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Chan Su (Toad Venom)
Its nature is toxic and its substance is viscous. It can dispel evil pathogens and open the orifices. Its taste is pungent and its qi is hot, capable of extracting toxins and resolving carbuncles. Externally applied, it may damage muscle tissue; inhaling its scent induces sneezing. The skin of the toad can treat infantile malnutrition (Gan accumulation) and promote the eruption of sores and rashes. Its nature and flavor are actually sweet and cool, and it excels at circulating through the Spleen and Lung meridians. (Chan Su refers to the white juice from the brow of the toad, collected by specific methods and dried in the shade. It tastes pungent, is warm in nature, and is toxic. It excels at opening orifices, dispelling evil, and searching out pathogens. It is used only in emergency formulas for various obstruction syndromes to open the blockage. However, ingestion requires caution: placing a small amount on the skin causes immediate blistering and erosion, revealing its potency. When ground into powder, inhalation causes continuous sneezing, hence its use in sneeze-inducing medicines. This drug is suitable only for external use to dissipate abscesses, resolve ding toxins, and kill parasites causing sores, with definite efficacy. ○ Toad skin is pungent, sweet, and cool, with slight toxicity. It acts on the skin and reaches the Lungs, treating pediatric Gan accumulation. Since the toad belongs to Earth, it also enters the Spleen. For pediatric Gan accumulation caused by damp-heat accumulation in the Spleen and Lungs, this substance can move dampness, eliminate heat pathogens, and kill parasitic accumulations. Ingestion allows the accumulated pathogens to be expressed externally, moving from the Spleen to the Lungs, leading to recovery.)

Shui Zhi (Leech)
Enters the Liver home to break blood and circulate stasis. Its taste is bitter and salty, eliminating swelling. It seeks the meridians to search out pathogens and rubs away accumulations. Its function is cold and toxic, capable of aborting the fetus. (Shui Zhi, also known as Hirudo, has many species; those that are short with blood-filled abdomens found in water are superior. It tastes bitter and salty, is cold in nature, enters the Liver meridian to break and circulate blood. It can be used for all kinds of masses and accumulations, traumatic injuries, and amenorrhea due to blood stasis. It easily causes abortion and should not be used lightly. Moreover, although this creature becomes active again when water touches it even after being roasted and powdered, its insidious nature is evident.)

Meng Chong (Blue Bottle Fly Larva)
Breaks accumulations and causes abortion. Its taste is bitter and cold, and it is toxic. It enters the Liver to circulate blood and purges the large intestine to push out the old. (Meng Chong is the horsefly, resembling a bee, which specifically sucks the blood of cattle and horses. It is collected in May and June and used after sun-drying. It is bitter, cold, and toxic, enters the Liver meridian, breaks blood, and circulates blood, sharing the same nature as Shui Zhi. However, Meng Chong's nature is rigid and fierce, so ingestion causes violent diarrhea immediately, which stops after the medicinal effect passes. Shui Zhi's nature is yin and insidious; although it does not cause immediate diarrhea after ingestion, the spreading toxicity may not be eliminated quickly. Meng Chong lives on land and flies, while Shui Zhi lives in water and lurks; thus, regarding treatment strategies of speed and steadiness among zang-fu organs and meridians, they differ. It can also cause abortion.)