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[Cicada Slough]
The flavor is salty, sweet, and the nature is cold; it is non-toxic. It treats pediatric convulsions and epilepsy (pediatric convulsions and epilepsy), and difficult labor in women (difficult labor). When burned to ash and taken with water, it treats chronic dysentery (chronic dysentery). (From *Bielu*, included as an appendix.)
(Li Shizhen said: Whenever using the sloughed shell, wash away dirt, wings, and legs with boiling water, rinse with grain-water, dry it, and then use it.)
Ancients used the body of the cicada, while later generations used the sloughed shell. "Slough" means shedding or molting. Therefore, for conditions such as corneal opacity or membrane obstruction (corneal opacity or membrane obstruction), failure of pustules to erupt (failure of pustules to erupt), hidden skin rashes (hidden skin rashes), and all wind-heat syndromes, one takes the slough for use. If scholars understand the original nature of the cicada, they will understand the therapeutic effects of Cicada Slough (*Yìntuì*).

[White Stiff Silkworm]
The flavor is salty and pungent, and the nature is neutral; it is non-toxic. It treats pediatric convulsions and epilepsy accompanied by night crying, expels three types of parasites (three types of parasites), removes facial dark spots (facial dark spots), improves complexion, and treats pruritus of the male genitals (pruritus of the male genitals).
(Silkworms can be bred everywhere, but are particularly abundant in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. When a silkworm dies from wind-stroke, its color does not change, hence the name "White Stiff" (*Báijiāng*); "stiff" refers to being dead yet undecayed. *Chengya* states: Nowadays, markets mostly use silkworms that died at moderate temperatures, soaked and mixed with calcined gypsum (*Duànshí*) to make them white for consumption, which causes severe harm. If used for pustular diseases, it will inevitably cause dryness, cracking, and blackening; one must be extremely cautious.)
White Stiff Silkworm (*Báijiāngcán*) is white in color and hard in texture, with a salty and pungent flavor, embodying the essence of Metal and Water. The East corresponds to Liver Wood; liver pathology often manifests as fright and panic. Metal can subdue Wood, thus it treats pediatric convulsions and epilepsy. The rotation of heavenly cycles, opening during the day and closing at night, therefore stops night crying in children. Metal governs肃杀 (astringency and killing), thus expelling the three parasites. Water energy governs moisturizing, thus removing dark spots and improving complexion. Metal can restrain Wind, and saltiness can eliminate itching, thus treating pruritus of the male genitals.

Cicada Slough (*Yìntuì*) and White Stiff Silkworm (*Báijiāngcán*) both embody the essence of Metal and Water, so the main indications recorded in *Shennong Bencao Jing* are largely similar. However, the cicada drinks but does not eat, and urinates but does not defecate; the silkworm eats but does not drink, and defecates but does not urinate. Why are their effects similar? The *Jing* (Classic) states: "What is drunk enters the stomach and ascends to return to the Lung." Grain entering the stomach is transmitted to the Lung. Although drinking and eating differ, both are governed by the unobstructed flow of Lung Qi; similarly, although urination and defecation differ in form, both rely on Lung Qi for transmission and transformation. Furthermore, any substance that is white and embodies Metal Qi should not be stir-fried over fire. White Stiff Silkworm possesses a hard, metallic body, enabling it to dispel wind and attack toxins. If stir-fried over fire, the metallic body will be destroyed, rendering it ineffective. Later generations failed to comprehend the physical principles and drug properties, and recklessly applied processing methods. This is not limited to White Stiff Silkworm alone. For example, Mulberry Bark (*Sangbaidipi*) is stir-fried until yellow, Ephedra (*Mahuang*) is stir-fried until black, and Apricot Kernel (*Xìngrén*) and Tribulus (*Jílí*) are all stir-fried over fire. Such cases are too numerous to list entirely. All stem from ignorance of the origin of drug properties and adherence to customary practices.