即马明退
甘平无毒。即老蚕眠起所蜕皮，入药微炒用。今以出过蚕之纸为马明
退，非也。
发明 蚕非桑叶不生，得东方水气之全，故能治风病、血病。而蜕治目中翳障，较之
蝉蜕更捷，惜乎，一时难觅。
甘辛温，无毒。微炒用。
发明 蚕砂疗风湿之专药。有人病风痹用此，焙熟，绢包熨之。治烂弦风眼，以麻油浸
蚕砂二三宿，研细涂患处，过宿即愈。蚕砂置酒坛上泥好，色清味美。然惟晚者为良。早蚕
者不堪入药，以饲时火烘，故有毒也。
咸温无毒。
发明 九香虫产贵州，治膈脘滞气，脾肾亏损。壮元阳摄生方，乌龙丸用之。
即雪蛆
甘寒无毒。
发明 雪蛆生峨眉山北，积雪历年不消，其中生此，大如瓠，味极甘美，故能解内热渴
疾，方物中之最益人者也。
一名蜻
赤者名赤卒。微寒无毒。
发明 蜻 生水中而能暖水脏，强阴涩精，而赤者性犹壮热，助阳药用之。
即红娘子
苦平有毒。不可近目。去翅足同糯米炒，去米用。
发明 樗鸡，厥阴经药也。能活血散血，治目翳。拨云膏中与芫青、斑蝥同用，亦是活
血散结之义。能通血闭，行瘀血，主瘰 ，辟邪气，疗 犬伤。治偏头风用红娘子、青娘子
各七枚，去翅足炒为末，同葱茎捣涂痛处，周时起泡去之。孙一奎治血蛊用抵当丸以樗鸡易
水蛭三服，血下胀消，形神自复。与薛新甫治水肿，椒仁丸中芫青不殊。一走血而下瘀，一
走气而破水，皆峻剂也。《纲目》以《本经》原蚕蛾主治误列于此，今正之。
[Mamingtui]
Sweet, neutral, non-toxic. It is the skin shed by old silkworms after they sleep and wake up; for medicinal use, it is slightly stir-fried. Currently, some people mistake the paper used to rear silkworms as Mamingtui, which is incorrect.
[Invention/Commentary]
Silkworms cannot survive without eating mulberry leaves; they fully absorb the water energy of the East (Wood), thus enabling them to treat Wind diseases and Blood diseases. Mamingtui treats visual obstructions (nebulae) in the eyes more rapidly than Cicada Slough (Chantui), but unfortunately, it is difficult to find at present.
[Cansha]
Pungent, sweet, warm, non-toxic. Slightly stir-fried before use.
[Invention/Commentary]
Cansha (Silkworm excrement) is a specific drug for treating Wind-Dampness. Someone suffering from Wind-Bi (wind-induced arthralgia) used this medicine: it was roasted until cooked, wrapped in silk gauze, and applied as a hot compress to the affected area. To treat "rotten margin wind eye" (ulceration of the eyelid margins), Cansha is soaked in sesame oil for two or three nights, ground into a fine powder, and applied to the affected area; healing occurs overnight. When placed on top of a wine jar and sealed with mud, its color becomes clear and taste pleasant. However, only the excrement from late-season silkworms is of good quality. Excrement from early-season silkworms is unsuitable for medicinal use because it is dried over fire, rendering it toxic.
[Jiuxiangchong]
Salty, warm, non-toxic.
[Invention/Commentary]
Jiuxiangchong (Aspongopus chinensis) originates from Guizhou. It treats stagnant Qi in the diaphragm and epigastrium, as well as Spleen and Kidney deficiency. It is used in Wulong Wan within the formula "Zhuang Yuanyang Shesheng Fang" (Formula for Strengthening Primordial Yang and Nourishing Life).
[Xuequ]
Also known as Xuequ.
Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
[Invention/Commentary]
Xuequ grows in the northern part of Mount Emei, where snow accumulates year after year without melting. These creatures grow within the snow, are as large as a gourd, and have an extremely sweet and delicious taste. Therefore, they can relieve internal heat and thirst, making them one of the most beneficial substances among all things.
[Qingling]
One type is called Qing (Dragonfly-like insect). The red variety is named Chizu.
Slightly cold, non-toxic.
[Invention/Commentary]
Qing lives in water yet can warm the Water Zang (Kidney), strengthen Yin, and astringe Essence. The red variety has a stronger heating nature and is used in Yang-tonifying medicines.
[Chuji (Hongniangzi)]
Also known as Hongniangzi (Lytta caraganae).
Bitter, neutral, toxic. Avoid contact with the eyes. Remove wings and feet, stir-fry together with glutinous rice, then discard the rice and use the insects.
[Invention/Commentary]
Chuji is a herb entering the Jueyin Meridian. It invigorates blood and disperses blood stasis, treating ocular nebulae. In Boyun Gao (Cloud-Piercing Ointment), it is used together with Yuanqing (Mylabris) and Banmao (Mylabris phalerata), based on the principle of invigorating blood and dissipating nodules. It unblocks blood stagnation, moves blood stasis, primarily treats scrofula (luoli), expels evil Qi, and treats dog bites. For treating hemicephalic headache (hemicrania), seven each of Hongniangzi and Qingniangzi are used. After removing wings and feet and stir-frying them into powder, they are mashed together with green onion stems and applied to the painful area. Blisters form after a week, which are then removed. Sun Yikui treated Blood Gu disease using Didang Wan, substituting Shuizhi (Leech) with Chuji. After three doses, the blood stasis was expelled, abdominal distension subsided, and the patient's physical and mental state recovered naturally. This is no different from Xue Xinpu's use of Yuanqing in Jiaoren Wan for treating edema. One acts on the blood level to purge stasis, while the other acts on the Qi level to break fluid retention; both are potent/ministerial-grade drugs. *Bencao Gangmu* erroneously listed the indications of the original Can'e (Silkworm Moth) from *Shennong Bencao Jing* under this entry; this is now corrected.