味咸,寒,有毒。主血瘀,症坚,寒热,破积聚,喉咽闭,内寒无子,通利血脉。生晋
阳川泽及人家屋间,立秋采。
形亦似 虫而轻小能飞,本在草中。八月、九月知寒,多入人家屋里逃尔。有两三种,
以
啖之。
〔谨案〕此虫,味辛辣而臭,汉中人食之,言下气,名曰石姜,一名卢 ,一名负盘。
《别录》云∶形似蚕蛾,腹
下赤,二月、八月采此,即南人谓之滑虫者也。
味咸,寒,有毒。主心腹寒热洗洗,血积症瘕,破坚,下血闭,生子大良。一名地鳖
,一名土鳖。生河东川泽及沙中,人家墙壁下土中湿处。十月取,曝干。
畏皂荚、菖蒲。形扁扁如鳖,故名土鳖,而有甲,不能飞,小有臭气,今人家亦有之。
〔谨案〕此物好生鼠壤土中及
屋壁下,状似鼠妇,而大者寸余,形小似鳖,无甲,但有鳞也。
味咸,微温、微寒,有毒。主恶血,血瘀痹气,破折血在胁下坚满痛,月闭,目中淫肤、
青翳白膜。疗吐血在胸腹不去,及破骨 折,血结,金疮内塞,产后中寒,下乳汁。一名
蛴,一名肥齐,一名勃齐。
生河内平泽及人家积粪草中。取无时,反行者良。
蜚蠊为之使,恶附子。大者如足大指,以背滚行,乃驶于脚,杂猪蹄作羹与乳母,不能
别之。诗云领如蝤蛴,今此
别之。名以蛴字在下,恐此云蛴螬倒尔。
〔谨案〕此虫,有在粪聚中,或在腐木中。其在腐
柳树中者,内外洁白;土粪中
者,皮黄内黑黯。形色既异,土木又殊,当以木中者为胜。采虽无时,亦宜取冬月为佳。案
《尔雅》∶一名蝎,一名 ,
一名蝤蛴。
[Feilian (Cockroach)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Toxic.
Indications: Primarily treats blood stasis, fixed masses (Zheng Jian), alternating chills and fever; breaks up accumulations; treats throat and pharyngeal obstruction; addresses internal cold causing infertility; promotes the free flow of blood vessels.
Habitat: Grows in the rivers, marshes, and under the eaves of houses in Jinyang.
Harvest: Collected at Start of Autumn (Liqiu).
Description: The shape is similar to that of a snail but lighter, smaller, and capable of flight; originally lives in grass. In August and September, when it grows cold, they often enter human dwellings for shelter. There are two or three types, which can be consumed as food.
[Note]: This insect has a pungent, spicy taste and an odor. People in Hanzhong eat it, believing it directs Qi downward, calling it Shijiang (Stone Ginger), also known as Lu Chong, or Fupan.
*Bencao Jing Jiuyi* states: Its shape resembles a silkworm moth, with a red abdomen. It is harvested in February and August; this is what southerners call Huachong (Slippery Insect).
[Tubie (Ground Beetle / Eupolyphaga)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Toxic.
Indications: Primarily treats chills and shivering in the heart and abdomen, blood accumulation, and fixed masses (Zheng Jia); breaks up hardness; promotes menstruation in cases of amenorrhea; greatly beneficial for fertility.
Aliases: Dibie, Tubie.
Habitat: Grows in the rivers, marshes, and sands of Hedong, and in damp soil under the walls of houses.
Harvest: Taken in October, dried in the sun.
Antidotes/Incompatibilities: Averse to Saponin (Zaojiao) and Acorus (Changpu).
Description: Flat in shape like a turtle, hence the name Tubie; possesses a shell but cannot fly; has a slight odor; currently found in many households.
[Note]: This creature prefers to live in soil around mouse burrows and under house walls. Its shape resembles a woodlouse (Shufu); the larger ones are over one cun long. The form is small like a turtle but lacks a hard shell, having only scales.
[Qicao (White Grub)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Slightly Warm, Slightly Cold. Toxicity: Toxic.
Indications: Primarily treats bad blood, blood stasis with bi-syndrome Qi stagnation; breaks up blood clumps causing hardness, fullness, and pain in the hypochondrium; treats amenorrhea; treats ocular conditions such as pterygium, nebula, and leukoma. Treats hematemesis remaining in the chest and abdomen, fractures, blood clots, internal blockage from traumatic wounds (Jinchuang), postpartum cold invasion, and promotes lactation.
Aliases: Qi, Feiqi, Boqi.
Habitat: Grows in the flat marshes of Henei and in grassy areas where household manure accumulates.
Harvest: Can be taken at any time; those moving in reverse direction are considered superior.
Interactions: Guided by Feilian (Cockroach); incompatible with Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root).
Description: The large ones are as big as a human thumb; they move by rolling on their backs, faster than walking feet. Mixed with pig trotters to make soup for nursing mothers, they are indistinguishable. The *Classic of Poetry* says "neck like a Qici" (white grub); this specimen can be distinguished. Since the character 'Qi' is placed lower in the name, it is suspected that "Qicao" here is inverted.
[Note]: This insect is found either in manure piles or in rotting wood. Those in rotting willow wood are white inside and out; those in soil/manure have yellow skin and dark black interiors. Since their colors and forms differ, and their substrates (wood vs. soil) vary, the ones from wood are considered superior. Although harvest time is flexible, winter collection is preferred. According to *Erya*: Also known as Xie, [missing character], and Youqi.