Indian Journal of Traditio nal Knowledge
Vol. I (I ). October 2002. pp. 96-98
Centipede: bite and cure -
traditional vs novel
T C Khatri
J.N. Government College. Po rt Blair 744 101. Andamans
Received 14 Janua ry 2002
Centipede bite is a commo n eve nt during rainy seasons in the Andaman & Nicobar Islan ds.
The traditional methods of cure are ineffec tive. The only remedy to get tempora ry relief from
the unbearable pain is to get local anesthesia in the hospital. In far flun g islands where medi cal
fa c iliti es are not avai lable, the cheap cure described here proved to be a boon to th e islands. A
mixture of common tabl e salt and kerose ne o il , tested over a number of patient s, on ho th sexes
on all age gro ups, works perfectly in reli ev ing the pain of bite.
Keywords: Centipede: Bite and Cure; Andam<l n & Nicobar Islands
Centipedes are cosmopolitan in distribution especially in tropical countries. Indi a
houses world's 10% fauna of centipedes.
The an imal belongs to phylum Arthropoda, class Chilopoda, order Scolopendromorpha, among In vertebrates . Centipedes are nocturnal a nimals and occur in
protected damp places such as under
barks, stones, logs, crevices, dried leaves,
etc. The body is elongated, dorsoventra lly flattened with a small head and
2 1-segmented trunk (segments may be
more in some) (Fig. I).
The head is mounted with two long
many jointed antennae, two groups of
ocelli and mouth appendages (Fig. 2).
Each of the trunk segments bears a pair of
legs, except the one posterior to head that
bears a pair of poison claws of maxillipedes. Centipedes are agi le and carnivorous in diet. They kill their prey with their
poison claws. They feed on insects ,
worms and spiders. Large centipedes ca n
even eat li zards and small rat~. The
small est centipedes hardly measure a few
centimeters while the largest up to 33
centimeters.
Centipedes are famous fo r their bite,
speciall y Se%pel/elra and it is a com mon
phenomenon in differe nt parts of Ind ia.
Its bite is painful and leads to vomiting.
palpitation, burning sensati o n. infl a mmation associated with unbearab le pain. The
on ly treatment avai lab le is to take loca l
anesthesia injection in the hospital for
temporary relief. Once the effect of painkiller is over the patient starts crying with
pain. The effect of Centipede bite subsides o nly after 24 hours . Centipede bite
is very common in Andam a ns and f icobar Islands, where world 's larges t centi pede has been reported in Gu inness
World Record (33 em). In the presen t
KHATRI: CENTIPEDE: BITE AND CU RE-TRADITI ONAL VS NOVEL
97
"""_.., ANTENNA
MAXILLIPEDE
(POISON CLAW)
HEAD
PO ISONOUS CLAW
1J.,J~':t:x.t:T-~~
DENTAL PLATE
COXAL PLATE
Fig.2-Maxi llipedc
.~---'"
TRUNK
WALK IN G LEGS
POISON CLAW
Fig. J-Ce ntipede (ScoJope ndra )
Fig. 3--Poisonous gland wi th poi so n claw
paper a cheap cure for centipede bite is
described.
The centipede Inj ects the poison
throu gh its maxillipedes by puncturing
the ski n when it in serts poi so n claws. The
poison is yellow in colour and is acidic in
nature. It is manufactured in sing le-ce ll
poison g lands, which is tran sported by a
narrow duct to poison c law s w henever
required (Fig. 3). The effect of poison is
cytotoxic but no t fatal.
In the year 1993, the auth or experi enced centipede bite and got re li ef from
severe pain by applying a mixture of
common table sa lt and kerosene o il on the
bite and rubbing it for 2 to 3 minutes.
Immed iately th e author was free from
horrify ing pain. Th ere was uneasiness for
2 to 3 ho urs but no pain. The author
tested th e same formula o n hi s daughter
when she had bite of centipede after 5
days of hi s cent ipede bite. The formula
worked perfectly ri ght agai n.
Materials and Methods
The formula is si mpl e. Half teaspoon
of common sa lt is taken in palm, 4 to 5
drops of kerose ne is added to wet it. It is
98
INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL I. No. I. OCTOBER 2002
mixed thoroughly and applied on the site
for 2 to 3 minutes. Immedi ately pain will
be over. However, there will be so me inflammation at the place of bite, which
may prolong for 8 to 24 hours depending
upon the sensitivity of the skin of the perso n and some uneasiness for about I to 2
hour, which subsides in due course of
time.
Result and Discussion
Every year there are thousands of centipede bite cases especially during the
monsoon. There has not been much of a
breakthrough in finding the exact antidote
for it except the painkiller injection which
however does not add to the reli ef much ,
save temporarily. A few home made or
Granny' s suggestions have been handy in
centipede bite cases. The traditional
methods for relief are applying snail on
the bite, dropping a liquid prepared by
killing live centipede in petrol or kerosene oil, chewing black pepper, and applying onion juice on the bite. But none
of the traditional medicines gives immedi ate and complete relief from the terrible
pain. Usually the patient is ru shed to th e
hospital for medical aid, where doctor
gives injection for local anesthesi a.
This alternative painkiller for centipede
bite was not known earlier. This formula
is tested over a large number of people
with all age groups on both the sexes.
The present formula either neutralizes
the effect of poiso n or the nerve impul ses
going to the brain are blocked. The precise mechanism of action will on ly be
known when pathological, cytological
and neurological studies are conducted on
man.
References
I
Khatri T C. Reli er rrom Centipede bile soon .
The Light of Alldal/WllS. Port Blair. 18
2
3
4
5
th
OCIO-
ber. 1993.
Khatri T C, Kankhaj ura and Khatri fo rmul a.
The Alldalllall Herald, Port Blair, 12t h Novembe r, 1993.
Khatri T C, Simple Cheap Centipede bite cure
claimed, Th e Dail." Telegrams. Port Btair. :lOth
November, 1993.
Khatri T C, Kankhajura se darna kya (in
Hindi ). Pa ryawaran, I (1994) 33-35 .
Kh atri T C. Centipede: Bite and Cure. Th e
th
Daily Telegrallls, Port Blair, 8 May. j 997.