What it is:
This herbis thedried whole body of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans (family Scolopendridae), which is mainly distributed in Jianshu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunanand Anhui provinces.Caught in April, Mayor June, it is inserted by a piece ofbamboo in its head and tail,make strai-ght and dried in sunlight. Or it is dried in sunlight orby fire after scaldedto death.

Property:
flavourand channel tropism: pungent in flavour, warm in property, poisonous, acting on the liver channel.

Effects:
Relieving spasm, calming the endopathic wind, detoxicating and dispersing the lumps.

Used for:
1. Tumours of brain, bone and softtissue,and metastaticencephaloma, also carcinomas of the stomach, esophagus, liver,cervix and skin.
(1)For accumulationofphlegm and stagnationof channels and collaterals by bloodstasis after operationforebrain tumour or in metastatic ence-phaloma, it is used with scorpion, dahu-rian angelica, frank-incense, myrrhand others.
(2) For bonetumour, metastatic bone tumour and paindue to various car-cinomas, it is used with batryticated silkworm, ground beetle and chinarootgreenbrier.
(3) For carcinomas of the stomach, liver, esophagus, cervix, lung and breast, injectio of scolo-pendra extract is used to infiltrate the basal part of tumour. It inhibits a part of tumour cells and enhances the function of reticulo endothelialcell in experimentalanimals.

2. Apoplexy, convulsion, epilepsy,tetanus, facial paralysis, chronic osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, car-buncles, furuncles and snake bite.

Dosage and admi-nistration: 1.5-3g, ground into powder to make pills (or powder) with other medicine for taking.The powder can be applied externally. Injection of the herb is also used.

Precautions:
Put vaseline gauze into fistula with thepowder, once a day. 3. Burns and scalds: Soak live centipede in sesame oil for 15 days. Apply the oil on the affected part for first degree burns and scalds; soak apiece of gauze in the oil and put it on the affected partfor second and third degree burns and scalds, binding up with bandage.