（化生）轻虚入肝散风
蝉蜕（专入肝。兼入皮肤）。止一虫壳。味甘气寒。如何主治甚多。盖蝉本木余气所化。
饮风
露而不食。其言能治肝经风热者。因体气轻虚而味甘寒之意也。其言能治妇人生子不下。及
退翳膜侵睛 肉满 者。因其性有善脱之意也。其言能治皮肤疮疥瘾疹者。以其所取在壳之
意也。（皮以治皮意。时珍曰。治皮疮疡风热。当用蝉蜕。治脏腑经络。当用蝉身。各从其
类也。）其言能治中风不语者。以其蝉声清响之意也。（声以通声。）其言能治小儿夜啼者。
以其昼鸣夜息之意也。古人立药治病。何在不有义存。惟在人细自审用耳！色黑而大者良。
入药洗去泥土翅足。浆水煮。晒干用。（攻毒全用。）
经曰。半身以上。风受之也。半身以下。湿受之也。然有湿不下受。而湿偏从上感。
则湿又当上治。盖湿无风不行。如风在上。其湿从风以至者。则为风湿。是风是湿。非散不
愈也。湿值于寒。寒气凛冽。其湿由寒至者。则为寒湿。是寒是湿。亦非由散不除也。且有
好食生冷。留滞肠胃。合于两露感冒。留结不解。随气胜复。变为寒热。以致头重如裹。皮
肉筋脉。皆为湿痹。则不得不从开发以泄其势。然散湿之药不一。有止就湿而言散者。如苍
术之属是也。有因风湿而言散者。如白芷羌活独活防风寄生葳蕤秦艽巴戟狗脊灵仙海桐皮
草苍耳子萆 茵芋之属是也。有就寒湿而言散者。如五加皮天雄蔓荆子僵蚕细辛之属是也
。有兼风热而言散者。如芜荑之属是也。有就热湿而言散者。如香薷之属是也。有就痰湿而
言散者。如半夏之属是也。至湿而在胸腹。症见痞满。宜用川朴以散之。湿在肌肉。症见肤
肿。宜用排草以洗之。湿在肠胃。挟风而见拘挛痹痛。宜用秦艽以除之。湿在筋骨而见头面
不利。宜用蔓荆子以治之。此皆就表就上。受湿论治。故以散名。若使湿从下受。及已内入
为患。则又另有渗湿泻湿诸法。而非斯药所可统而归之也。
(Huasheng) Light and void in nature, enters the Liver meridian to disperse wind.
Cicada Slough (Shan Tui) (Specifically enters the Liver meridian, also enters the skin). It is merely the shell of an insect, with a sweet flavor and cold nature. Why does it have so many therapeutic indications? This is because the cicada is transformed from the residual qi of Wood, drinks wind and dew without eating grains. The statement that it can treat Wind-Heat in the Liver meridian is due to its light and void constitution and its sweet, cold nature. The statement that it can treat difficult childbirth in women, as well as remove nebulae obscuring the vision and fleshy obstructions, is due to its nature of being adept at shedding its shell. The statement that it can treat skin sores, scabies, and urticaria is due to the significance of utilizing its shell. (Skin treats skin; Li Shizhen said: For treating skin sores and ulcers caused by Wind-Heat, Cicada Slough should be used; for treating Zang-Fu organs and meridians, the body of the cicada should be used. Each follows its own category.) The statement that it can treat aphasia due to Wind-Stroke is due to the meaning of the cicada's clear and resonant voice. (Voice treats voice.) The statement that it can treat night crying in infants is due to the meaning that it cries during the day and rests at night. When ancient people established medicines to treat diseases, where was there no principle involved? It only depends on people examining and using them carefully! Those that are black in color and large in size are of good quality. For medicinal use, wash away mud, wings, and feet, boil in grain water, dry in the sun, and use. (For attacking toxins, use the whole slough.)
The Classics state: The upper half of the body is susceptible to Wind; the lower half is susceptible to Dampness. However, there are cases where Dampness is not contracted from below but rather predominantly from above; in such cases, Dampness should be treated from the upper jiao. Generally, Dampness cannot move without Wind. If Wind is in the upper part, and Dampness arrives following the Wind, this is termed Wind-Dampness. Whether it is Wind or Dampness, it will not heal without dispersion. When Dampness encounters Cold pathogenic factors, and the Cold is biting and severe, with Dampness arriving via Cold, this is termed Cold-Dampness. Whether it is Cold or Dampness, it will not be eliminated without dispersion. Furthermore, those who habitually consume raw and cold foods may cause stagnation in the intestines and stomach. Combined with exposure to morning and evening dew, if left unresolved, it may transform into alternating Cold and Heat patterns due to the fluctuation of Qi, leading to a sensation of heaviness in the head as if wrapped, and causing the skin, flesh, sinews, and vessels to become Bi syndrome due to Dampness. In such cases, one must resort to methods of opening and releasing to drain the pathogenic factor. However, herbs that dispel Dampness are not limited to one type. There are those that simply dispel Dampness, such as Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma); there are those that dispel Dampness in the context of Wind-Dampness, such as Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Du Huo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Sang Ji Sheng (Taxilli Herba), Wei Rui (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma), Qin Jiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), Ba Ji Tian (Morindae Officinalis Radix), Gou Ji (Cyathulae Radix), Ling Xian (Spatholobi Caulis), Hai Tong Pi (Erythrinae Cortex), Cao Cang Er Zi (Xanthii Fructus), Bi Xie (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma), and Yin Yu (Illicii Anisi Stellati Fructus - *Note: Context implies specific herb, likely Illicium or similar aromatic damp-resolving herb*); there are those that dispel Dampness in the context of Cold-Dampness, such as Wu Jia Pi (Acanthopanacis Cortex), Tian Xiong (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Man Jing Zi (Viticis Semen), Jiang Can (Bombyx Batryticatus), and Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma); there are those that dispel Dampness combining Wind-Heat, such as Wu Yi (Mangiferae Indicae Semen); there are those that dispel Dampness in the context of Heat-Dampness, such as Xiang Ru (Elsholtziae Herba); and there are those that dispel Dampness in the context of Phlegm-Dampness, such as Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma). As for Dampness lingering in the chest and abdomen presenting with fullness and obstruction, Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) should be used to dissipate it; for Dampness in the muscles presenting with edema, Pai Cao (Hedyotis Diffusae Herba) should be used to wash/clear it; for Dampness in the intestines and stomach accompanied by Wind, presenting with spasms and Bi pain, Qin Jiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix) should be used to eliminate it; for Dampness in the sinews and bones presenting with stiffness in the head and face, Man Jing Zi (Viticis Semen) should be used to treat it. These all address Dampness affecting the exterior and upper parts, hence named "dispersing." If Dampness is contracted from below or has already entered internally to cause pathology, then there are other methods such as leaching and purging Dampness, which cannot be uniformly categorized under these dispersing herbs.