Medical Uses of Ants

For centuries, medicinal ants have been used therapeutically to treat rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis in China. Belonging to the the family Formicidae, ants can be ingested as an extract, tea infusion or wine when used medicinally, or eaten whole as food. Researchers suspect that ants contain anti-inflammatory and pain-killing substances, which are responsible for their health benefits. However, research regarding how and why medicinal ants work is largely unknown.

History

• There may be several species of medicinal ants.

  Known in traditional Chinese medicine as Xuan Ju (black young horse), the black mountain or weaver ant, Polyrhachis vicina Roger, has a 3,000-year history in traditional Chinese medicine. The first documented mention of ants was in the ancient text "Zhou-Li," which stated that ants were excellent food for the king. By the 16th century, the Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu) published descriptions of medicinal ants' pharmacological properties. In 2011, Polyrhachis vicina Roger is the only ant species approved by the National Food Hygiene, Drug Control Department of China for use as food and medicine. Research into other ant species, such as Formica aquilonia and Polyrhacis lamellidens, suggests that there may be several species of ants with medicinal effects.

Therapeutic Uses

• Medicinal ant extracts are used for arthritis.

  Medicinal ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger) are regularly used in Chinese hospitals for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis as well as chronic hepatitis. Ingesting medicinal ants whole or in extract form may help regulate the immune system, increase longevity and regulate sexual function.

Preclinical Research

• Medicinal ants may help reduce pain.

  Preclinical research consists of information gathered from studies conducted in a laboratory setting or in animals. In a 2005 study published in "Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin," researchers from the China Pharmaceutical University demonstrated that ethanolic extracts of Chinese medicinal ants (Polyrhachis lamellidens) produced analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory effects. In 2009, researchers from Iwate University reported in the "Journal of Traditional Medicines" that another type of ant, the Chinese red ant (Formica aquilonia), may also posses anti-cancer and antioxidant effects, as assessed in laboratory studies. Scientists postulate that the therapeutic value of medicinal ants may be due in part to their rich content of manganese, zinc, selenium, proteins, carotenoids and vitamin E.

Clinical Research

• Polyrhachis Extract is used in Chinese hospitals.

  In 2001, Dr. Yi Zhao and fellow researchers from the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Guanxi College of TCM investigated the effects of Polyrhachis Extract in 16,015 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Of these patients, 10.5 percent were considered clinically cured and 89.1 percent showed improvements in arthritic symptoms. Therapeutic effects began after two weeks of treatment with notable improvements manifesting around 8 to 12 weeks. Aside from studies using medicinal ants for the treatment of arthritis, clinical trials are currently lacking or unavailable for other conditions.