☯ TCM Properties
Attacks toxin and e rodes sores; Invigorates the Blood, d ispels Blood Stasis and disperses clumps
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ban Mao is the dried body of blister beetles of the genus Mylabris (chiefly Mylabris phalerata), the Chinese analogue of cantharides. Pungent and cold and classed with external, toxin-attacking agents, it attacks toxin and erodes sores, and invigorates the Blood to break up Blood stasis and disperse hard clumps. Externally it has been used as a caustic/vesicant on stubborn tinea, warts and malignant sores; internally, in minute doses, it was given for masses and scrofula, and, in modern practice, as a source of cantharidin in anti-tumor formulas.
Safety is critical: Ban Mao is highly toxic. Its active constituent, cantharidin, is a potent vesicant with a very narrow margin between effective and lethal dose, causing severe gastrointestinal, urinary (hemorrhagic cystitis), cardiac and renal toxicity. It is strictly contraindicated in pregnancy and must only be used by qualified practitioners; it is never for self-administration.
Botanical Description
Ban Mao is not a plant but the dried whole body of blister beetles in the genus Mylabris, principally Mylabris phalerata and M. cichorii (Coleoptera: Meloidae), collected in central and southern China during the warm season. These beetles are stout, elongate insects approximately one and a half to three centimeters long, with soft flexible elytra typically marked by alternating transverse bands of orange-yellow and black, a small head bent downward, and prominent thread-like antennae. The insects are gathered in early morning when sluggish from cool temperatures, killed by steaming or boiling, and dried whole for medicinal use. The body contains high concentrations of cantharidin, a powerful blistering vesicant historically extracted from related Old World blister beetles and notorious for severe systemic toxicity.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| poultice | As needed | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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