitization effect is not as common as that of poisonous bees.
Clinical manifestations of centipede bites
1. The wound is a pair of blood that comes out, local redness, stinging, itching, and in severe cases, blisters, erythema, tissue necrosis, lymphangitis and local lymphadenopathy and pain.
2. Systemic reaction: the general situation is mild, and there may be chills, fever, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc. In severe cases, irritability, delirium, convulsions, general numbness, and coma may occur.
3. People with severe allergies can have anaphylactic shock.
4. Serious cases are more common in children and can endanger lives.
Emergency measures after centipede bites
1, after being bitten, you should find a cloth bag in time, and then wrap the wound above to avoid the spread of venom, timely to the nearby hospital for treatment, before arriving at the hospital, the total time is not more than 2 hours, every 15 minutes to loosen the lower cloth bag (it is strictly forbidden to use wire, wire, steel wire, etc.), so as not to be bitten to the location of necrosis.
2. If conditions permit, cold compresses of ice cubes are given to the affected limb while lashing, so that the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels can constrict and slow down the absorption of toxins.
3. First choose to clean the wound surface thoroughly with lime water or soapy water.
4. Because the centipede venom is acidic, neutralized with an alkaline liquid, 3% ammonia can be used or rinsed with 5% to 10% sodium bicarbonate solution when conditions permit.
5. In the wild, you can choose 30 to 60 grams of houttuynia cordata, dandelion, mulberry leaves, and raw lentil leaves, and choose one external compress;
6. After the wound is rinsed, the Ji Desheng snake medicine tablets can also be crushed and mixed with water into a paste and applied to the wound;
7. Cut some skin near the wound, then use a cupping can or breast pump to suck out the venom, and finally wash the wound with potassium permanganate or ammonia solution. However, it is important to note that sucking with the mouth requires the integrity of the oral mucosa.
8. Those with severe pain can choose 0.25%-0.5 procaine solution to block the wound.
9. Allergy symptoms require the use of antihistamine drugs, adrenocortical hormones, etc.;
10. Muscle spasms can be injected with 10% calcium gluconate injection 20ml, intravenously.
11. If complications occur, timely rescue is required: endotracheal intubation, use of ventilator, anti-shock, blood volume supplementation, correction of acidosis, etc.
How to prevent centipede bites
1, keep the indoor ventilation and dry, for wet places, such as kitchens, corners, under the bed can be sprinkled with some quicklime to prevent centipedes from crawling.
2. Work in a dark and humid environment to strengthen personal protection, such as wearing long-sleeved shirts, gloves and hats, preparing a shawl, etc., to reduce the exposed parts of the skin.
3, if there are bugs crawling on the body, do not rush to slap it, slapping is easy to disturb the bugs, causing bugs to attack, see clearly what bugs are, and then use a safe way to make it fall is the best way.
4. Most centipedes are toxic, and there is currently no vaccine to prevent lesions that occur after centipede bites.
Annex: Efficacy and indications of Chinese medicine centipede
【Source】 Centipede, first published in the Shennong Materia Medica, listed as the next product, has been included in the past Materia Medica. Because the "Beilu" contains: "Shengda Wuchuan Valley, Jiangnan"; They are also born from the mother's oviparation, hence the name. It is a dried whole insect body of the centipede less spiny centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch and the spiny centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutidens (Newport). It is mainly produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunan, Henan, Shaanxi and other places. Most of them are wild, and there are existing breeds.
【Sexual taste returns to the scriptures】Spicy, warm. Poisonous. into the liver meridian.
【Pharmacological effect】
1. Anti-tumor effect, centipede leech injection can make the spermatoblasts of mice necrosis and disappear. Explanation of the inhibition of tumor cells, the use of dead cancer cells are easy to be colored by low concentration of Egress coloring characteristics, in vitro experiments have proved that centipede leech injection, the red stain rate of cancer cells is positive, centipede leeches on mice liver cancer carcinoma steroid inhibition rate of 26%, is a micro-effect, the function of reticuloendothelial cells has an enhancing effect, but long-term application of the liver damage to the liver. Carcinogen Dan (containing kelp, seaweed, gentian, whole scorpion, centipede, vinegar fried rice) has an inhibitory effect on ascites cancer in mice, and the effect obtained by using the enema method to mix the drug into the feed is good.
2. Antispasmodic effect. Antispasmodic dispersion (whole scorpion, centipede, 1 gram per day, after 1, 3, 9 days, the convulsions caused by half of the convulsions of cadeazole, strychnine, and soda nicotinine have an antagonistic effect, and the convulsive potency of centipede against the above 3 drugs is higher than that of the whole scorpion at the same dose, and it is ineffective for coca alkaline convulsions hydrochloride.
3. Antifungal effect, centipede water infestation agent (1:4), in the test tube on the yellow viola, Xanthobacterium xanthophyllum, Odien's small spratoids, inguinal groove epidermis, epidermophytes red, closely colored blastomyces and other skin fungi have different degrees of inhibition effect.
【Effect】Extinguish the wind and stop spasm, detoxify and disperse knots, and activate the meridians.
1. Wind extinguishing and antispasmodic: used for stroke meridians, limb movement is not effective, language disorders, stroke in the internal organs, personnel do not know, phlegm closure convulsions and high fever convulsions, pediatric convulsions, tetanus, facial nerve palsy and other evidence, can be used with zombie silkworms, whole scorpion and other wind extinguishing drugs.
2. Detoxification and loosening: (1) It can be used with other detoxification drugs for sores, fistulas, tuberculosis and other evidence. (2) It can be used for venomous snake bites, and can be used for internal and external use.
3. Meridian activation: used for refractory headache, rheumatic paralysis pain, can be used with other anti-rheumatic painkillers.
【Identification application】Centipede and whole scorpion, both of which are anti-wind and antispasmodic drugs. The whole scorpion is weak and moist, and it is used for those with hand and foot tremors and shaking heads, and the effect is good; Centipede is fierce and dry, and is used for angular arch reversal, spasm and rigidity, and the skill is excellent.
【Compatible Application】
1. With whole scorpion: the two drugs are the same as the flat liver extinguishing wind medicine, which has a strong antispasmodic effect. The whole scorpion has strong extinguishing wind power, and the effect is good for those who have frequent convulsions, trembling hands and feet, strong tongue and shaking of the head; The centipede searches for wind and wins, which is good for spasm of limbs, rigid neck, and anti-tension of the angular arch. The two must be used for the same purpose, the same into the liver meridian, extinguish the wind and stop the spasm multiplied. Centipede and whole scorpion are combined, and they also have the functions of detoxifying and loosening knots, and relieving pain.
2. With cinnabar: cinnabar is used to calm the nerves, centipedes extinguish the wind and stop spasm, the two drugs are used for each other, the heart and liver are treated together, the wind is dispelled and the spasm is suppressed, the calm is calmed, the treatment of seizure convulsions, children's convulsions, and the effect is excellent.
3. With licorice: licorice raw use, fire and detoxification, centipede attack poison scattering, the two must be used, attack and supplement and apply, the treatment of surgical sores and toxin, that is, can be effective.
4. With hook vine: two drugs combined, one longer than the flat liver, one longer than the extinguishing wind, complement each other, with a strong flat liver extinguishing wind, dispel wind activity, antispasmodic and analgesic skills, often used for liver yang, liver wind caused by stubborn headache, head and face spasm convulsions and pain and other medical evidence.
【Application precautions】This product is toxic and can hurt abortion, so it is not suitable for non-severe diseases, such as blood spasm, pediatric slow spasm and pregnant women are contraindicated.
【Dosage】Internal use: 1 to 3 grams, or 1 to 3 decoctions, reduce the powder, or bake dry grinding powder. External use: apply an appropriate amount, grinding powder, or oil soaking to the affected area.
【Efficacy characteristics】This product is good at walking, intercepting the wind and fixing the effect is strong, so it is a medicine for extinguishing the wind and stopping spasms, and can attack the poison and disperse the knots, through the meridians, and has a good effect on convulsions, stroke mouth and eye tilt, fistula tuberculosis, sores and swelling poison, rheumatism and paralysis, poisonous snake bites, and the effect of internal and external use is good.
A picture reads the first aid of other insect bites