Silkworm Cocoon

Abresham (Unani)
Za og bsregs thal (Burnt Silk, Tibetan)
Picture Silkworm farming
Museum Museorum, Valentini, 1704

Picture Silkworm, Silkworm Cocoon, Silk
Insectorum sive Minimorum Animalium Theatrum, 1634

Picture Raw Silkworm Cocoons (Photo by Biswarup Ganguly) (Wikimedia)

Picture Types of raw Silk available on the Indian market:
1 & 2 (Far Left & Left): Assamese Cocoons: Samia cynthia Red and White;
3: Antheraea assamensis. 4 (far right): Bombyx mori.
(Photo by Biswarup Ganguly, edited) (Wikimedia)

Entomological name:


Bombyx mori and related species
Other sources of silk include Samia cynthia and Antheraea assamensis

Parts used:


1. Raw Silkworm cocoon that hasn’t been boiled, with the Silkworm removed
2. Burnt Silkworm cocoon

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry. Sweet

Classifications:


3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS
4c. CARDIAC
Preparers and Purgers of Melancholy

Constituents:


Glycoproteins: Fibroin (70%), sericin (20–30%)
Carbohydrates; fats & waxes (0.4-0.8%); salts (0.7%); pigments (0.2%); flavonoids
 Picture Above: Silkworm Cocoon,
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Uses:


1. Calms the Mind and Spirit, Benefits the Heart:
-calms the Heart, used for Palpitation, nervous Heart and arrhythmia
-Melancholy and Sadness.
-benefits Memory
-regarded as Exhilarant in Unani

2. Strengthens the Spirits (Natural, Vital and Animal):
-regarded as a tonic, added to tonic formula.
-debility of the Heart, Liver or Brain
-nourishes Qi and Yin, benefits Essence
-improves stamina, enhances reproduction, increases Sperm, used as an aphrodisiac.

3. Calms Wind, Stops Spasms:
-Headaches, Vertigo, Fits, Convulsions. (West, Unani; similar to the TCM use of Dried Silkworm)

4. Stops Leakage and Bleeding:
-the ashes stop bleeding; they clear blood in the stool, stop Metrorrhagia and Hematuria.
-Leukorrhea and chronic Diarrhea.

5. Astringes the Kidneys:
-the decoction is used for Polyuria and quenches Thirst.
-decoction of the Cocoons has been used in the treatment of Diabetes (TCM)

6. Clears Heat and Poison:
-Plague, Fevers and ‘Spotted Fevers’ including Measles and Smallpox
-Infections and Consumption.
-Elephantiasis and Leprosy
-various Stings and Bites.

7. Clears Cold Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Cough and Asthma with excess Phlegm. It is good to make thick, sticky phlegm thinner and lighter.
-In modern Unani, it is used for seasonal Catarrh and Flu due to cold.
-in Unani, it is also used for hyperlipidemia due to excess Phlegm

8. Externally:
-ashes are applied to swollen Abscesses, septic Boils, and Wounds.
-ashes also strengthens the Teeth and prevents their putrefaction when used in Tooth powders.
-ash is applied to the eye for Epiphora and eye irritations. (Unani)
-powder can be used as a dust for Eczema
-useful cosmetic: Increases hydration, elasticity, antiaging and antiwrinkle effects (see research below)


Dose:


Decoction or Infusion: 3–5 grams
Of the Ash in Powder: 200–600mg

Correctives:


1. Valerian
2. Indian Spikenard

Substitutes:


1. Bombyx mylitta
2. Basil seed
3. Ashes of Pearl and Onosma bracteatum (Unani Pharmacopoeia of Bangladesh)

Preparation

:
1. Finely cut Silkworm Cocoon:
  They were cut very finely and added to powders as they are very difficult to powder.
2. Stir-fried Silkworm Cocoon:
  They can be gently stir-fried until crisp and able to be powdered. Burnt Silk was often added to tonic formulas and is easier to powder.
3. Carbonised Silkworm Cocoon:
  When ashed, they are stronger to stop Bleeding. The ashes were also used externally.
4. Cochineal died Silkworm Cocoon:
  As a tonic, sometimes the Cocoons were dyed with cochineal

Main Combinations:


1. Cardiac debility, and to calm the Mind and Nerves:
i. Silkworm Cocoon with Aloeswood, Cardamon, Sandalwood, Indian Spikenard, Saffron, Mastic, Pearl, Amber (as in Khamira Abresham of Unani)
ii. Silkworm Cocoon with Delphinium denudatum, Nutmeg, Saffron, Aloeswood, Red Coral, Pearl, Amber (as in Hab-e-Jawahir of Unani)
2. Cardiovascular disease, Dracocephalum moldavicum with Silkworm Cocoon, Bugloss, Indian Spikenard, Saffron, Lavender, Rose (Uyghur formula)
3. As a tonic to increase energy, for cardiac debility, Palpitations and Melancholy, with Apple juice, Rose water, Aloeswood, Cinnamon, Lapis Lazuli, Musk (as in Royal Confection of Kermes)
4. Bronchial Asthma, with Licorice, Borage, Hyssop (Unani)
5. Melancholy, burnt Silk with Coral, Burnt Harts Horn, Pearl, Cardamon, Hyssop, Licorice, Nutmegs, Cloves, Indian Spikenard, Cinnamon, Saffron
6. To enhance Memory, with Chebulic Myrobalan, Indian Spikenard, Red and White Behen, Peony, Calamus, Cyperus rotundus, Frankincense, Raisins, Mastic, Saffron (Unani)
7. Diabetes insipidus, it has been prepared as an infusion with Tea

Major Formulas:


Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)
Electuary of Aloeswood (Diaxyloaloes) (Mesue)
Powder for Evil Complexion of the Heart (Isaac)
Letificans Cooling Electuary (Unani)

Cautions:


1. Regarded as harmful for the Kidneys if taken in large doses, or excessively used (Unani)
2. Excess use may cause Headaches and Dizziness (Unani Pharmacopoeia of Bangladesh)

Main Preparations used:



  • Extra Info
  • Research
ANTI-BACTERIAL
–Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Efficacy of Silk Cocoon, Silkworm Pupa and Non-Sericin Extracts

ANTI-VIRAL
–Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Efficacy of Silk Cocoon, Silkworm Pupa and Non-Sericin Extracts

ANTI-OXIDANT,
–Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Efficacy of Silk Cocoon, Silkworm Pupa and Non-Sericin Extracts
–The flavonoid-rich ethanolic extract from the green cocoon shell of silkworm has excellent antioxidation, glucosidase inhibition, and cell protective effects in vitro

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
–Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Efficacy of Silk Cocoon, Silkworm Pupa and Non-Sericin Extracts

HYPERLIPIDEMIA / ATHEROSCLEROSIS
–Effect of crude extract of Bombyx mori coccoons in hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis

CARDIOPROTECTIVE
–Evaluation of cardioprotective effect of silk cocoon (Abresham) on isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction in rats
–Scientific validation of cardioprotective attribute by standardized extract of Bombyx mori against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in murine model

NEUROPROTECTIVE
–Identification and applications of neuroactive silk proteins: a narrative review.

DIABETES
–The flavonoid-rich ethanolic extract from the green cocoon shell of silkworm has excellent antioxidation, glucosidase inhibition, and cell protective effects in vitro
–Consumption of sericin reduces serum lipids, ameliorates glucose tolerance and elevates serum adiponectin in rats fed a high-fat diet.
–Isolation and bioactivities of a non-sericin component from cocoon shell silk sericin of the silkworm Bombyx mori.

ANTI-TUMOR / CANCER
–Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Efficacy of Silk Cocoon, Silkworm Pupa and Non-Sericin Extracts

UV RESISTANT / SKIN-WHITENING
–The flavonoid-rich ethanolic extract from the green cocoon shell of silkworm has excellent antioxidation, glucosidase inhibition, and cell protective effects in vitro

WOUND HEALING
–Silkworm Sericin: Properties and Biomedical Applications
–Clinical potential of a silk sericin-releasing bioactive wound dressing for the treatment of split-thickness skin graft donor sites.
–Evaluation of sericin/collagen membranes as prospective wound dressing biomaterial.
–Bioinspired Materials for Wound Healing Application: The Potential of Silk Fibroin

COSMETIC
–The flavonoid-rich ethanolic extract from the green cocoon shell of silkworm has excellent antioxidation, glucosidase inhibition, and cell protective effects in vitro