Pests, Plagues & PoliticsPests, Plagues & PoliticsLecture 11Lecture 11

Insects & MedicineInsects & Medicine

• MedicineMedicine– Etymology {Etymology {the study of word originsthe study of word origins}}

• derived from the same Greek word as derived from the same Greek word as ““meadmead”” which was/has been reported to have remarkable which was/has been reported to have remarkable curative properties.curative properties.

Key Points

• Wound Debridement

• Medicinal properties of honey

• Insect Sutures

• Aphrodisiacs

• Historic use of insects as medicine

Insects as healing agentsInsects as healing agents

• Maggot Debridement TherapyMaggot Debridement Therapy Fly larvae as agents of antisepsisFly larvae as agents of antisepsis

– Sepsis (Gr. Sepsis (Gr. ‘‘sepsissepsis’’ = putrefaction) = putrefaction)

– ““poisoning caused by the absorption into the poisoning caused by the absorption into the blood of pathogenic micro-organismsblood of pathogenic micro-organisms””

• Discovered in the U.S. Civil War that fly-blown wounds healed faster & cleaner.

• Caused the surgeons to investigate this phenomenon.

• Wound Myiasis– “an infection of the organs or tissues of man

or animals by fly larvae that, for at least a period of time, feed upon the living or dead tissues.”

Flies ResponsibleFlies Responsible

• Diptera– family Calliphoridae - the BLOW FLIES– family Sarcophagidae - the FLESH FLIES– in their larval stage they feed on “meat”

• the buzzards of the insect world

– some species feed on living tissue• be careful in your selection of species.

– The commonly found/used species• Phormia regina - P. terraenovae & Lucillia sericata

Flesh Fly

Blow FliesBlow Flies

• Surgeons began intentionally infesting wounds with fly larvae.

• Today:– 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.

Phormia reginaPhormia regina

“And the gilded little flydoes lecher in my sight.Let copulation thrive!!”

Shakespeare - King LearShakespeare - King Lear

Eats only dead tissueEats only dead tissue

Calliphoria vomitoriaCalliphoria vomitoria

Bad choice.Bad choice.

This species will eat This species will eat living tissue.living tissue.

The working end of aThe working end of ablow fly larvablow fly larva.

You may wish to avert your eyesYou may wish to avert your eyes

Blow FliesBlow Flies

• Maggot debridement therapyMaggot debridement therapy– especially helpful in cases of bone infections especially helpful in cases of bone infections

(osteomyelitis)(osteomyelitis)– discovered that not only did the larvae assist in discovered that not only did the larvae assist in

cleanup of dead tissue, but they also produced an cleanup of dead tissue, but they also produced an endogenous antibioticendogenous antibiotic

– plus they secrete ammonia & calcium carbonate plus they secrete ammonia & calcium carbonate which promote healingwhich promote healing

– A resurgent technologyA resurgent technology• see: see: BIOMAGGOT.comBIOMAGGOT.com

HONEY as medicineHONEY as medicine

• A long history as a mendicantA long history as a mendicant– ancient Egyptians used it as a wound ancient Egyptians used it as a wound

dressingdressing– practiced to this day.practiced to this day.

• Is is wise to do so??Is is wise to do so??

– YESYES– and hereand here’’s why:s why:

Honey in medicineHoney in medicine

• Three mechanisms that account for the Three mechanisms that account for the medicinal properties of honeymedicinal properties of honey– pHpH

• average of 3.9 - an acid mediumaverage of 3.9 - an acid medium

– HyperosmoticHyperosmotic• low moisture content dehydrates (low moisture content dehydrates (viavia osmosis) osmosis)

microbial life that enters honeymicrobial life that enters honey

– InhibineInhibine• a term coined in the mid-1930a term coined in the mid-1930tiesties to describe an to describe an ““unknownunknown”” antibiotic property of honey antibiotic property of honey

Honey In MedicineHoney In Medicine

• A host of testimonial claims for the A host of testimonial claims for the efficacy of honeyefficacy of honey– burnsburns– abrasionsabrasions– bed wettingbed wetting– insomniainsomnia– hyperactivityhyperactivity– ad nauseumad nauseum

She almost had it right!!!She almost had it right!!!

Insect SuturesInsect Sutures

Soldier antsSoldier ants

A nice example of polymorphic caste extremism. A nice example of polymorphic caste extremism.

Army ant soldierMajor and minor worker of E. burchelli

Ant StitchesAnt Stitches

• An ancient practice– India; 3,000 yrs. BP– Known also from the mid-East & So.

America

• Commonly used ant genera– Camponotus - carpenter ants– Atta - leaf-cutter ants– Eciton - army ants

Insects AS MedicineInsects AS Medicine

• Blister BeetlesBlister Beetles– source of source of CANTHARIDINCANTHARIDIN

• a blistering agenta blistering agent

• hexahydro-3,7-dimethyl-4, 4-hexahydro-3,7-dimethyl-4, 4-epoxyisobenzofuran-1, 3-dione epoxyisobenzofuran-1, 3-dione

• ((just in case you wanted to knowjust in case you wanted to know))

• the infamous the infamous SPANISH FLYSPANISH FLY– a putative aphrodisiaca putative aphrodisiac

A bit of mythology

CantharidinCantharidin

• A defensive chemical produced by beetles to ward off predator attacks– reflex bleeding (autohemorrhization)– dried beetles contain up to 1% cantharidin by weight– toxic, blistering agent

• 30 mg a fatal dose for humans

– Recommended by such worthies as• Hippocrates & Galen ‘…to stimulate certain

internal organs.’

The real Spanish FlyThe real Spanish Fly

• Order ColeopteraOrder Coleoptera• Family MeloidaeFamily Meloidae• G.& s. G.& s. Lytta vesicatoriaLytta vesicatoria• 2,000 species of blister beetles2,000 species of blister beetles

– 68 species in the genus 68 species in the genus LyttaLytta– Many are native to the countries surrounding the Many are native to the countries surrounding the

Mediterranean Sea.Mediterranean Sea.[note: lytta = rage (Gr.): vesica = blister (L.)][note: lytta = rage (Gr.): vesica = blister (L.)]

An African An African ““SpanishSpanish”” Fly Fly

• In ZimbabweIn Zimbabwe– Genus Genus MayalabrisMayalabris– Known locally as Known locally as ““vuka-vukavuka-vuka””

• vukavuka means means ““wake upwake up””

– Most potent concoction is known as Most potent concoction is known as ““SquirrelSquirrel’’s Jumps Jump””

• squirrels considered squirrels considered

to be very romantic to be very romantic

animals…animals…

BLISTER BEETLESBLISTER BEETLES

SEE, it works!!!!!SEE, it works!!!!!

Insects as aphrodisiacs

• 2002 Review article by Prischmann & Sheppard

24 insect families with “proven” efficacy by various species (beetles, bugs, bees, wasps, ants moths, et alia.

• Used as general aphrodisiacs, love potions, E.D. “stimulants” [entomological Viagra], potency enhancements & on and on.

• A history as old a Hippocrates [the father of medicine] and Galen {2nd century Greek}

• It still sells today!

Bee & Wasp VenomsBee & Wasp Venoms

• Desensitization of humans hypersensitive to Desensitization of humans hypersensitive to Hymenopteran venomsHymenopteran venoms

• Used in controlled, serial dosagesUsed in controlled, serial dosages– 3 to six months3 to six months– begins with the injection of 1/200begins with the injection of 1/200thth of the venom of one of the venom of one

bee or waspbee or wasp– ends with an injection of equivalent venom of two bees ends with an injection of equivalent venom of two bees

or waspsor wasps

• First licensed by the FDA in 1976First licensed by the FDA in 1976

• Fully licensed in 1980Fully licensed in 1980

Bee VenomBee Venom• Vast anecdotal base for help (or Vast anecdotal base for help (or ““cure) for:cure) for:

– ArthritisArthritis– BursitisBursitis– M.S.M.S.

• NIH-OAM funded an M.S.NIH-OAM funded an M.S.

study in 1998study in 1998

• BVT very popular in the world of BVT very popular in the world of • alternative medicine.alternative medicine.

Insects AS MedicineInsects AS Medicine

• ““Mea culpa est ignoramiMea culpa est ignorami””

• Insects in pharmacopoeia Insects in pharmacopoeia (drug ref. Books)(drug ref. Books)

– Two basic principles observedTwo basic principles observed• Ingredients as repulsive as possibleIngredients as repulsive as possible• insect used must bear some resemblance of the insect used must bear some resemblance of the

complaint or suffering.complaint or suffering.• Insects used in the symbolic transfer of diseaseInsects used in the symbolic transfer of disease

• ancient dogmaancient dogma: : ““similia smilibus curentursimilia smilibus curentur””

• also known as the also known as the Doctrine of SignaturesDoctrine of Signatures or or• Sympathetic Medicines - Law of SimilaritySympathetic Medicines - Law of Similarity

Earwigs for DeafnessEarwigs for Deafness

• Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan England

• Dried & powdered Dried & powdered earwigsearwigs mixed with mixed with rabbit urine & poured into the ears twice rabbit urine & poured into the ears twice daily.daily.

• EarwigsEarwigs– Order Order DERMAPTERADERMAPTERA ( (““skinskin”” wing) wing)– small group of nocturnal scavengers that do small group of nocturnal scavengers that do

NOT crawl into human ears.NOT crawl into human ears.

The European EarwigThe European Earwig

““Mother & Child(s)Mother & Child(s)””

Post-natal care, Post-natal care, & rather rare in the& rather rare in the insect world.insect world.

Order DERMAPTERAOrder DERMAPTERA

Cockroach SoupCockroach Soup

Jazz great Louie Armstrong related that Jazz great Louie Armstrong related that his mother would often feed him his mother would often feed him cockroachcockroachsoup at times of childhood illness.soup at times of childhood illness.

Bed Bug BrothBed Bug Broth

• Elizabethan England (again)Elizabethan England (again)

– as a cure for as a cure for MalariaMalaria

Insects as medicineInsects as medicine

• GrasshoppersGrasshoppers to stop the fits to stop the fits – NY-late 19NY-late 19thth century century

• Cockroaches for measles – place the insect in a jar or under a thimble

and allow it to die - thereby “transferring” the disease from human to bug.

• Singing insects for ear & throat problems– Europe during the Middle Ages

Insects as medicineInsects as medicine

• For For baldnessbaldness– the use of the use of hairyhairy insects insects

– Pliny in HISTORIA NATURALISPliny in HISTORIA NATURALIS• ““The heads of flies, applied fresh to the bald The heads of flies, applied fresh to the bald

place is a convenient medicine for the said place is a convenient medicine for the said infirmity & defect.infirmity & defect.””

– 1743: English Medical Dictionary1743: English Medical Dictionary• ““Powdered bees contribute to the growth of hairPowdered bees contribute to the growth of hair””

Spiders as medicineSpiders as medicine

• TarantismTarantism– a nervous disorder characterized by hysteria & a a nervous disorder characterized by hysteria & a

mania for dancingmania for dancing

– a form of a form of anxiety displacementanxiety displacement– believed to be caused by spider bitesbelieved to be caused by spider bites

• First observed in the Italian town of First observed in the Italian town of TARANTO TARANTO in the 16in the 16th th & 17& 17thth centuries centuries– from which the name Tarantula is derivedfrom which the name Tarantula is derived– from which the folk dance from which the folk dance ““TarantellaTarantella”” is derived is derived

Recommended cure for Recommended cure for TarantismTarantism was to was to eateat live spiders!!! live spiders!!!

YUMMY!!!YUMMY!!!

Watch the Tarantella!

South AmericaSouth America• Theraphosa blondiTheraphosa blondi, • The Goliath Bird-eater

• the largest spider in the world

• To cook, it must be roasted in fire to “burn off the toxic hairs”

• Roasted for roughly seven minutes, and then cracked open like crabs

• Abdomen has actual “meat” in it

• Supposedly tastes like smoked crab

Key Points

• Wound Debridement

• Medicinal properties of honey

• Insect Sutures

• Aphrodisiacs

• Historic use of insects as medicine