AI Helps Grow 6 Billion Roaches at China's Largest Breeding Site (cnet.com)

With the help of AI, folks at a Chinese pharmaceutical company are breeding cockroaches by the billions every year, South China Morning Post reports. From a report: Their purpose: To make a "healing potion" that can cure respiratory, gastric and other diseases. The "potion," consumed by over 40 million people in China, is made by crushing the cockroaches once they reach a desired weight and size, according to the publication. There is a "slightly fishy smell" to the potion, which tastes "slightly sweet" and looks like tea, it added. Some insects are known to have potential health benefits. Besides China's cockroach potion, scientists are also exploring how milk-like protein crystals in roaches could be an excellent source of calories and nutrition. Chewing down on bugs like crickets and mealworms can also give us more protein, according to studies.

Comments

I thought it was just in one restuarant

[bobstreo]

Seriously, aren't cockroaches right up there in causes of asthma?

And this is certainly a place I'd totally NOPE out of...

Re:I thought it was just in one restuarant

[jellomizer]

Not in liquid form, you drink them not snort them in a dry from.

While under snake oil Territory in my book. I expects it has the same health befits as a protein shake, without the sugar. Giving some one who is ill (probably not eating much) a drink with protein and some other nutrients to help them get over the illness a little easier, and like many American Drugs, it has a strong smell which make you feel that it is working. Like eating hot peppers to clear your sinuses, or mint to make your teeth feel clean. Or why a lot of cough syrup has alcohol in it, because the vapors just penetrate your respiratory system so you feel like something is happening.

Is there some real science behind it?

[fazig]

The first part makes it sound like that traditional Chinese healing mysticism. Although insects are certainly a good source of protein and pretty efficient in converting plant matter into said proteins.
Anyway, I suppose it's better than killing Tigers and other endangered species for their bone(r)s because some old guys can't get a proper erection any more.

Re:Is there some real science behind it?

[Anonymous Coward]

China science so good.
West science is steal and second place.
China AI lead world with tracking seditious citizen.
China feed citizen roach as directed by AI.
Optimal feeding. Optimal breeding.
China so good.

Re:Is there some real science behind it?

[jbmartin6]

There is a lot of research into various aspects of cockroaches, such as their resistance to bacterial infection, but eating them probably isn't going to confer those sorts of benefits. The "potion" mentioned is Kangfu Xinye and gets a lot of press as snake oil, although people who swear by traditional Chinese medicine will deny that. The Journal of Emergency in Traditional Chinese Medicine has a lot of studies on it, I leave it to the reader to decide if these are valid studies or not.

Re:Is there some real science behind it?

[PolygamousRanchKid]

Anyway, I suppose it's better than killing Tigers and other endangered species for their bone(r)s because some old guys can't get a proper erection any more.

Using CRISPR technology, we should be able to grow billions of cockroaches with Rhino horns on their noses. That would solve the demand problem for dubious aphrodisiacs.

However, students in university dormitories might not be able to deal with them, when they lay claim to the room.

Re:Is there some real science behind it?

[PopeRatzo]

Anyway, I suppose it's better than killing Tigers and other endangered species for their bone(r)s because some old guys can't get a proper erection any more.

Why do you libs have to make everything about President Trump?

https://www.washingtonpost.com...

Re:Is there some real science behind it?

[mikael]

I've always wondered whether these "old wives tales" weren't some kind of massively parallelized genetic algorithm. Every person tries something random. These are then compared against their neighbors. Results that are successful or partially successful are reported to neighbors. Results that have no success are discarded.
Some methods back then were using cobwebs and mildew to pack deep wounds.

A current day example would be whether applying honey to an open wound like a burn improves healing or not.

On 420 Day, really?

[Virtucon]

It's not that kind of roach!?!?

Beetle Juice

[decipher_saint]

beetle juice
beetle juice

Wow thanks AI!

[Anonymous Coward]

Thank GOD for AI, how on earth could roaches breed without sophisticated algorithms?

Now if only we could fix the brains of the Chinese who seem to think crushing up bits of other animals bodies (the more endangered, the better) has some kind of pharmacological effect.

No proof = proof

[sjbe]

and where can I download the empirical data of the double blind studies?

That's the beauty of traditional Chinese "medicine". It only works if you don't try to check to see if it actually works.

Actual reasons for peppers and alcohol.

[DrYak]

you might think it's snake oil, but there are reasons for the "American Drugs" examples you give.

- Regarding peppers:
These will increase the secretion of the mucosae (i.e.: they'll cause your eye to produce more tear and will get your nose more runny. all this additional water you'll produce wil basically help washing your nose/sinuses)
(most of the traditional cures for upper respiratory tract infections work the same way)
several nasal spray work the same way but more directly (saline water to help wash out the nose).
(the remaining types of sprays tend to also pack in addition a vaso-constricting agents)

- regarding alcohol in cough syrup :
some substance are better dissolved in an alcohol solution than in pure water. Out of the top of my head: codeine doesn't like cold water, if i remember correctly. that's a common antitussive - suppressor of the cough reflex (a class of deug useful in case of dry cough - irritation causing you to cough even if there's nothing to expel).
(wether the active molecules dissolved in the alcohol will actually help you is another question altogether. but alcohol is a key component for the syrup to actually be a syrup and not some undissolved powder at the bottom of a water bottle)

- artificially bitter taste of drugs: yes, in some circumstances, some active molecules which taste sweet might end up in preparation made bitter-tasting on purpose. usually the reason is to diminish the risk of it being accidentally ingested by children or pets.
so no, the purpose is not (only) to make you think it's a drug by making it taste like a drug, but to avoid making it taste too close to candy and have a children OD on it.

so there are actual non marketing uses for the above

(but yes, mint in toothpaste has no other purposes than making you feel fresh).