腰抜の虫
こしぬけのむし

Translation: back dislocating bug
Habitat: the lower back

Appearance: Koshinuke no mushi look like dragonflies.

Behavior: Koshinuke no mushi appear suddenly and fly inside bodies, taking up residence in the lower back.

Interactions: After successfully entering their host, koshinuke no mushi entwine their long tails around the spine. When they squeeze the vertebrae, they cause strains, slipped disks, and other problems. When they strike the spine with their spiked tails, the host is overcome with acute pain. Their legs buckle and collapse. Their chest becomes tight and breathing becomes difficult. They break out in cold sweats. As this yōkai’s saliva spreads throughout the body, it causes heartburn, choking, and vomiting.

Koshinuke no mushi infections can be treated by ingesting herbal remedies such as mokkō (Saussurea costus) and kanzō (Glycyrrhiza uralensis).