Wow, the miracle medicine for curing my mouth ulcers turned out to be cockroach water!

Audit expert: Mo Jianchu

Professor, Institute of Entomology, Zhejiang University

Recently, a netizen claimed on the Internet that a Chinese medicine he was drinking actually contained "dried American cockroach extract", and the American cockroach is the "southern cockroach" that scared the northern friends.

...In other words, cockroaches can actually be used as medicine!

It has to be said that eating cockroaches as medicine is really unbearable psychologically, and many people who are afraid of cockroaches are directly defeated. So, is it really safe to use cockroaches as medicine? Can you taste the flavor?

Image source | Weibo

A large family of cockroaches

Cockroaches usually refer to insects other than termites in the order Blattodea. In nature, they are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, but in fact, with human activities, cockroaches can be said to be spread all over the world. According to modern biological classification, there are about 4,000 species of cockroaches , which is a very large family, but only dozens of species are identified as pests and will invade human homes, and most of the rest live in the wild. Next, we will mainly introduce common household pests as an example.

Cockroaches are omnivorous insects that like to live in warm, humid places with abundant food and many corners and crevices. These conditions coincide with the living and dwelling spaces of humans.

Common cockroaches in Chinese homes include the American cockroach, the Australian cockroach, and the black-breasted cockroach, while the small cockroaches include the German cockroach and the Japanese cockroach. Different species of cockroaches are distributed in different regions. At the same time, due to their preference for warm and humid environments, the climate in the south is more suitable for cockroaches to survive , so cockroaches in the south are larger than those in the north, and there are more species.

Image source | Baidu Encyclopedia

There are many species of cockroaches. In addition to the fact that they have no shortage of food because they live around humans, the reason why they are so numerous is also their strong reproductive ability and vitality.

Cockroaches are metamorphosing insects with a short reproduction cycle. Some of them can even reproduce without mating. The common American cockroach can reproduce parthenogenetically. It is said that a pair of German cockroaches can produce 100,000 offspring a year . Coupled with the development of industries such as transportation and logistics, the scope of cockroach invasion has expanded everywhere and can be said to be omnipresent.

Entomologists have discovered that at least 12 species of cockroaches can survive for a week on paste used to paste walls, and the American cockroach can even survive for three weeks without water or food . This vitality is truly admirable.

It can be seen from this that cockroaches have good living conditions in human homes. Coupled with their strong survival and reproduction abilities, it is not surprising that cockroaches have become a highly despised sanitary pest in thousands of households.

Medicinal value of American cockroach

Although cockroaches are hated by many people, they are indeed used as a medicine in medicine. Their extracts have certain therapeutic effects and are beneficial to human health.

Image source | Wikipedia/Jan Drewes

The cockroaches used as medicine refer to the American cockroach, which is what we often call the "southern cockroach". It is commonly found in southern my country. It is very large and is mostly seen in Yunnan, Sichuan and other places.

The history of using cockroaches as medicine in China can be traced back to the Qin and Han Dynasties . "Shennong's Herbal Classic" once recorded: "Fei Lian, salty in taste. It is mainly used to treat blood stasis, cold and heat, breaking up accumulation, laryngeal and pharyngeal closure, internal cold and infertility." In other words, cockroaches have the effects of dispersing blood stasis, removing cold and heat, resolving accumulation, and detoxifying.

Modern medical research shows that cockroach-related drugs have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, immunity-enhancing, and tissue repair effects.

In the 20th century, Professor Li Shunan of Yunnan Dali University studied and bred American cockroaches, and used modern scientific technology to extract mucosine , an ingredient that can promote tissue repair in cockroaches. Later, based on this ingredient, Li Shunan developed related drugs, such as:

**Kangfuxin Liquid: **Treats burns, various sores, ulcers, and is an auxiliary treatment for tuberculosis.

**Xinmailong Injection: **Strengthens the heart and increases blood pressure, improves cardiovascular circulation, and treats cardiovascular diseases.

**Ganlong Capsule: **Anti-viral, improves immunity, and effectively targets hepatitis B.

Image source | Wikipedia/Image watermark

The above are all kinds of medicines containing cockroach extracts, which together form a pharmaceutical industry using cockroaches as raw materials.

According to Professor Li Shunan’s latest research, cockroach extracts also contain active anti-cancer ingredients . The medicinal value of cockroaches has been discovered during the continuous research process, bringing great hope for the treatment of various human diseases.

Cockroaches are known as "the indestructible cockroaches". So, is there any good way to prevent cockroaches? To prevent cockroaches, we can do the following.

Ways to prevent cockroaches

**> > >****>** First, keep the environment clean and dry

Cockroaches prefer a humid environment with food, so the home should be kept ventilated and dry to avoid water accumulation in corners; develop good hygiene habits, regularly clean indoor floors, kitchens, bathrooms, trash cans and other areas, and check for traces of cockroaches, including cockroach shells and excrement; garbage generated in the home every day, especially kitchen waste , should be cleaned up in time to avoid food residues remaining in the home.

Image source | pixbay

**> > >****>** Second, do a good job of food management

Store food in sealed containers and do not leave food in the open air. Especially for unfinished food, put it in a sealed bag. In hot weather, it is recommended to cook and eat food immediately and not leave it overnight.

**> > >****>** The third is to block all entrances and exits

It includes various pipe gaps connecting the home to the outside, such as gas pipe openings, sewer openings, and air-conditioning pipe openings.

If cockroaches are already found in your home, you should use insecticides properly, such as cockroach bait glue, insecticide spray, etc. When using insecticides, pay attention to the dosage specified in the instructions to avoid excessive inhalation and ensure safe use.

As the weather gets warmer, it is time for cockroaches to reproduce rapidly. Although cockroaches can be used as medicine, as one of the four pests, they can also spread a lot of germs.

Therefore, before the cockroach family grows up, clean your home quickly and say goodbye to cockroaches this summer.