甘咸平无毒。桑枝上螳螂子也，火炙黄用。
《本经》主伤中疝瘕、阴痿，益精生子，女子月闭腰痛，通五淋，利小便水道。
发明 桑螵蛸，肝肾命门药也，功专收涩。故男子虚损，肾衰阳痿，梦中失精，遗溺白
浊方多用之。《本经》又言通五淋，利小便水道，盖取以泄下焦虚滞也。桑螵蛸散治小便频
数，如稠米泔，心神恍惚，瘦悴食少。得之女劳者，方用桑螵蛸、远志、龙骨、菖蒲、人参
、茯苓、当归、龟甲各一两，卧时人参汤调下二钱，如无桑树上者，以他树上者浓煎桑白皮
汁佐之。若阴虚多火人误用反助虚阳，多致溲赤，茎痛，强中失精，不可不知；生研烂涂之
出箭镞。
一名蛄 ，俗名 毛
甘平小毒。
《本经》主寒热结气，蛊毒鬼疰，小儿惊痫。
发明 雀瓮，蛄 壳也。其虫夏生叶上，背上有刺螫人，故名 毛。秋深叶尽欲老，口
吐白沫，凝聚渐硬，在中成蛹如蚕，至夏羽化而出，其形有似蜻蜒而翅黑稍阔，放子叶上而
生蛄 。谓雀瓮者，以雀好食其蛹也。入药惟取石榴树上者，连蛹炙焙用之。苏颂曰∶今医
家治小儿惊痫，用雀瓮子连虫同白僵蚕、全蝎各三枚，微炒捣末，煎麻黄汤调服一字，日三
服大效。藏器治小儿撮口不得饮乳，但先 口傍见血，以雀瓮打破取汁涂之。
Sweet, salty, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It is the ootheca of the mantis on mulberry branches, used after being roasted over fire until yellow.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states it treats damage to the middle jiao, hernia and abdominal masses, impotence, benefits essence and promotes fertility, treats amenorrhea and lower back pain in women, unblocks the five types of strangury, and facilitates urination.
Invention: Sangpiaoxiao (Mantis Egg-case) is a herb entering the Liver, Kidney, and Mingmen (Gate of Life). Its function is specifically astringent and consolidating. Therefore, it is frequently used in formulas for male deficiency exhaustion, kidney decline with impotence, nocturnal emission, and leukorrhea or cloudy urine. *Shennong Bencao Jing* also mentions unblocking the five types of strangury and facilitating urination; this utilizes its ability to drain deficiency stagnation in the Lower Jiao. Sangpiaoxiao San (Mantis Egg-case Powder) treats frequent urination where the urine resembles thick rice washings, mental restlessness, emaciation, and poor appetite. If caused by sexual exhaustion, the formula uses Sangpiaoxiao (Mantis Egg-case), Yuanzhi (Radix Polygalae), Longgu (Fossilized Bones), Changpu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii), Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Fuling (Poria), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), and Guijia (Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis), each one liang. Take two qian mixed with Ren Shen Tang (Ginseng Decoction) before bed. If those from mulberry trees are unavailable, those from other trees may be used, assisted by decocting Sangbaipi (Cortex Mori Radicis) juice strongly. However, if misused by individuals with Yin deficiency and abundant fire, it may instead exacerbate deficient Yang, often leading to red urine, penile pain, priapism, and seminal emission; this must be known. Ground raw and applied externally, it can extract arrowheads.
Also known as Guchan, commonly called Maochong (Hairy Caterpillar).
Sweet, neutral, slightly toxic.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats cold-heat nodulated Qi, gu poison and ghostly infections (contagious malignant diseases), and pediatric convulsions and epilepsy.
Invention: Queweng (Sparrow's Urn) is the shell of the Guchan. This insect hatches on leaves in summer; its back has spines that sting people, hence the name Maochong. In late autumn, when leaves fall and wither, it excretes white foam which condenses and hardens, forming a pupa inside resembling a silkworm. In summer, it emerges via metamorphosis, resembling a dragonfly but with black, broader wings, laying eggs on leaves to produce Guchan. It is called "Sparrow's Urn" because sparrows like to eat the pupae inside. For medicinal use, only those from pomegranate trees are taken, including the pupa, roasted and dried. Su Song stated: Currently, physicians treat pediatric convulsions and epilepsy using Quewengzi (Sparrow's Urn contents) together with the insect, along with Baijiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus) and Quanxie (Scorpio), three of each. These are lightly fried, ground into powder, and administered with Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction), one zi dose, three times daily, yielding significant effects. Zangqi treated pediatric trismus (lockjaw) preventing breastfeeding; if blood is seen at the corners of the mouth first, break open the Queweng and apply the juice topically.