Entomotherapy, or the Medicinal Use of Insects

Abstract

Insects and the substances extracted from them have been used as medicinal resources by human cultures all over the world. Besides medicine, these organisms have also played mystical and magical roles in the treatment of several illnesses in a range of cultures. Science has already proven the existence of immunological, analgesic, antibacterial, diuretic, anesthetic, and antirheumatic properties in the bodies of insects. Several authors have surveyed the therapeutic potential of insects, either recording traditional medical practices or employing insects and their products at the laboratory and/or clinical level. Thus, insects seem to constitute an almost inexhaustible source for pharmacological research. Chemical studies are needed to discover which biologically active compounds are actually present within insect bodies. The therapeutic potential of insects represents a significant contribution to the debate on biodiversity conservation, as well as opening perspectives for the economic and cultural valorization of animals traditionally regarded as useless. Their use needs to be at a sustainable level to avoid overexploitation.

Bio-economic potential of ethno-entomophagy and its therapeutics in India

“…They are also utilized as traditional medicine 8 , 9 . The use of insects and their products for therapeutic purposes is known as entomo-therapy 10 . Several records exist regarding entomophagy in diverse ethnic communities and geographical areas.…”

Entomophagy and entomo-therapeutic practices in a mountainous territory in southeast Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

“…Approximately 70%–80% of the world’s rural population rely on traditional medicine for their primary healthcare, which includes various entomo-therapeutic practices [ 17 , 18 ]. For example, crickets, katydids, and some grasshopper species have been recommended for illnesses of the throat and ears [ 18 ]; ants have been used to treat paralysis, gastrointestinal ailments, severe colds, pain, arthritis, gynecological disorders, mumps, asthma, insect stings and bites, dizziness, impotence, rheumatism, chickenpox, and bronchitis [ 16 , 18 ]; and honey has been reportedly used to treat burns, skin disorders, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular illnesses and promote wound healing [ 19 , 20 ]. Beetles have been used to lessen or bring down kidney pain, rheumatism, gout, ear and tooth aches, snake and dog bite sufferings, and urinary problems [ 16 ].…”

“…Vespine wasps claimed to possess anticancer properties and compounds that can stimulate the heart and kidneys [ 21 ]. As such, the medicinal interactions between humans and insects have recently aroused the interest of researchers who record these interactions and search for compounds exhibiting pharmacological activity [ 18 , 22 , 23 ]. To date, approximately 1,000 species with therapeutic value have been reported worldwide, although the actual number may be considerably higher due to insufficient attention paid to this field of inquiry [ 16 ].…”

Traditional ecological knowledge and non-food uses of stingless bee honey in Kenya’s last pocket of tropical rainforest

“…Worldwide, natural remedies derived from insects and their by-products have long been used in traditional or folk healthcare [ 6 ]. Honey produced by the iconic Western Honey Bee, Apis mellifera , is one of these natural substances and has been gathered in Nature since ancient times [ 7 ] and praised for its medicinal and nutritional properties [ 8 ].…”