Wu Gong (Centipede)

Chinese Herb Actions

Chinese Herb Dosage

• What is the typical dosage of Wu Gong, and how is it processed?

  3–5 g of the whole centipede in decoction (roughly 1–3 whole centipedes), or 0.6–1 g as powder (about one ground centipede), typically divided over the day. Because it is toxic, it is dosed conservatively, for limited courses, and is not exceeded without professional supervision. The head and feet are traditionally removed before use, and the substance is sometimes dry-toasted to moderate its potency.

  Note: Dosage figures vary somewhat across sources — some professional references cite a narrower 1–3 g decoction range, others 3–5 g (matching the closely related Quan Xie); the difference appears to reflect emphasis on conservative dosing for a toxic substance rather than a genuine disagreement about a safe ceiling. 3–5 g decoction / 0.6–1 g powder is treated here as the standard reference range, with 5 g (or 3 whole centipedes) as the commonly cited ceiling.

  Source: standard materia medica ranges (Bensky et al., 3rd ed.), cross-checked against multiple professional TCM references. Reference only — not a prescription.

Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions

• What are the cautions and contraindications for Wu Gong?

  Wu Gong is contraindicated in pregnancy and should not be used for wind arising from blood or yin deficiency. Because it is a toxic, venom-derived animal medicinal, it is given in small doses, for short courses, and with attention to correct species identity, sourcing, and processing. It is inappropriate where convulsions or tremors stem from deficiency rather than an excess wind pattern, and practitioner caution applies in the weak, debilitated, or those with known sensitivity to arthropod-derived substances.

  • Pregnancy — contraindicated (traditionally regarded as having abortifacient potential).
  • Deficiency-type wind — avoid where wind arises from blood or yin deficiency.
  • Allergy/sensitivity — caution in anyone with known reactions to centipede, scorpion, or other arthropod-derived medicinals; case-level delayed hypersensitivity reactions have been documented (see Toxicity).
  • Dose and duration — small doses only, short courses; not for long-term or high-dose use.

  Source: standard materia medica consensus (Bensky et al., 3rd ed.; classical contraindications); case-report context from PubMed 36595768. Traditional-use framing; not medical advice.

Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose

• Toxic — a fuller toxicity classification than the closely related Quan Xie (Scorpion), which is graded “slightly toxic.” The Sacred Lotus identity record flags Wu Gong as toxic, consistent with standard materia medica classification. Centipede venom contains bioactive peptides — including SsTx, a toxin that blocks KCNQ potassium channels and accounts for much of the venom’s potency — plus histamine-like substances and hemolytic proteins that can trigger allergic or hypersensitivity reactions. At the standard reference dose (3–5 g decoction / 0.6–1 g powder), traditional sources report no apparent toxicity; overdose or prolonged/high-dose use has been associated with gastrointestinal upset, dizziness, and, in traditional cautions, potential strain on liver and kidney function. A published case report documents delayed hypersensitivity (fever, then a spreading rash) in a patient who self-administered a very large daily dose of raw centipede and scorpion powder (far above the reference range) for lumbar disc herniation — resolving with standard medical treatment once identified. Contraindicated in pregnancy. Stated neutrally as a handling, dosing, and safety consideration — not a therapeutic claim.

  Source: standard materia medica consensus (Bensky et al., 3rd ed.); Sacred Lotus sources & references (flagged Toxic); mechanism context from PubMed 29358396 (SsTx toxin blocks KCNQ channels, Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans venom); case context from PubMed 36595768 (delayed hypersensitivity following high-dose self-administered centipede/scorpion powder). Sourcing and handling note.

• This herb is considered toxic.
  (while some Chinese herbs are toxic, it must be noted that many come prepared, or are combined, to mitigate their toxicity)

Herb-Drug Interactions

• No well-established clinical herb–drug interactions are documented. Given the ion-channel-active peptides identified in centipede venom (see Research and Toxicity), practitioner caution is reasonable alongside drugs acting on the nervous system (e.g., anticonvulsants and sedatives) and in anyone with a history of drug or arthropod allergy, given the documented potential for hypersensitivity reactions. This is a theoretical, mechanism-based caution, not an established clinical interaction. (Flagged for practitioner confirmation before publishing — absence of documented interactions is not proof of safety.)

Western / Biomedical Research

Chinese Herb Clinical Studies & Research

Provided as research context — a summary of published biomedical study, not a therapeutic or medical claim.

• Is there modern research on Wu Gong (Scolopendra subspinipes)?

  Yes, but it is largely preclinical, focused on isolated venom peptides and extracts rather than the whole medicinal substance, with sparse human clinical data. A 2025 scoping review synthesized 45 in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies of Scolopendra subspinipes bioactive compounds.

  • Comprehensive scoping review (2025). Venom- and extract-derived compounds showed analgesic (the peptide SsmTX-I blocked Kv2.1 channels with pain-relieving effects reported to rival morphine in animal models, without opioid-type side effects), anti-inflammatory (suppression of NF-κB signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokines), and antitumor activity (apoptosis induction, enhanced natural-killer and T-cell cytotoxicity) in preclinical models. The review found clinical evidence “predominantly preclinical” and human data “sparse,” and flagged documented adverse effects — local irritation, allergic reactions, and immunogenic responses — requiring stronger standardization and safety assessment.
  • Venom mechanism (2018). A PNAS study identified SsTx, a peptide toxin in Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans venom, as a potent blocker of KCNQ potassium channels responsible for much of the venom’s lethality in prey; the KCNQ-opening drug retigabine reversed the toxin’s effects in animal models, a laboratory finding relevant to envenomation treatment, not to therapeutic use of the medicinal.
  • Real-world safety case (2022). A published case report documents delayed hypersensitivity (persistent fever followed by a spreading rash) after a patient self-administered a very large daily dose of raw centipede and scorpion powder for lumbar disc herniation — far exceeding standard reference doses — underscoring why medication history and dose limits matter in practice.

  Bottom line: modern interest centers on venom peptides for pain, inflammation, and cancer, and on venom toxicology, but the evidence is preclinical or case-level. Not a basis for treatment claims.

  Sources: PMID 40423312 / DOI 10.3390/toxins17050229 (comprehensive scoping review of bioactive compounds, preclinical pharmacology & clinical applications, 2025); PMID 29358396 (SsTx blocks KCNQ channels, PNAS, 2018); PMID 36595768 (delayed hypersensitivity case report, high-dose centipede/scorpion powder, 2022). Research context, not a therapeutic claim.

Chinese Herb Notes

• How does Wu Gong compare to Quan Xie and Jiang Can, and why is it paired with Quan Xie?

  Wu Gong and Quan Xie (Scorpion) are the classic paired “strong wind” substances — very similar in action, both toxic, insect/arthropod-class wind-extinguishers reserved for severe spasm, convulsion, and stubborn pain that gentler herbs cannot reach. Wu Gong is generally regarded as somewhat stronger and more drying, with a fast, penetrating quality, and carries a fuller “toxic” classification (vs Quan Xie’s “slightly toxic”).

  How it compares within its category:

  • vs Quan Xie (Scorpion) — near-identical indications; Quan Xie is salty and neutral, Wu Gong is acrid and warm; Wu Gong is considered the stronger, more drying, and more toxic of the two.
  • vs Jiang Can — Jiang Can is far milder and low in toxicity, additionally transforms phlegm and dispels wind-heat (throat, skin); Wu Gong is reserved for more severe convulsion and stubborn pain, but is toxic.
  • vs Di Long — Di Long is cold, non-toxic, and drains heat; Wu Gong is warm, toxic, and reaches deeper wind and pain.

  Common combinations: the classic pair is Wu Gong + Quan Xie (as in Zhi Jing San) for convulsions, spasms, tetanus, and obstinate headache — Quan Xie’s “bone-penetrating” quality and Wu Gong’s “channel-rushing” quality are said to reinforce each other. Wu Gong is also combined with Tian Ma and Gou Teng for stubborn headache and wind-stroke, with Jiang Can for wind-phlegm patterns, and with blood-moving herbs such as Dang Gui and Chuan Xiong for chronic bi pain. (Traditional formula context, not treatment advice.)

  Source: standard materia medica consensus (differentiation & classical combinations, Bensky et al., 3rd ed.), cross-checked against professional TCM references.

This herb is considered toxic