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Shrimp Paste (Xiami), Yingzhao, Shrimp Roe (Xiazi), and Prawn (Dui虾):
Shrimp living in fresh water are greenish in color, while those living in salt water are white. Shrimp from streams have thick shells and a fishy odor because they absorb less earth energy; shrimp from lakes, marshes, and ponds have thin shells, full flesh, no fishy smell, and good taste; shrimp from the sea are white, coarse in texture, and of inferior taste. For medicinal use, those from lakes and marshes are considered the best. After boiling shrimp, drying them in the sun, and removing the shells, large ones are called "Yingzhao," small ones are called "Xiami" (Shrimp Paste), and shrimp roe is called "Xia Chun." During the peak of the August tide in Qiantang River, people along the riverbank collect shrimp roe in the shallow sandy waters after the tide recedes and sell them in the market. Cunning sellers may mix in rotten residue; to verify authenticity, take a small amount, stir-fry it with salt in a copper pot, and if the color turns pure red, it is genuine. Most are pickled and stored as food for the coming spring. *Bencao Gangmu* clearly categorizes shrimp and sea shrimp. Under the "Shrimp" section, it lists "Xiami," and under the "Sea Shrimp" section, it lists "Dui Xia," but neither establishes therapeutic indications, merely stating they can be used as food. Therefore, these deficiencies are hereby supplemented and corrected.

[Regarding Shrimp Paste/Xiami] Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Eliminates wind-phlegm. Hu Qian's *Fazhi Bian* describes a preparation method involving Gecko (*Gejie*) and shrimp, stating that consuming it tonifies the kidney and benefits yang. The method is: one jin of Xiami, two Geckos (*Gejie*), four liang of Fennel (*Huixiang*), and four liang of Sichuan Pepper (*Shujiao*). All are stir-fried with liquor dissolved with green salt. Mix in one liang of powdered Costus Root (*Muxiang*), seal tightly in a new jar while hot, and store. Take one spoonful each time, chew and swallow with wine on an empty stomach; this is very effective.

[Regarding Shrimp Roe/Xiazi] Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Treats warts and removes tinea (see dietary contraindications).
To treat lack of milk and breast diseases, use Shrimp Paste Wine: Take one piece of fresh Xiami, remove the clean meat, pound it into a paste, and drink it warm with yellow wine. Milk will arrive shortly after. Then drink pig trotter soup several times a day until milk flows like a spring.
A miraculous prescription without medicine to induce vomiting of wind-phlegm: Use half a jin of Xiami with shells. Boil with ginger, scallion, and soy sauce to make a broth. Eat the shrimp first, then drink the broth. Bind the abdomen tightly, and induce vomiting by probing the throat with a chicken feather.
A miraculous prescription without medicine to treat erysipelas-like rashes (Chi Bai You Feng): Pound Xiami and apply externally.

Fresh shrimp are sweet in taste; pickled shrimp are salty and sweet. Both are warm in nature, assist yang, and unblock blood vessels (see dietary contraindications). Note by Zhao Xuemin: In Cantonese, "Xia Chun" does not refer to shrimp roe. There is a freshwater organism called "Shuishī" (water louse) in rivers, about the size of a bean, whose eggs are scattered and inexhaustible. Thus, the nature of "Xia Chun" should differ from that of shrimp. Chen Zhishan's claim regarding its ability to assist yang may not have been rigorously verified.