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Commonly known as the horse leech. It grows in dark and damp places, tastes salty and bitter, has a neutral qi nature, and possesses great toxicity. Its effects are similar to those of *Machong* (Tabanidae insect), hence they are often used together in prescriptions. Salty flavors enter the blood level and promote blood circulation; bitter flavors drain and dissipate accumulations. Therefore, it is used to treat amenorrhea in women, blood masses (*Xuejia*) and accumulations causing infertility, as well as cases where blood stagnates in the bladder leading to obstruction of the urinary tract. Due to its potent blood-breaking power, it can induce abortion. However, even if preserved by calcination (*Cunxing*), it can regenerate upon contact with water and bite into human intestines and viscera. There are many drugs that break stasis; why must one use this? If ingested accidentally, one can swallow a pill made of yellow mud, which will guide the leech out through the mud.

The leech, also called the horse leech, when alive, can suck out toxic swelling and evil blood, known as "Qi Zhen" (Leech needle). When stir-fried, it can remove stagnant and hardened blood stasis. *Didang Wan* (Thoroughgoing Pill) is used to treat traumatic injuries, promote urination, regulate menstruation, and induce abortion. Administered with musk wine, it is miraculously effective for treating blood retention syndromes, because bitter flavors navigate the blood, and salty flavors overcome blood pathologies. When added to hair-dyeing preparations, it guides medicinal power upward to the roots of the hair.

Another name is "Tui Che Ke" (Cart-pushing Guest), referring to the dung beetle. Born from yin-damp qi, it tastes salty, has a cold qi nature, and is toxic. It enters the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, and Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. Utilizing its salty-cold property to soften hardness and descend, it serves as a valuable agent for treating convulsions, epilepsy, manic depression, Ben Tun (rushing pig syndrome), hemorrhoids, and carbuncles. For rectal prolapse, burn the Mantis Ootheca (*Tanglang*) until carbonized but retaining its efficacy, grind into powder, mix evenly with Borneol (*Bingpian*), apply to the area, and manually reduce the prolapse. For intestinal fistulas discharging fluid, take one dung beetle, dry it in shade, add a little Borneol, grind into powder, dip a paper wick in the powder, insert it into the orifice; as new flesh grows, the medicine naturally exits, curing the condition. For deep-seated abscesses (*Fugu Ju*), crush seven dung beetles with large barley and apply externally. For nameless malignant sores, if unrecognized, crush dung beetles and apply the juice. Liu Yuxi's *Chuanxin Fang* records a method to save three deaths: after fourteen days of a carbuncle, the condition worsens despite good treatments. Official Jia used dung beetle hearts for several months, relieving all pains overnight. The next January, eating mutton caused a recurrence; using it again proved miraculous. The heart is located under the abdomen; the meat is slightly white. Apply to the sore for half a day, then replace. Once the blood is exhausted and the root emerges, it heals. Dung beetles fear mutton; thus, consuming mutton triggers relapse. This comes from Ge Hong's *Zhouhou Beiji Fang*. For arrowheads embedded in bone that cannot be moved, lightly stir-fried Croton Seed (*Badou*) crushed with dung beetle and applied externally stops pain quickly. Slight itching follows; endure until unbearable itching occurs, then shake and pull out immediately. This treats various sores. Crush into pills and insert into the lower orifice to expel hemorrhoid worms completely, ensuring permanent cure.

Dung beetles primarily treat pediatric convulsions and spasms, abdominal distension with alternating cold and fever, adult mania and erratic behavior, cold extremities, chest fullness, and Ben Tun syndrome. These effects stem from their salty-cold ability to soften hardness and descend. Thus, they also treat all types of hemorrhoids, carbuncles, and sores, and assist in removing arrowheads. However, they are toxic. External use easily achieves remarkable results, but internal administration is not suitable for individuals with deficiency.