Basic Guide to Insects That Can Heal
Insects are known to either help or harm us. Some kill, some make us sick and some can nourish our bodies. However, there are also quite a few that have been known to heal a range of health problems, including injuries that you can encounter in the field. Read on and learn how some of the more well-known species can be good medicine despite the fact they may be difficult to look at.
Blow Fly Maggots
Blow flies come in over 1100 species, and they are well-known for healing wounds. They are also particularly helpful when it comes to eradicating bacteria or other germs that can lead to a serious infection called osteomyelitis. Octeomyelitis is caused by bacteria or germs that enter the bloodstream and travel to the bone where destructive inflammation and damage to the marrow can occur.
Blow flies do their healing work by laying eggs in wounds, and the maggots that emerge feed on the bacteria and other impurities. The result is that the wound gets cleaned and the risk of infection significantly drops. This has been a method used by people for centuries, and even modern medicine applies this remedy under certain situations to help infected patients heal.
Bee and Ant Venom
The venom from bees is used as a treatment for arthritis, multiple sclerosis and and severe nerve pain. It can also be used, under controlled conditions, to help the body to develop antibodies that can prevent allergic reactions to bee stings. It’s important to avoid confusing bee venom with the medicinal properties of honey, which are exceptional in and of themselves.
The venom from ants, particularly Green Tree ants in Australia, have also been used as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Chemical compounds in the ants were also used to treat headaches, as a disinfectant and to cure colds. The most common form of medicine was to take a bunch of ants and steep them into a tea.
Wound Treatment
Army ants, which are found in Africa and South America, have been used as sutures to close big wounds. The most common treatment is to simply allow the ant to bite into the wound, dig their teeth into the flesh and then rip the body from the head. This acts as a natural clamp that really works in the field.
Run of the mill cobwebs, as long as they are clean, make for the perfect wound dressing when other options are not available. Their thickness, adhesion and abundance were first used during the middle ages, and many still apply this treatment today. They also contain properties that can help to speed the healing process as well.
Cockroach Brains
It’s almost impossible to fathom finding benefits of any kind from cockroaches. Few insects get such a bad rap or invoke shivers of disgust as the cockroach, and there are thousands of species out there. We all hear rumors that they will outlive any biological or nuclear attack, and they will most definitely be around long after humans due to their genetic design and resilience.
That being said, eating or drinking the brains of certain species of cockroaches can help to fight a number of bacterial infections. Some research suggests that they may be helpful for killing off MRSA and e. Coli, and there are also a host of other health benefits associated with the ingestion of cockroach brains.
Caterpillar Fungus
Fungi associated with certain caterpillars has been in ancient Chinese medicine as well as modern sports medicine to boost energy levels and reduce stress. There are also rumors that making a tonic can also help to improve sexual performance while also curing a wide-range of ailments.
Cochineal Beetle
Finally, the cochineal beetle contains compounds that are known to treat urinary tract infections, reduce the symptoms of asthma and cure whooping cough. The trick is to douse a couple of handfuls of the beetles in alcohol, perhaps to make them go down easier, and just wait. Hopefully symptoms will begin to subside not long after the beetles are digested.
These are just a few examples of hundreds, if not thousands, of remedies that insects can provide. We know that insects are used in a wide-range of studies, and pharmaceutical companies use compounds derived from insects to cure a number of diseases. Consequently, it may be worth your time to do some research and learn how insects in your area may end up being just what the doctor ordered to cure ailments you may encounter in a survival situation.
