Table 5 Major categories of therapeutic uses of invertebrates (based on a variety of published sources and observations by the author during field work in North-East India)
Used fresh and crushed or as a paste | Used dried, fried or as a powder | Boiled and use of extract of insect or spider | Tonic or decoction of insect or spider | Other, e.g. smoke & fumes or wash | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
External: applied to aching/injured body part | 19 | 3 | 3 | -- | 2 |
Internal: inhaled, or swallowed with or without liquid | 8 | 25 | 11 | 13 | 6 (as fumes to be inhaled) |