气味咸甘平，无毒。主治小儿百二十种惊痫，蛇痫，癫疾，螈 ，弄舌摇头，寒热肠
痔，蛊毒。
（蛇蜕人家墙屋木石间多有之，其蜕无时，但着不净则蜕，或大饱亦蜕。凡青黄苍色者
勿用
，须白色如银者良，于五月五日蜕者更佳。又，蕲州之白花蛇，龙头虎口黑质，白花者，其
蜕尤佳。）
蛇蜕色白如银，至洁至净，气味咸平，禀金水之气化，金能制风，故主治小儿百二十种
惊痫
，蛇痫之证。癫疾螈 ，惊痫病也。弄舌摇头，蛇痫病也。水能清热解毒，故主治大人寒热
肠痔蛊毒。寒热者，肠痔蛊毒之寒热也。
愚按∶痫证唯一，即曰∶惊痫。复曰∶蛇痫，则痫证不止一端，若以内之七情，外之形
象求
之，不啻百二十种，先圣立言，当意会也。
气味辛寒，有毒。主治寒热鬼疰蛊毒，鼠 恶疮，疽蚀，死肌，破石癃。
（斑蝥甲虫也，斑言其色，言蝥其毒，如矛刺也。所在有之，七八月在大豆叶上，长五
六分
，大者寸许，黄黑斑纹，乌腹尖喙。《太平御览》引《神农本草经》云∶春食芫花为芫青，
夏食葛花为亭长，秋食豆花为斑蝥。冬入地中为地胆，其斑蝥甲上有黄黑斑点。芫青青绿色
，亭长黑身赤头，地胆黑头赤尾，色虽不同，功亦相近。）
斑蝥感秋气，食豆花，气味辛寒，色兼黄黑，盖禀金水之化而为毒虫，故主散恶毒，消
恶疮
，攻死肌，破石癃，乃以毒而攻毒也。
[She Tui (Ophidium)]
Flavor: Salty, Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Non-toxic. Indications: Pediatric convulsions and epilepsy of one hundred and twenty types, snake-type epilepsy, mania, spasms (limb twitching), tongue protrusion and head shaking, alternating chills and fever, intestinal hemorrhoids, gu poison.
(She Tui is commonly found in the walls, houses, wood, and stones of dwellings. It sheds its skin at any time, specifically when it becomes soiled or after a full meal. Those that are green, yellow, or grayish should not be used; those that are white like silver are superior. Those shed on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month are even better. Furthermore, the Baihua She (White-blotched Snake) from Qizhou, characterized by a dragon-like head, tiger-like mouth, black body with white spots, has particularly excellent shed skins.)
She Tui is white as silver, extremely pure and clean. Its flavor is salty and neutral, inheriting the qi transformation of Metal and Water. Metal can restrain Wind, thus it treats pediatric convulsions and epilepsy of one hundred and twenty types, as well as snake-type epilepsy. Mania and spasms belong to the category of convulsive epilepsy. Tongue protrusion and head shaking are manifestations of snake-type epilepsy. Water can clear heat and detoxify, thus it treats alternating chills and fever, intestinal hemorrhoids, and gu poison in adults. The "alternating chills and fever" here refers to the chills and fever accompanying intestinal hemorrhoids and gu poison.
My Commentary: Epilepsy is fundamentally one condition, termed "convulsive epilepsy." The mention of "snake-type epilepsy" implies that epileptic conditions are manifold. If deduced from internal emotional factors (Seven Emotions) and external forms, there are more than one hundred and twenty types. One must grasp the intent behind the words of the Sages.
[Ban Mao (Mylabris)]
Flavor: Pungent. Nature: Cold. Toxic. Indications: Alternating chills and fever, gui zhu (wandering pestilence), gu poison, rat-ductus malignant ulcers, carbuncle erosion, necrotic tissue, stone strangury (dysuria with calculi).
(Ban Mao is a beetle. "Ban" refers to its coloration, and "Mao" refers to its toxicity, sharp like a spear. It is found everywhere; in the seventh and eighth months, it appears on soybean leaves. It is five to six fen long, up to one cun for larger specimens, with yellow and black mottled patterns, a black abdomen, and a pointed beak. *Taiping Yulan* cites the *Shennong Bencao Jing*: those feeding on Genkwa flowers in spring are Yuan Qing; those feeding on Kudzu flowers in summer are Ting Zhang; those feeding on bean flowers in autumn are Ban Mao. In winter, they burrow into the earth and become Di Dan. Their shells have yellow and black spots. Yuan Qing is green-blue; Ting Zhang has a black body and red head; Di Dan has a black head and red tail. Although their colors differ, their efficacies are similar.)
Ban Mao absorbs Autumn Qi and feeds on bean flowers. Its flavor is pungent and cold, and its color includes yellow and black, indicating it inherits the transformation of Metal and Water to become a venomous insect. Therefore, it disperses severe toxins, eliminates malignant ulcers, attacks necrotic tissue, and breaks stone strangury. This is the method of using toxicity to combat toxicity.