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Photo of Scorpion

Scorpion

全蝎 · Quán Xiē

Calms severe spasms and stubborn neuralgia

Properties

NeutralNeutral botanicalPungent

Concerns

Inflammation

What it does

Scorpion targets the most stubborn neurological pain and movement problems: seizures, muscle spasms, facial twitches, and migraines. In TCM, these belong to internal wind, the sudden, jerky quality of disease arising from the liver. Salt-boiled scorpion is one of the few botanicals strong enough to calm it, and it appears in classical formulas like Qiān Zhèng Sǎn for facial paralysis.

How to take it

Capsule

Scorpion is used only in practitioner-prescribed formulas. Processed dried scorpion powder is typically dosed at 0.6–1g daily. Never source raw scorpion yourself.

See a TCM practitioner. This is not a self-use botanical

Safety

  • Toxic. Only use processed forms prescribed by a TCM practitioner
  • Strictly avoid during pregnancy
  • Not for people with seafood or insect allergies, since it's animal-derived
  • Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Dried scorpion has been part of TCM for over a thousand years, recorded in classical pharmacopeias as a wind-extinguishing remedy. The species used (Buthus martensii) is sourced from northern China, where it's traditionally caught in spring. Practitioners process it through salt-boiling and drying to neutralize its venom. It appears in famous formulas like Qiān Zhèng Sǎn for facial paralysis. Modern systematic reviews have explored its role in stroke recovery.