Flower Spider, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the entire body of the garden spider Argiope bruennichii (Scopoli) of the family Araneidae. It has the effects of detoxifying, reducing swelling, and treating malaria. It is used for snake bites, boils and swellings caused by toxic sores, and warm malaria.
Flower Spider
Flower Spider, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the entire body of the garden spider Argiope bruennichii (Scopoli) of the family Araneidae. It has the effects of detoxifying, reducing swelling, and treating malaria. It is used for snake bites, boils and swellings caused by toxic sores, and warm malaria.
Chinese Name : 花蜘蛛
Aliases : Grass Spider, Flower-knotted Spider, Golden Spider
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Bitter, cold. Liver and Kidney meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Detoxifies, reduces swelling, and stops malaria.
Indications
Used for snake bites, boils and swellings caused by carbuncles, and warm malaria.
Usage and Dosage
Grind into a powder for use in pills or powders; 0.5–1 g, or 1 specimen daily. For external use, apply an appropriate amount as a powder or as a paste.
Precautions
This product is toxic; do not take for prolonged periods, and never exceed the recommended dosage.
Relevant Discussions
*Rihua Zi*: “Treats malaria and carbuncles. Catching it with a net to eat enhances dexterity and alleviates forgetfulness.”
Applications
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Use immediately after capture; use fresh.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The female spider measures 18–22 mm in body length, while the male measures 5.9 mm.The cephalothorax, abdomen, and walking legs are all broken off irregularly, but an intact, oval-shaped abdomen is visible; it is pale yellow with black transverse stripes on the upper surface. The broken walking legs are pale yellow, bearing black annulations and black spines, as well as fine, rough brown hairs. The body is light and brittle. It has a faint odor and a slightly bitter, salty taste.
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
The female spider measures 18–22 mm in body length, while the male measures 5.9 mm. The female’s cephalothorax is oval-shaped, grayish-yellow on the dorsal side, and densely covered with silvery-white hairs. The basal segment of the chelicerae, the mandibular lobe of the pedipalps, and the labium are the same color. The median pits are arranged transversely; the median pits, cervical sulcus, and radial sulcus are all dark gray, while the central part of the sternum is yellow and the margins are brown.The walking legs are yellow, bearing black spots and black spines; each segment from the knee to the hind tarsus has black annulations. The abdomen is oblong, yellow on the dorsal side, with a raised ridge on each side of the anterior shoulder. There are approximately 10 dark brown transverse stripes running from front to back, hence the name “Transverse-striped Golden Spider.” The ventral surface of the abdomen has a black spot in the center, with a yellow longitudinal stripe on each side.The pendulous organ of the female is wedge-shaped. The male’s body color is less vivid than that of the female; the dorsal surface of the abdomen is pale yellow and lacks black transverse stripes.
Distribution Area
Found in Guangdong, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning, and Jilin in China.