Library

[Background Information]
Book: Benjing Fengyuan (Supplement to the Materia Medica)
Author: Zhang Lu (Zhang Lu, Qing Dynasty)
Chapter: Chan Su (Toad Venom) / ... / Wu Gong (Scolopendra) (Total 5 sections)
Category: Comprehensive

[Original Text to Process]
Acrid, warm, toxic.
Invention: Chan Su (Toad Venom) is acrid and warm, with a most potent nature; generally, the dosage should not exceed one fen. For bleeding from the gum margins and toothache, applying a small amount on paper can stop it immediately. Chan Su Wan (Toad Venom Pill) treats fa bei ding zhong (back carbuncle and furuncle) and all kinds of malignant sores; it extracts ding du (furuncle toxin) most rapidly and has life-saving merit in external medicine. However, light use can rot human muscles.

Sweet, cold, slightly toxic.
Ben Jing (Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica) states it treats pathogenic factors, breaks accumulations and hardness, boils and swellings, yin sores, and taking it does not cause heat diseases.
Invention: Chan Chu (Toad) and Ha Ma (Toad/Frog) are of the same category but different species. Thus, their functions are not very different; taking them does not cause heat diseases. This aligns with Hong Jing's intention of treating warm diseases with severe fatigue. Shizhen stated that ancient prescriptions often used Ha Ma, while recent prescriptions often use Chan Chu. This is because ancients commonly referred to Toads as Ha Ma, whereas Ha Ma is no longer used in medicine.

Commonly written as Wa (Frog).
Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
Invention: Shizhen said, Frogs are produced in water, sharing the same nature as snails and clams, thus they can resolve heat toxins and promote urination to remove dampness. However, being creatures born of dampness, their bones have a hot nature; eating them causes painful dysuria. Pregnant women eating frogs may result in short-lived offspring. Eating many small frogs causes urinary retention and soreness below the umbilicus, which can be resolved by grinding Che Qian Cao (Plantain Herb) and drinking the water. Dai Yuanli said: For general edema or abdominal distension alone, eating one or two peeled and roasted frogs will make it subside naturally. Jiamo said: An epidemic characterized by red face and swollen neck is called Ha Ma Wen (Toad Plague); crushing Jin Si Wa (Golden Thread Frog), mixing the juice with water, and drinking it on an empty stomach is effective.

Invention: Ke Dou (Tadpole) lives in water; it is the offspring of Ha Ma/Chan Chu. It has a tail like a fish; as it grows, legs appear and the tail falls off. Because its inherent toxicity is not yet transformed, Zangqi used it to treat fire heat toxins and swelling ulcers. It can be crushed and applied, dissolved in water for application, or added to topical medicines, all of which are effective. Another effective prescription uses tadpoles dried in shade; when mulberries ripen, equal parts are placed in a bottle, sealed tightly, hung east of the house, or crushed into juice and buried under the east wall for a hundred days until turning into mud. Applying this to beard and hair makes them permanently black as lacquer.

Acrid, warm, toxic. Roasted over fire, feet removed before use.
Ben Jing (Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica) states it treats Gui Zhu Gu Du (ghostly transmission and gu poison), consumes various snake, insect, and fish poisons, kills ghosts and old spirits, removes warm malaria, and eliminates three parasites.
Invention: What moves swiftly are only wind and snakes. Since Wu Gong (Scolopendra) can control snakes, it can also intercept wind. It is a herb for the Jue Yin Meridian. In Lingnan, there is She Zhang (Snake Miasma), causing large swelling and pain in the neck extending to the throat; using two segments of Chi Zu Wu Gong (Red-footed Scolopendra) ground finely, taken with water, leads to immediate recovery. Also, for traumatic tetanus nearing death, applying the powder to the teeth edges to remove saliva leads to instant healing. Ben Jing states that consuming various snake, insect, and fish poisons can all be resolved by it. Wan Jin San (Ten Thousand Gold Powder) treats pediatric acute convulsion; one Scolopendra, feet removed and roasted yellow, mixed with Zhu Sha (Cinnabar), Qing Fen (Calomel), and milk to form pills; taking a small amount brings peace. Shuang Jin San (Double Gold Powder) treats pediatric Tian Diao Mu (upward staring eyes) lasting long without resolution, mouth lock, and opisthotonos; one Scolopendra, roasted in butter, head and feet removed, mixed with Musk into powder, blown into the nose in small amounts until the eyes close, then stop. If the eyes do not go down, blow again. For pediatric cuo kou (mouth puckering) with scraped tongue sores, apply Scolopendra powder. Qian Jin Fang (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) treats She Gong Du Chuang (Archery Worker Poison Sore); roast Scolopendra yellow, grind into powder, and apply. Pediatric tu chuang (scalp ringworm): soak Scolopendra in oil and apply. Zhi Zhi Fang (Directing Truth Prescription) treats hemorrhoid pain; roast Scolopendra into powder, add a little Pian Nao (Borneol), mix with saliva, and apply. Ji Jiu Fang (Emergency Rescue Prescription) treats warm malaria with shivering and occasional fright; add Scolopendra tail to Liang Ge San (Cool the Diaphragm Powder) and take. Zhai Yao (Summary) treats women's toe sores, ingrown toenails, and protruding malignant flesh; one Scolopendra, head and feet removed, baked and ground, mixed with a little Musk, remove the hard cover, spread on Wu Jin Zhi (Black Gold Paper) leaving a hole, paste on overnight for effect. If there is malignant flesh, surround it with Nan Xing (Arisaema Rhizome) powder mixed with vinegar; its detoxifying power is unsurpassed.