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Feimeng (Menshiae Herba, 虻虫), bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature, and toxic. It expels blood stasis and treats blood obstruction, alleviates soreness and pain caused by alternating chills and fever, stops redness and pain in both eyes, and halts tearing due to trauma. It unblocks the blood vessels and the nine orifices, treats throat bi (sore throat with obstruction), breaks up accumulated blood, and also treats zheng jia pi jian (hard abdominal masses). Although this substance appears repulsive, when used to treat blood stasis syndromes, it is truly a life-saving medicine and should always be prepared in the medicine cabinet.

For blood accumulation syndromes, Leech (Shuizhi, 水蛭) must be used to dissipate them; otherwise, hard and painful blood stasis will inevitably transform into jaundice. Nowadays, people fear Leech and refuse to use it. One should substitute Feimeng (Menshiae Herba, 虻虫) for Shuizhi, so that blood accumulation diseases can be resolved.

Someone asked: Feimeng (Menshiae Herba, 虻虫) sucks human blood; why did Master Zhang Zhongjing use it to treat Shanghan (Cold Damage) syndromes? The answer is: The complicated syndromes of Shanghan vary. If sweating therapy is neglected, qi stagnation and blood stasis may occur. For qi stagnation, herbal plants can be used to disperse the qi. However, for blood stasis, Feimeng (Menshiae Herba, 虻虫) and Shuizhi (Hirudo, 水蛭) are required to dissipate the blood. But how can one distinguish between qi stagnation and blood stasis? In cases of qi stagnation, urination is invariably difficult; in cases of blood stasis, urination is invariably free.

Another question arose: Since blood stasis requires Feimeng (Menshiae Herba, 虻虫), how does one know it is a blood stasis syndrome? The answer is: Generally, both qi stagnation and blood stasis present with high fever and pain in the intestines due to dry stool. However, in blood stasis, urination is free, which differs from qi stagnation. Apart from Feimeng (Menshiae Herba, 虻虫), what other herb can dissipate its blood stasis?

Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus, 僵蚕), salty and pungent in taste, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It has an ascending property and belongs to yang within yin. It excels at dispelling wind-dampness and is essential for treating trismus and aphonia (lockjaw and loss of voice). It is extremely effective in extracting toxin from ding sores (furuncles) and should be applied urgently as a poultice when swelling protrudes dangerously. It primarily treats pediatric convulsions and night crying, manages women's metrorrhagia and leukorrhea (abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge), stops genital itching, eliminates three parasites, removes black spots and scars from various sores, and improves complexion. It disperses wind-phlegm and resolves stagnant phlegm nodules, opens throat bi, assists in childbirth, alleviates postpartum residual pain, and resolves Yin Yi (recurrence after recovery from Shanghan, often related to sexual activity). Although its functions are numerous, it should not be taken in large doses; a small amount as an assistant drug is sufficient.

Someone asked: Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus, 僵蚕) has many merits; does it have no faults? How could Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus, 僵蚕) be without faults? Taking too much causes cold pain in the lower abdomen and leads to urinary incontinence, because its nature descends, and its draining effect creates coldness.