Library

Background Information:
Book: *Bencao Pinhui Jingyao* (Essential Collection of Materia Medica)
Author: Wang Haogu
Dynasty: Yuan
Chapter: Fifteen Types of Insects / Twenty Items Retreated from Tang Ben
Category: Materia Medica

Translation:

Realgar Insect: Primarily treats brightening the eyes, warding off military disasters and inauspicious qi, and boosting vital energy. Its shape resembles the Tianshe Insect. It tastes sweet and is non-toxic. It treats sterility and boosts energy. It is bee-sized with a thick waist and feeds on tree and grass leaves. Harvested in March.

Mulberry Borer: Tastes sweet and is non-toxic. Treats sudden heart pain and insufficient flesh regeneration after metal weapon injuries. (Chen Zangqi states) Mulberry borers remove stagnant qi, while peach borers ward off ghosts; both have efficacy according to their origin. It also treats infantile lactation cholera.

Stone Borer: Treats stone strangury (urinary obstruction due to calculi) and difficult urination. Grows inside stones. (Chen Zangqi states) In the Yi and Luo regions, there are insects under water-covered stones resembling silkworms that spin silk to bind small stones into cocoons. They pupate in spring and summer into small moths that fly over water, known as "New Bride Under the Stone."

Xingye (Night Walker): Treats abdominal pain, alternating chills and fever, and bloody dysentery. Also known as Fupan. (Tao Hongjing states) Children now call it Qu Pan or KT Chong. (Chen Zangqi states) The Pan insect is also called Fupan or Night Walker. Feilian (Cockroach), also known as Yuan Pan, looks similar but is not the same species. Rong people eat it; it tastes extremely spicy. The Pan insect has short wings, flies poorly, prefers night activity, and emits gas when touched.

Woluo: Tastes sweet and is non-toxic. Treats specific eye conditions and brightens vision. Grows in Jiangxia. (Chen Zangqi states) Also known as Siluo, small like a field snail, with ridges, growing in streams. Cold juice treats brightening vision; drainage is also called Luo.

Mi Fish: Tastes sweet and is non-toxic. Treats Bi syndrome (obstructive pain) and stops bleeding.

Dan Jian: Tastes pungent. Treats accumulated blood in the heart and abdomen. Also known as Flying Dragon. Grows near Shu capital, mouse-shaped with green hind legs and red head. Harvested on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

Bian Qian: Tastes sweet and is toxic. Treats rat fistula (chronic ulcerative lymphadenitis) and promotes diuresis. Grows on hills, resembling a horsefly with red wings. Harvested in May and August.

[Missing Character] Lei: Treats Bi syndrome and internal leakage. Also known as [Missing Character] Duan. Earth-colored with texture.

Feili: Treats alternating chills and fever in women.

Geng Ji: Tastes sweet and is non-toxic. Treats Bi syndrome.

Yi Fu: Treats obstruction syndromes. Also known as Tongueless.

Di Fang: Prevents hunger and thirst. Grows in yellow earth.

The following six items are from *Shennong Bencao Jing*, and fourteen are from *Mingyi Bielu*.

Xun Cao: Tastes sweet and neutral, non-toxic. Treats brightening eyes, stopping tears, treating seminal emission, removing foul odors. Treats cold damage headache, rising qi, and lower back pain. Also known as Hui Cao. Grows in damp lowlands, harvested in March, dried in shade; those with detached joints are superior. (Tao Hongjing states) Commonly called Yancao, resembling reeds but fragrant, is Xun Cao. It is widely planted. *Yaolu* states leaves resemble hemp, paired opposite each other. *Shanhaijing* states Xun Cao has hemp-like leaves and square stems, red flowers, black fruits, and a scent like Miwu, capable of curing plagues. Market vendors currently use Yancao, which is incorrect. Scholars often use the term "Hui" without knowing the actual plant, preserving the name but violating reality. (*Yaoxing Lun* states) Xun Cao can be used alone, tastes bitter, non-toxic, treats nasal polyps and rhinorrhea, and treats seminal emission. (Chen Zangqi states) Xun is the root of Hui, which is Lingling Xiang, also known as Wugcao.

Gu Huo: Tastes sweet and warm, non-toxic. Treats severe wind-pathogenic factors, damp-Bi, and cold pain. Long-term use lightens the body, benefits longevity, and delays aging. Also known as Dong Kui Zi. Grows in Hedong. (Tao Hongjing states) No longer used in prescriptions. There is a Guhuo Pill, which is Yege. This is also called Dong Kui Zi, but differs from the Dong Kui Zi of vegetable kelp; its therapeutic properties are distinct. (*Tang Ben Zhu* states) *Bielu* calls it one name: Chicken Spirit.

Bie: Tastes bitter, slightly warm, non-toxic. Treats wind-cold-damp Bi, heavy body, soreness and pain in limbs, and cold pathogen joint pain. Also known as Bie Zhi, Bie Qi, and Bie. Grows in Lantian valleys, harvested in February and August. (Tao Hongjing states) Occasionally used by physicians, but obsolete in common practice.

Mu Hao: Tastes bitter, warm, non-toxic. Nourishes flesh, boosts qi, causes rapid weight gain; cannot be taken long-term as it causes fullness of blood vessels. Grows in fields, harvested in May and August. (Tao Hongjing states) No longer used in prescriptions. (*Tang Ben Zhu* states) It is Qitou Hao, found everywhere, with thin, glossy-less leaves resembling Fengfang.

Shixia Changqing: Tastes salty and neutral, toxic. Treats Gui Zhu (infectious disease), evil qi from spirits, kills various gu poisons and old demons causing erratic behavior, crying, sadness, and confusion. Also known as Xu Changqing. Grows in Longxi marshes and valleys. (Tao Hongjing states) Also called Xu Changqing, likely an error. Not used by physicians; unrecognized locally.

Jun Ju Lun Qie She: Tastes pungent, slightly warm, non-toxic. Treats cholera, abdominal pain, vomiting, and restlessness. Grows in water, harvested in May. (Tao Hongjing states) Grows in small streams; dried on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month to treat cholera effectively.

Lian Shi Cao: Tastes bitter, cold, non-toxic. Treats five types of strangury, breaks stone strangury, resolves bladder stagnation, promotes diuresis. Grows in Nanyang marshes. (Tao Hongjing states) Also known as Lanshi Cao or Mashi Hao.

Yi Gong: Tastes bitter, cold, non-toxic. Treats fright qi, cold damage abdominal pain, emaciation, pathogenic factors in skin, and cold colorless extremities. Grows in Yizhou valleys. (Avoid Jade Zha Feilian).

Tan Cao: Tastes salty and neutral, non-toxic. Nourishes heart qi, removes heart warmth and burning pain, treats oozing skin heat. Can be made into salt. Grows in Huainan plains, harvested in July. Alum is its assistant herb. (*Yaoxing Lun* states) Tan Cao can be used alone, tastes bitter, non-toxic, treats widespread wind sores and high fever. Li Shi is its assistant herb.

Wu Se Fu: Tastes bitter, slightly warm. Treats cough and reverse flow, five-zang pathogenic factors, regulates middle jiao, boosts qi, brightens eyes, kills lice. Green, white, red, black, and yellow Fu tonify their respective zang organs according to color. White Fu is also known as Nu Mu. Grows in Bajun valleys. (Tao Hongjing states) No longer used; unrecognized today. (Wu Shi states) Five-Color Earth Pigment is also known as Green, Red, Yellow, White, Black Fu.

[Xiang] Cao: Tastes sweet and bitter, cold, non-toxic. Treats warm malaria, chills and fever, acid hoarseness, pathogenic factors, and wards off inauspiciousness. Grows in Huai mountains and valleys.

Qiao Gen: Tastes sweet, cold, and neutral, slightly toxic. Clears heat, nourishes yin essence, improves complexion, brightens eyes. Long-term use lightens the body and delays aging. Used in steamed wine for patients. Grows in Songgao plains, harvested in February and August. (Tao Hongjing states) No longer used; unrecognized by common people.

Shu Gu: Tastes bitter, neutral, and cold, non-toxic. Treats cough with reverse flow, chills and fever, rat fistula, malignant sores, and pathogenic factors. Also known as [Xue]. Grows in Danshui. (Tao Hongjing states) Unrecognized today; Peony is also called Shu Gu, causing confusion.

Chuan Hong: Tastes sour, non-toxic. Directs qi downward, relieves irritability and fullness. Can be used as a bath decoction. Yellow color. Grows in Shujun. Harvested at Start of Autumn. (Tao Hongjing states) Not used; unrecognized by common people.

Qu Cao: Tastes bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic. Treats hypochondriac pain, pathogenic factors, intestinal chills and fever, and yin-Bi. Long-term use lightens the body, boosts qi, and delays aging. Grows in Hanzhong marshes, harvested in May. (Tao Hongjing states) No longer used; unrecognized by common people.

Chi He: Tastes bitter, cold, toxic. Treats crusty sores, malignant ulcers, removes three parasites and pathogenic factors. Grows in Yizhou valleys, harvested in February and August.

Huai Mu: Tastes bitter, neutral, non-toxic. Treats chronic cough with reverse flow, middle-jiao injury and emaciation, tonifies middle jiao and qi, treats female genital erosion and leukorrhea (red/white discharge). Also known as Hundred-Year City Tree. Grows in Jinyang plains. (Tao Hongjing states) No longer used.

Zhan Si: Tastes bitter, warm, non-toxic. Treats pathogenic factors, damp-Bi, chills and fever, carbuncles, removes fluid retention and blood stasis, amenorrhea with infertility, childhood inability to walk, malignant sores and abscesses, stops abdominal pain, enables conception in women. Also known as Tan Pi. Grows in Tai mountain valleys, harvested anytime. (Tao Hongjing states) Resolves Wild Wolf Poison toxicity. Li Yun says it is a parasitic tree on camphor trees, large branches in muscles. People now substitute walnut husks, which is incorrect. According to *Tongjun Lu*, it grows in Shangluo, is tree bark resembling Magnolia bark, cinnamon-white in color, with longitudinal and transverse grain. Market vendors slice it, resembling Magnolia bark but lacking proper grain; authenticity is unknown. (*Yaoxing Lun* states) Zhan Si Chen, tastes pungent and neutral, non-toxic, treats blood stasis, promotes menstruation, clears spleen heat. Cornus officinalis is its assistant herb. Treats hand-foot maceration from water exposure.

Ying Tao: Tastes pungent and neutral, non-toxic. Stops diarrhea, clears heat, regulates middle jiao, benefits spleen qi, improves complexion and spirit. Also known as Niu Tao and Ying Dou. Fruit size of wheat, hairy. Harvested in April, dried in shade. (Tao Hongjing states) Not the modern fruit Ying Tao; shape similar but substance different. Rarely found in mountains; no longer used in prescriptions.

Zhen Bird Feather: Highly toxic, rots humans upon entering five zang organs. Its beak treats pit viper venom. Also known as Yun Ri. Grows in South Sea. (Tao Hongjing states) These are two types of Zhen birds. One resembles a peacock with mixed colors, tall, black neck, red beak, from deep mountains in Jiaoguang. The Yun Ri bird resembles a black chicken, can immobilize large stones and rotten trees, seeks snakes, swallows them making a sound like "Tongli," hence called Tongli Bird in Jiangdong. People who eat snakes die immediately if they accidentally eat this bird's meat. Zhen feathers should not approach humans but treat snake venom; carrying the beak wards off snakes. Historically, Zhen feather was used in poisoned wine, hence the name. Recently discontinued. Another creature, red, dragon-like, named Hai Jiang, grows in sea, highly toxic, worse than Zhen feather. (*Tang Ben Zhu* states) South of Shangzhou and Jiangling, people know this bird; its meat is fishy and toxic, inedible. Claim that feather-painted wine kills is unverified. * Yupian* cites Guo Pu: Zhen bird eagle-sized, long neck, red beak, eats snakes. *Wen Guangya* and *Huainanzi* also call it Yun Ri. Inquiry in Jiaoguang confirms Yun Ri is Zhen bird and Tongli Bird; no peacock-like bird exists there. Tao's description of peacock resemblance is false testimony from Jiaoguang.