轻、散风热。
土木余气所化。吸风饮露。其气清虚。而味甘寒。故除风热。其体轻浮。故发痘疹。其
性善
蜕。故退目翳。催生下胞。其蜕为壳。故治皮肤疮疡瘾疹。（与薄荷等分、为末、酒调服。）
其声清亮。故治中风失音。又昼鸣夜息。故止小儿夜啼。蚱蝉、治小儿惊痫夜啼。杀疳去热
。出胎下胞。（时珍曰∶治皮肤疮疡风热、当用蝉蜕、治脏腑经络、当用蝉身、各从其类也
。）蝉类甚多。惟大而色黑者入药。洗去泥土翅足。浆水煮。晒干。（痘后目翳、羊肝汤、下
蜕末一钱。）
通、行水。
咸寒有毒。通便而二阴皆利。逐水而十种俱平。贴瘰 颇效。化骨哽殊灵。（隐居曰∶
自腰
以前甚涩、能止二便、自腰以后甚利、能通二便。）治水甚效，但其性急，虚人戒之。去翅
足炒。
一名地鳖虫。泻、破血。
咸寒有毒。去血积。搜剔极周。主折伤。补接至妙。煎含而木舌冰消。水服而乳浆立至。
（
仲景有大黄 虫丸、以其有攻坚下血之功也。）虚人有瘀。斟酌用之。畏皂荚。菖蒲。
一名蜚虫。泻、破血。
苦寒有毒。攻血遍行经络。堕胎只在须臾。（青色入肝、专啖牛马之血、仲景用以逐血、
因
其性而取用者也。）非气足之人。实有畜血者。勿轻与。去足翅炒。恶麻黄。以上化生类
。
[Chantui (Cicada Slough)]
Nature is light and disperses wind-heat.
Transformed from the residual qi of wood and earth. It absorbs wind and drinks dew. Its qi is clear and empty, its taste is sweet and cold; therefore, it eliminates wind-heat. Its body is light and floating; therefore, it promotes the eruption of smallpox and chickenpox. Its nature is good at shedding; therefore, it reduces eye nebula (corneal opacity). It induces labor and expels the placenta. Its shed shell treats skin sores and urticaria. (Mix with equal parts of Menthae Haplocalycis Herba [Bohe], grind into powder, and take with wine.)
Its voice is clear and bright; therefore, it treats aphonia due to wind-stroke. Since it cries by day and rests by night, it stops infantile nocturnal crying. Zhashan (Locusta Cicada) treats infantile convulsions and nocturnal crying. It kills intestinal parasites and clears heat. It assists in delivering the fetus and expelling the placenta. (Li Shizhen said: "For treating skin sores and wind-heat, Chantui should be used; for treating zang-fu organs and meridians, Chanshen (Cicada Body) should be used, each following its own kind.") There are many types of cicadas; only those that are large and black are used as medicine. Wash away mud, wings, and legs, boil in starch water, and dry in the sun. (For eye nebula after smallpox, send down one qian of Chantui powder with Yanggan Tang [Sheep Liver Decoction].)
[Mengchong (Tiger Fly)]
Nature is penetrating and moves water.
Salty, cold, and toxic. It unblocks bowels and benefits both yin openings (urethra and anus). It drives out water accumulation and calms all ten types of fluid retention. Applied externally, it is quite effective for scrofula. It dissolves fish bones stuck in the throat with special efficacy. (Tao Hongjing said: "Above the waist, it is astringent and can stop urination and defecation; below the waist, it is purgative and can promote urination and defecation.") It is very effective for treating edema, but its nature is urgent; caution is advised for deficient persons. Remove wings and legs, stir-fry before use.
[Diechong (Ground Beetle / Eupolyphaga)]
Also known as Dibiechong. Nature is draining and breaks blood stasis.
Salty, cold, and toxic. Removes blood accumulations. It searches and extracts stasis thoroughly. It primarily treats traumatic injuries and is excellent for bone setting and healing. When decocted and held in the mouth, it resolves wooden tongue; taken orally with water, it immediately promotes lactation. (Zhang Zhongjing's Dahuang Zhechong Wan uses it for its ability to break through hard accumulations and purge blood.) For deficient persons with blood stasis, use with discretion. It is incompatible with Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus [Zaojiao] and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma [Changpu].
[Feichong (Blatta Orientalis)]
Also known as Feichong. Nature is draining and breaks blood stasis.
Bitter, cold, and toxic. Attacks blood and circulates through meridians. It causes abortion in an instant. (The green variety enters the liver and specifically feeds on the blood of cattle and horses; Zhang Zhongjing uses it to drive out blood, utilizing its nature.) Do not administer lightly unless the person has sufficient qi and blood and truly suffers from retained blood. Remove legs and wings, stir-fry before use. It is incompatible with Ephedrae Herba [Mahuang]. The above belong to the category of organisms generated from transformation.