咸温小毒。取未交雄蛾，纸封焙干，拌椒密藏则不蛀。
《本经》主心腹邪气，起阴痿，益精气，强志生子，好颜色，补中轻身。
发明 蚕之性禀淫火，力专助阳。其子在腊月中非以重盐盐透，水渍曝干，则茧不能缫
丝，出子之后非桑不食。《本经》主心腹邪气，皆桑之余力，犹僵蚕之治风痰，蚕茧之疗痈
肿，蚕沙之去风湿耳。其起阴痿，益精气，强志，生子，即《别录》之益精气，强阴道，交
精不倦，亦能止精，若合符节。好颜色，令人面色好之互辞。补中轻身者，以其善补真阳，
阳主轻捷故也。详参经旨洵为原蚕，主治无疑，奈何集《本草》者误列樗鸡之下，敢力正之
。
咸平无毒。色白者良，入药惟取直者，为雄，去黑口及丝，炒用。
《本经》主小儿惊痫、夜啼，去三虫，灭黑 ，令人面色好，男子阴痒病。
发明 僵蚕，蚕之病风者也。功专祛风化痰，得乎桑之力也。《本经》治惊痫，取其散
风痰之力也。去三虫，灭黑 ，男子阴痒，取其涤除浸淫之湿，三虫亦湿热之蠹也。凡咽喉
肿痛及喉痹用此，下咽立愈。其治风痰，结核，头风，皮肤风疹，丹毒作痒，疳蚀，金疮疔
肿，风疾，皆取散结化痰之义。
[Original Silkworm Moth]
Salty, warm, slightly toxic. Select female moths that have not yet mated with males, wrap them in paper, bake until dry, mix with Sichuan pepper, and store in a sealed container to prevent insect infestation.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states that it treats evil qi in the heart and abdomen, cures impotence, benefits essence and qi, strengthens willpower and facilitates procreation, improves complexion, tonifies the middle jiao, and makes the body light and agile.
Innovation: The nature of silkworms is endowed with yin-fire, and its power specifically assists yang. Its offspring (eggs), during the twelfth lunar month, if not thoroughly salted with heavy salt, soaked in water, and dried in the sun, cannot be reeled into silk; after hatching, they feed exclusively on mulberry leaves. The treatment of evil qi in the heart and abdomen mentioned in the *Bencao Jing* are residual effects of the mulberry leaf, just as Stiff Silkworm (Baijiangcan) treats wind-phlegm, Silkworm Cocoon (Canjian) treats carbuncles and swellings, and Silkworm Excrement (Cansha) dispels wind-dampness. As for curing impotence, benefiting essence and qi, strengthening willpower, and facilitating procreation, this corresponds exactly to the *Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians) stating that it benefits essence and qi, strengthens the yin vessel, prevents seminal emission during intercourse, and can also stop leakage. These accounts match like tally marks. "Improves complexion" and "makes one's face beautiful" are mutually explanatory phrases. "Tonifies the middle and makes the body light" occurs because it effectively tonifies true yang; since yang governs agility, the body feels light. A detailed examination of the canonical principles confirms that the therapeutic indications belong undoubtedly to the original silkworm moth. Why did compilers of materia medica erroneously list it under *Chuji* (Swallowtail Moth)? I dare to vigorously correct this error.
[Stiff Silkworm / Bai Jiang Can]
Sweet, neutral, non-toxic. Those with a white color are superior. For medicinal use, only straight ones are selected, considered male. Remove the black mouthparts and silk, stir-fry before use.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that it treats pediatric convulsions and epilepsy, night crying, eliminates three parasites, removes dark spots, improves complexion, and treats pruritus of the male genitals.
Innovation: Stiff silkworm is a silkworm afflicted by wind. Its function specializes in dispelling wind and resolving phlegm, deriving from the power of the mulberry leaf. The *Bencao Jing* treats convulsions and epilepsy by utilizing its ability to scatter wind-phlegm. Eliminating three parasites, removing dark spots, and treating genital pruritus utilize its ability to cleanse dampness that oozes and spreads; the three parasites are also pests generated by damp-heat. Whenever used for sore throat swelling and pain or obstruction of the throat, immediate relief follows upon swallowing. Its treatment of wind-phlegm, scrofula, headache due to wind, skin urticaria, erysipelas with itching, gangrenous sores, traumatic wounds with carbuncle swellings, and wind diseases all rely on the principle of scattering nodules and resolving phlegm.
[Silkworm Cocoon / Can Jian]
Sweet, warm, non-toxic.
Innovation: Silkworm cocoon treats unruptured carbuncles and swellings; when calcined to ash and taken with wine, it ruptures the next day. Decoction treats diabetes mellitus (xiao ke); the water used for reeling silk and the decoction of silk floss have identical functions.