How toxic is the blister beetle

The blister beetle is a kind of insect, and it is an insect that can secrete a highly toxic liquid. The blister beetle secretes the toxic liquid mainly to defend itself from natural enemies. In summer and autumn, people will catch a large number of blister beetles and process them into Chinese medicinal materials. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Cantharides is mainly used to treat carbuncles that do not ulcerate, malignant ulcers, dead muscles and other diseases in the body, and it has certain obvious effects.

Situation 1

If blister beetles accidentally get into the eyes, they can cause tearing, eyelid swelling, conjunctivitis, iritis, and even corneal ulcers. When it comes into contact with the skin, it causes local burning pain, fever and flushing, followed by the formation of blisters and ulcers. Systemic symptoms appear after absorption, with onset time of about 2 hours.

Situation 2

If taken orally, there may be severe gastrointestinal symptoms: burning sensation in the mouth and throat, numbness in the mouth, blisters and ulcers in the oral mucosa, exfoliation of the esophageal mucosa, nausea, vomiting, hematemesis, abdominal cramps, bloody stools, dizziness, headache, blurred vision; when toxins are excreted from the kidneys, they stimulate the urinary tract, causing frequent urination, burning sensation in the urethra and difficulty urinating, red blood cells in the urine or hematuria, oliguria, urine retention and acute renal failure.

Situation 3

There may be sexual organ excitement, such as penile erection, uterine contraction or bleeding, and miscarriage in pregnant women. Blood circulation symptoms include increased blood pressure, arrhythmia, peripheral circulatory failure, increased peripheral red blood cells, white blood cells, and hemoglobin, dilated pupils, and in severe cases, high fever, chills, rapid pulse, delirium, and convulsions. Death is often caused by coma, collapse, and heart and respiratory suppression. If recovery is achieved, symptoms of chronic nephritis may occasionally remain.

Situation 4

Cantharidin is a highly toxic drug. If abused, used in excessive doses, used with wine and garlic, used raw (or improperly brewed), applied to too large an area, accumulated, if there is liver and kidney dysfunction, or taken with water, it can cause poisoning. The toxic dose is 0.6g, and the lethal dose is 1.5g. 0.14μg of cantharidin can induce skin blistering, and 10mg can cause severe poisoning or death, bringing trouble to clinical application.

About Cantharides

Mylabris, a traditional Chinese medicine name. It is the dried body of the southern big cantharid Mylabris phalerata Pallas or the yellow and black cantharid Mylabris cichorii Linnaeus, both of the Meloidae family. Catch in summer and autumn, suffocate or scald to death, and dry in the sun. It is distributed in most parts of our country. It has the effects of breaking blood, removing blood stasis, dispersing nodules and eliminating lameness, and attacking toxins and corroding sores. It is mainly used for mass in the lungs, amenorrhea, stubborn tinea, scrofula, warts, carbuncle that does not ulcerate, and dead skin cells of malignant ulcers.