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Shanmayizi (Mountain Ant Larvae): White like broken rice grains, commonly known as "Zhuangyuanzi" (Scholar's Egg), used in Dali Wan (Great Strength Pill). However, it is slightly toxic; ingestion causes abdominal distension. *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) retains only its name under the category of ants, without recording therapeutic indications. Recently, military camp physicians have combined this with tonifying drugs for potency, achieving considerable efficacy. It supplements qi and strength, and nourishes complexion. Zhao Xuemin notes: Ants vary in species; for medicinal use of ant nests, mountain ant nests are selected because mountain ants are larger and build nests in grass or tree roots. Their larvae are coarse like rice grains, making them too potent for medicinal use. If using larvae, those from small yellow ants are best, as these ants possess great strength, capable of lifting iron equal to their body weight; thus, consuming their larvae also enhances human strength. *Huanyou Biji* (Notes from Official Travels) records: Cantonese people enjoy a delicacy called "Ant Larvae Sauce," collected from mountains, washed clean of impurities, and made into a brine sauce. Regarded as a treasure, indicating their larvae are non-toxic.

Quke (Maggot Nest): Wang An's Herb Collection records: Inside large cellar pits, there are maggot nests resembling white silkworm cocoons, hanging within thatch. Collect them, clean off mud and ash, dry in the sun, and roast before use. Treats chancre ulcers and insect-bored holes; used in external medicine for wound healing.
Chai's Unique Prescription for Treating Chancre Ulcers and Obstruction: Use maggot nests from cesspits located within thatch dust, shaped like small white cocoons. Collect any amount, place in a jar, roast until dry, grind into fine powder, and store in a narrow-necked bottle. Cover the bottle mouth with fine gauze. Gently tap to dispense a small amount of powder onto the ulcer site. If there are small boreholes where powder cannot enter, use a wheat straw to blow the powder into the fine holes. Apply three to five times daily. The corroded flesh will naturally grow level; this is extraordinarily effective.

Sirenzhu Chong (Dead Man Maggots / Human Aphids): These are dead maggots found in coffins at corpse inspection sites. Tang Yishi stated: After death, when soul and spirit dissipate, residual vital energy remains; after flesh rots, it transforms entirely into maggots which gather and gnaw bones and sinews. Eventually, the maggots die along with the corpse; thus, corpses dying violently invariably contain black maggots. Those needing this drug should inquire with coroners and collect them at corpse inspection grounds.
Treating Leprosy (*Da Ma Feng Lai Ji*): From *Chishui Yuanzhu*, prescription for leprosy: Use dead man's maggots, wash clean, roast dry on steel sheets, and grind to powder. Take one or two qian per dose, mixed with strong decoction of Gleditsia Sinensis Spina (Zao Jiao Ci). If swelling and nodules are present, this indicates damp-heat stagnation in the Yangming channel; first take Fangfeng Tongsheng San (Wind Protection and Unblocking Decoction) for two to three doses, then take this medicine, which has tonic effects. Using Zao Jiao Ci as a guiding herb allows it to reach the exterior. Long-term consumption yields miraculous effects, incomparable to ordinary herbs. *Yixue Zhinan* (Medical Guide) contains a secret recipe for leprosy: Take one sheng of human maggots, place in a fine cloth bag, rinse in fast-flowing water until clean. Soak the bagged maggots in Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) decoction for a long time, remove and dry. Then soak in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草) decoction and dry. Then soak in Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen, 苦参) decoction and dry. Then soak in Child's Urine (Tongbian, 童便) and dry. Finally, add Scallion Stem (Congbai, 葱白) and Ginger Rhizome (Shengjiang, 生姜) decoction, put the maggots inside without removing, boil dry in the pot, roast, and grind to powder. For every liang of powder, add Moschus (Shexiang, 麝香) two qian and Bufo Venenum (Chansu, 蟾酥) three qian. Mix well and store in porcelain. Take one qian per dose, administered with decoction of Parmelia Saxatilis (Shixianhua, 石藓花), which grows like coins on mountain rocks. First bathe with Xanthii Fructus et Herba (Cangercao, 苍耳草) decoction, then take the medicine. Effects seen in seven days. Strong constitutions take once daily; weak constitutions take every two days until cured.
Treats consumptive tuberculosis, expels corpse parasites, employing the principle of "using thieves to attack thieves"; treats traumatic injuries; treats refractory malaria, corpse borings, and stone warts.
Expelling Tuberculosis Parasites: Wu Xiufeng in *Xulao Lun* (Discussion on Deficiency Consumption) states: Tuberculosis involves parasites transformed by dampness stagnation; externally they manifest as lice, internally in organs as worms. Use maggots from dead bodies, process to be clean, roast dry, mix with medicine, and ingest; the tuberculosis parasites will transform and pass out with water.