We Got Scorpions!

Check this out! These are not stock photos, my friends! 

Despite what my sister says, Robert and I did not get these just because they are cool (they are so cool! ...and terrifying!). Actually, we've been seeing a lot of patients lately complaining of paralysis, paresthesia, numbness and tingling, spasming muscles, etc., and this is an extremely important medicinal for treating such things. 

Quan Xie, or scorpion, extinguishes wind and stops tremors and convulsions. Big deal - so do uncaria vine, gastrodia rhizome, caltrop fruit, and abalone shell. But what they don't do is the special action of "tracking down wind and unblocking the collaterals." This is something at which critters of various types are particularly good. 

In many of the ancient medical systems that developed out of physicians' experience with nature and the environment around them, there exists a principle called the Doctrine of Signatures. The Doctrine of Signatures is essentially the idea of using something that resembles part of the body to treat that part of the body. This is why we say that walnuts are good for the brain and use the bark or peel of a plant to treat skin conditions. This idea is extended to the behaviors of insects and how it directly influences their medicinal actions. 

Bugs typically burrow and eat their way through the ground or wood, and so we carry things like earthworm, wingless cockroach, and scorpion(!) which, when used medicinally, energetically burrow through the Meridians and unblock the collapsed or damaged parts to restore free-flow, thus improving spasms, numbness, and even paralysis in some cases.  So typically, the interesting and slightly scary stuff is used when we need to bring out the big guns. However, we've also got cicada shells, which benefit the throat and voice; how nice that these loud summertime singers can relieve your sore throat in the winter. 

Now I expect all of you to be really excited about the creepy-crawly section of our herbal pharmacy, but I understand if one or two of you just think this stuff is gross. The 10th century Song Dynasty herbalist Kou Zong-Shi said regarding usage of Tu Bie Chong (ground beetle), "If breast milk does not flow, grind one [and boil] in half a cup of water, then filter it clear. Have the patient drink it - but do not let her know [what it is]." Well, I'll try not to trick my patients like that, but sometimes, bugs are good for you!