What insect produces cantharidin?
blister beetle Epicauta
Cantharidin, a potent defensive chemical, is present in all ten life stages of the blister beetle Epicauta funebris.
What was Spanish fly historically used for in medical treatments?
Cantharidin is a poisonous substance secreted by blister beetles, including the ‘Spanish fly’. Historically, cantharidin was used as an aphrodisiac, vesicant and abortifacient. Symptoms of poisoning include gastrointestinal and genitourinary mucosal irritation along with renal dysfunction.
What is beetle juice for warts?
Cantharidin is a substance that comes from the green blister beetle. It is sometimes used to treat warts if salicylic acid or freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) has not been useful. Cantharidin is a vesicant, which means it causes the skin to blister.
What is cantharidin used for?
Historically, cantharidin has been used as an aphrodisiac, an abortifacient, and a veterinary medicine diuretic. In dermatology, topical cantharidin has been used as a vesicant for the treatment of warts and molluscum since the 1950s.
Where is cantharidin found?
Cantharidin is an irritant toxic agent present in blister beetles. Only a few of the several species of blister beetles contain cantharidin. Blister beetles are abundant in mid- and late summer when alfalfa hay containing the beetles is harvested in the central plains of the United States.
Why is it called a Spanish fly?
“Spanish Fly” is a curious name for an extract of blister beetles since the beetles are not flies, nor are they Spanish. The extract contains cantharidin, a substance that supposedly increases sexual desire. Not only does it not do that, it may eliminate all desire permanently.
Should I pop cantharidin blister?
Do not manipulate or pull off the blister because it is protecting the healing tissue below. If the blister is bothersome you can take a sterile needle and pop the blister. 6. If you develop a fever, significant redness, pain, swelling, or have a discharge from the site, call the office at 352-332-4442.
Does cantharidin require prescription?
Cantharidin is a chemical derived from the green blister beetle. The cantharidin causes the skin under the wart to blister, lifting the wart off the skin. Consult your prescriber. This is a compounded medication specifically made for you based on a prescription from your licensed physician.
Is cantharidin a prescription?
This medication requires a prescription. To process your order we will require a prescription from you or your Prescriber. We will only compound and dispense upon receipt of a valid patient specific prescription.
Where do Spanish flies live?
Eurasia
Range and habitat. The Spanish fly is found across Eurasia, though it is a mainly a southern European species, with some records from southern Great Britain and Poland. Adult beetles primarily feed on leaves of ash, lilac, amur privet, honeysuckle and white willow. It is occasionally found on plum, rose, and elm.
What is the side effect of Spanish fly?
Spanish fly is a poison that burns the mouth and throat, and can cause urinary infections, scarring of the urethra, and in some rare cases, death.
What happens if you don’t wash off cantharidin?
Remember to wash the cantharidin off. Dr. Khoza will tell you at what time you need to remove the tape and wash your treated areas with soap and water. If you forget, it will keep blistering, don’t wait until you feel a painful reminder.
How long can you leave cantharidin on?
Instruct patient to keep the tape on for at least four hours (up to 24 hours). Within 24 hours a blister forms which is often painful and inflamed. Have the patient return for observation in one to two weeks. Remove necrotic tissue and treat as before if any viable wart tissue remains.
Can cantharidin be used to remove warts?
Though the effectiveness of cantharidin as wart removal treatment has been observed in peer-reviewed scientific papers, the toxic compound from the blister beetle has not yet been approved for the treatment of warts by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What insects produce cantharidin?
^ Including broadly in genus Epicauta, genus Berberomeloe, and in species Lytta vesicatoria (Spanish fly). False blister beetles, cardinal beetles, and soldier beetles also produce cantharidin. ^ As defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002).
Does Spanish Fly contain cantharidin?
While most commonly available preparations of Spanish fly contain cantharidin in negligible amounts, if at all, the chemical is available illicitly in concentrations capable of causing severe toxicity. ^ Wilson, C. R. (2010). “Methods for Analysis of Gastrointestinal Toxicants (Ch. 9)”.
Is cantharidin a poison?
It is a burn agent or a poison in large doses, but preparations containing it were historically used as aphrodisiacs ( Spanish fly ). In its natural form, cantharidin is secreted by the male blister beetle and given to the female as a copulatory gift during mating.