气味咸平，微寒，无毒。主治伤寒寒热，温疟洒洒，惊恚怒气，除拘缓，鼠 ，女子
带下赤白。久服强骨节，杀邪鬼延年。
（牡蛎出东南海中，今广闽、永嘉、四明海旁皆有之，附石而生， 相连如房，每一
房内
有肉一块，谓之蛎黄，清凉甘美，其腹南向，其口东向，纯雄无雌，故名曰牡，粗大而坚，
故名曰蛎。）
牡蛎假海水之沫，凝结而成形，禀寒水之精，具坚刚之质。太阳之气，生于水中，出于
肤表
，故主治伤寒寒热，先热后寒，谓之温疟。皮毛微寒，谓之洒洒。太阳之气，行于肌表，则
温疟洒洒可治也。惊恚怒气，厥阴肝木受病也。牡蛎南生东向，得水中之生阳，达春生之木
气，则惊恚怒气可治矣。生阳之气，行于四肢，则四肢拘缓自除。鼠 乃肾脏水毒，上淫于
脉。牡蛎味咸性寒，从阴泄阳，故除鼠 。女子带下赤白，乃胞中湿热下注。牡蛎禀水气而
上行，阴出于阳，故除带下赤白。具坚刚之质，故久服强骨节。纯雄无雌，故杀邪鬼。骨节
强而邪鬼杀，则延年矣。
气味咸甘平，无毒。主治伤中、疝瘕、阴痿，益精，生子，女子血闭腰痛，通五淋
，利小便水道。
（螵蛸，螳螂子也。在桑树作房，粘于枝上，故名桑螵蛸。是兼得桑皮之津气也。其粘
在他
树上者，不入药用。螳螂两臂如斧，当难不避，喜食人发，能翳叶捕蝉，一前一却。其房长
寸许，大如拇指，其内重重相隔，隔中有子，其形如蛆卵，至芒种节后，一齐生出，约有
数百枚。月令云∶仲夏螳螂生是也。）
《经》云∶逆夏气，则太阳不长。又云∶午者，五月，主右足之太阳。螳螂生于五月，
禀太
阳之气而生，干则强健，其性怒升。子生于桑，又得桑之金气，太阳主寒水，金气属阳明，
故气味咸甘。主治伤中，禀桑精而联属经脉也，治疝瘕，禀刚锐而疏通经脉也。其性怒升，
当辙不避，具生长迅发之机，故治男子阴痿，而益精生子。女子肝肾两虚，而血闭腰痛。螳
螂捕蝉，一前一却，乃升已而降，自然之理，故又通五淋，利小便水道。
[Oyster Shell / Mu Li]
Odor and Flavor: Salty, neutral, slightly cold, non-toxic.
Indications: Chills and fever caused by Cold Damage (Shanghan), shivering due to Warm Malaria (Wen Nue), disorders arising from fright, resentment, and anger; relief of limb stiffness or flaccidity; treatment of scrofula (Shu Liu); and red-and-white leukorrhea in women. Long-term consumption strengthens bone joints, expels evil spirits, and prolongs life.
(Note: Oyster shells are produced in the southeastern seas. Currently, they are found along the coasts of Guangdong, Fujian, Yongjia, and Siming. They grow attached to rocks, connected in clusters resembling houses. Inside each cluster is a piece of meat called "Li Huang," which is cool and sweet. Its abdomen faces south, and its mouth faces east. Being purely male without females, it is named "Mu" (male); being coarse and hard, it is named "Li".)
Oyster shell forms through the condensation of sea foam, inheriting the essence of cold water and possessing a firm and rigid quality. The Qi of the Taiyang (Greater Yang) meridian originates in water and emerges at the body surface; therefore, it treats chills and fever associated with Cold Damage. The pattern characterized by fever preceding chills is termed Warm Malaria. The sensation of slight cold and shivering on the skin and hair is termed "Sha Sha." When the Qi of the Taiyang meridian circulates at the muscle-surface level, both Warm Malaria and Sha Sha can be treated. Fright, resentment, and anger indicate pathology of the Jueyin Liver Wood. Since Oyster Shell grows in the south and faces east, it acquires the generating Yang Qi from water and communicates with the Wood Qi of spring generation; thus, it treats disorders of fright, resentment, and anger. The generating Yang Qi circulates in the four limbs, thereby naturally eliminating stiffness or flaccidity of the limbs. Scrofula is water toxicity of the Kidney that overflows into the vessels. Due to its salty flavor and cold nature, Oyster Shell drains Yang from Yin, thus removing scrofula. Red-and-white leukorrhea in women results from damp-heat pouring downward from the uterus (Bao Zhong). Oyster Shell inherits Water Qi and moves upward, allowing Yin to emerge from Yang, thus resolving leukorrhea. Possessing a firm and rigid quality, long-term consumption strengthens bone joints. Being purely male without females, it expels evil spirits. With strengthened joints and expelled evil spirits, longevity is achieved.
[Mantis Egg Case / Sang Piao Xiao]
Odor and Flavor: Salty, sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
Indications: Internal injury to the Middle Jiao, hernia, masses (Zheng Jia), impotence, tonification of essence, promotion of fertility, amenorrhea with lower back pain in women, unblocking the five types of strangury (Wu Lin), and facilitating urination.
(Note: Piao Xiao refers to the egg case of the mantis. It builds nests on mulberry trees, adhering to branches, hence named "Sang Piao Xiao" (Mulberry Mantis Egg Case). This allows it to absorb the fluid and Qi of the mulberry bark. Those adhering to other trees are not used medicinally. The mantis has arms like axes, does not retreat when facing difficulties, eats human hair, hides behind leaves to catch cicadas, and moves forward and backward. Its egg case is about one cun long and as thick as a thumb. Internally, it is divided into layers containing eggs resembling maggot larvae. After the Mangzhong solar term, they hatch simultaneously, numbering several hundred. The *Monthly Ordinances* states: "In midsummer, mantises are born," referring to this.)
The *Classic* states: "Violating the Qi of Summer causes the Qi of Taiyang to fail to grow." It also states: "Wu corresponds to the fifth month, governing the Taiyang meridian of the right foot." The mantis is born in the fifth month, inheriting the Qi of Taiyang. When dried, it becomes strong and robust, with a nature that is angry and ascending. Its eggs are born on the mulberry tree, acquiring the Metal Qi of the mulberry. Taiyang governs cold water, and Metal Qi belongs to Yangming; therefore, its odor and flavor are salty and sweet. It treats internal injury to the Middle Jiao by inheriting the essence of the mulberry to connect and bind the meridians. It treats hernia and masses by inheriting a sharp and rigid quality to dredge and unblock the meridians. Its nature is angry and ascending, not avoiding obstacles (such as chariot ruts), embodying the mechanism of rapid growth and emergence; thus, it treats male impotence and tonifies essence to promote fertility. For women with deficiency of both Liver and Kidney leading to amenorrhea and lower back pain, the mantis catching cicadas—moving forward and then retreating—illustrates the principle of descending after ascending, which is natural law. Therefore, it also unblocks the five types of strangury and facilitates urination.