Library

[Background Information]
Book: Bencao Huihui Jingyao (Essentials of Materia Medica)
Author: Wang Haogu
Dynasty: Yuan
Chapter: Scales Insects / Naked Insects
Category: Materia Medica

[Gecko / Gekko gecko]
Possesses slight toxicity; oviparous.
Gekko gecko (Gecko) treats chronic lung consumption, infectious tuberculosis (transmission corpse), expels evil spirits and pathogens, treats cough, lower jiao strangury with dribbling, and promotes water passages (Recorded by Famous Physicians). [Origin] "Tujing" states: Grows in valleys, on city walls, or among banyan trees in Lingnan. The head resembles a toad, the back has fine scales like silkworm eggs, yellowish in color. Body length four to five cun, tail equal to body length, shape resembling a large gecko (shou gong). A male and female often call out their names. Geckos most cherish their tails; if they see humans attempting to catch them, they often sever their own tails, so humans then do not take them. Those who collect must preserve the tail, as the medicinal efficacy lies entirely in the tail. To obtain specimens with intact heads and tails, people use a long-handled two-pronged iron fork, shaped like a sticky pole (pronounced 'chou zhi qie'), waiting among banyan trees to stab with the fork. One prong hits the brain, the other hooks the tail, thus preventing biting. They walk with males and females following each other. For medicinal use, both are required together. Some say yang persons use females, yin persons use males. [Processing] "Shizhen" records: Males are called "Ha", with rough skin, large mouth, small body, thick tail; females are called "Jie", with pointed mouth, large body, small tail. When preparing for administration, remove nails, flesh above the tail, and abdominal hair; toxicity resides in the eyes. After such processing, soak in wine, dry, wrap in two layers of paper, and slowly bake over fire隔着 (隔) paper until the paper is scorched and dry. Remove paper, place gecko in porcelain vessel, hang at the southeast corner of the house overnight, then use; efficacy increases tenfold. Do not damage the tail, as efficacy is in the tail. "Ri Hua Zi" says: Remove head and feet, wash away scales and bristles inside, roast with su (animal fat) for best results. [Therapeutic Actions] "Ri Hua Zi" says: Clears lung qi, stops cough, regulates menstruation, passes kidney stones (shi lin), and treats blood disorders. "Hai Yao" says: Removes lung萎 (fei wei), treats upper qi rebellion, hemoptysis, and cough. Grind gecko into powder, mix with gelatin, divide into four doses. Each dose uses three sheng of river water, slow-boil in silver or earthenware vessel to half a sheng, filter dregs. Take warm while lying down, sip slowly including dregs. After finishing, pound remaining material into one dose, boil with three sheng water to half a sheng, administer as before. Treats chronic cough unrelieved, accumulation of deficiency heat in lungs, forming ulcers over time, causing expectoration of pus and blood, day and night without cessation, throat Qi obstruction, chest and diaphragm choking pain.

[Leech]
Toxic.
Hirudo (from Shennong Ben Cao Jing) treats expulsion of bad blood, blood stasis, amenorrhea, breaking blood masses and accumulations, treating infertility, promoting water passages (Zhu characters from Shennong Ben Cao Jing; black characters from Mingyi Bielu). Abortion (black characters from Mingyi Bielu). [Names] (Pronounced 'qi') Zhi Zhang, Ma Huang, Shi Zhi, Cao Zhi, Ni Zhi. [Origin] "Tujing" states: Grows in Leize ponds and marshes; now common in nearby rivers. There are several types: those living in water are named Water Leech (Shui Zhi), also called Horse Leech (Ma Huang); those in mountains are Stone Leech (Shi Zhi); those in grass are Grass Leech (Cao Zhi); those in mud are Mud Leech (Ni Zhi). All attach to human legs and calves, or cattle and horses' thighs and shins, biting and sucking blood. Severe cases penetrate flesh to reproduce, causing great harm. Water leeches can be up to one chi long; smaller ones are preferred for use. Ancient methods used live leeches to feed on sores; urgent needs make them hard to obtain. Que Zhit ordered pre-collection for reserve. This creature is extremely hard to kill; even after year-long roasting, it revives upon contact with water. Stone leeches etc., have pointed heads and thick bellies, unsuitable for medicine. Misuse causes continuous smoke sensation in eyes, gradually leading to withering and damage; differentiation is essential. [Harvest] Available anytime; collected in May and June. [Storage] Sun-dried. [Usage] Small water-dwelling ones are best. [Color] Yellow. [Flavor] Salty, bitter. [Nature] Neutral, slightly cold, draining. Aroma/flavor stronger than Qi, Yin nature. [Odor] Fishy. [Functions] Unblocks meridians, breaks blood accumulations. [Incompatibilities] Feared by lime and salt. [Processing] "Tujing" states: Collect and store in bamboo tubes until dry, then soak in rice washing water overnight, remove, sun-dry again, then fry in winter pig lard until yellow before use. Dry leeches should be stretched out; discard those with eggs in abdomen. [Therapeutic Actions] "Yao Xing Lun" states: Treats women's menstrual obstruction leading to blood consumption mass formation, and effectively expels retained blood. [Contraindications] Not for pregnant women.