Library

Bombyx Batryticatus (Jiangcan)
Pungent in flavor to disperse wind pathogens. Salty in flavor to resolve phlegm, entering the Lung meridian. Warm in nature to circulate through the Liver meridians. Light in texture to treat upper-body conditions and benefit the throat. Possesses the abilities to diffuse, unblock, attack, and expel toxins. Treats convulsions and promotes lactation; has the effect of resolving stagnation and opening obstructions. Reduces swelling and eliminates malnutrition syndromes (Gan syndrome). Silkworm feces (Can Sha) dry dampness and dispel wind. Its flavor is pungent and warm, additionally treating thirst. (Bombyx Batryticatus refers to silkworms that have contracted wind-pathogen illness. Although stiff after death without rotting, it serves as a herb for treating wind disorders. With pungent and salty flavors and warm nature belonging to Fire, it can dissipate stagnant Qi and open stubborn phlegm. Endowed with clear-transforming Qi, it addresses wind-heat in the head and eyes of the Upper Jiao, enters the Lung meridian, and treats diseases such as throat wind and throat bi. It also traverses the Liver and Stomach meridians. Though a stiffened creature, it ultimately belongs to crawling insects. For all conditions involving breast abscesses or phlegm-fluid retention, it can be used to attack, expel, diffuse, and circulate. ○ Can Sha, also known as Can Shi, is better when aged, referring to feces from silkworms after their second molt. Flavor: pungent and sweet; Nature: warm and drying. Dispels wind and overcomes dampness, excelling in both aspects. Used for moxibustion/warming therapy on wind-bi, washing for urticaria, and mixed with sesame oil for application on marginal blepharitis, all showing efficacy. As stated in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding its treatment of Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome), this may be derived from the observation that silkworms eat but do not drink.)

Mylabris (Banmao)
Directly travels to the essence palace; corrodes flesh and induces abortion, with extremely potent toxicity. Exclusively acts on the Blood chamber, unblocks strangury, drives out accumulation, with a pungent and cold flavor. Treats venom from mad dogs, reaches the lower orifices to attack and purge. (Mylabris grows on bean leaves and is harvested between August and September. When captured, a foul-smelling gas is emitted from the tail, which is unbearable. Pungent and salty in flavor, cold in nature, with great toxicity. It travels to the lower orifices, reaching areas of essence and urine, where it can corrode decaying matter such as blood clots, rotten flesh, and powdery debris, excreting them via urine. Thus, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it can break stone strangury and is highly effective in inducing abortion and corroding fetal tissue. Regarding extracting the root of scrofula and treating mad dog bites, ingestion allows the pathogenic root to exit via urine. Although methods exist, relying on such highly toxic substances is risky; it should only be used externally. It corrodes dead tissue, ulcerates carbuncles and swellings, and applied for mad dog bites or tinea, yielding miraculous results, but is unsuitable for internal use.)