Library

Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) appended "Cu Zhi" (Cricket) under the entry for "Zao Ma" (House Cricket), listing only its name and stating that it was not used in ancient prescriptions. This is attached here for further verification.

The cricket has a penetrating and promoting nature, treating urinary retention.
*Yao Xing Kao* (Record of Drug Properties): The cricket is acrid, salty, and warm; it can induce the eruption of smallpox/variolous eruptions, superior to *Sang Chong* (Mulberry Insect).
It treats abdominal pain and urinary retention following traumatic injuries.
*Yang Su Yuan Ji Yan Fang* (Collected Effective Prescriptions from Yangsu Garden): Use one cricket, decoct and take orally; effect is immediate.
Treating pediatric enuresis.
*Cihang Huo Ren Shu* (Book of Compassion Saving Lives by Cihang): Take one whole cricket, roast until dry, grind into powder, and swallow with boiling water. Dosage corresponds to age: for an eleven-year-old child, administer one cricket per dose.
Treating urinary obstruction with continuous pain and distension in both men and women.
*Ji Ting*: Use one cricket, dry-roast on a Yin-Yang tile, grind into powder, and take with plain boiling water. For children, half a cricket suffices to restore urination.
Facilitating childbirth.
Zhao Jichang states: In the game of cricket fighting, crickets are most prevalent. Those that win every battle are commonly called "General". These insects inevitably die in winter; do not discard them lightly. Preserve them to rescue obstetric emergencies; they are miraculous. For difficult labor, use one dried cricket, decoct in water and drink; delivery occurs immediately without the risk of malpresentation. (Xu Jingni says: Cricket fighters seal their pots in winter, waiting for the crickets to die naturally, then pair and dry them for use in obstetrics and variolology. Only paired specimens should be used medicinally.)
Treating *Shui Gu* (Hydrops/Ascites characterized by abdominal distension like a drum).
*Zhu Zhai Ren Cheng Ri Chao* (Daily Notes from Zhu Zhai's Time in Rencheng): Cu Zhi can treat *Shui Gu*. Once, a person suffered from *Shui Gu* unresponsive to all treatments. One day, while drinking boiled water, he accidentally swallowed a pair of crickets already inside the water. After a few days, his condition gradually subsided, revealing that *Cu Zhi* could treat this syndrome. Later, this prescription was passed to several people, all responding effectively. If one pair is insufficient, continue taking two or three pairs until effective.

Regarding *Zhong* (Locust/Grasshopper), *Bencao Gangmu* only cites one entry from *Shi Yi Pei Yao* (Supplement to Precious Medicines Carried in the Pocket), lacking therapeutic indications.
Note: *Zha Meng* (Grasshopper) appears when the Fire Star rises in early summer and proliferates upon receiving the Qi of Autumn Metal. Its nature is aggressive and penetrating, capable of opening orifices and penetrating apertures. A grey, small variety is not used medicinally in various regions; large green-yellow varieties are used. There are two types: pointed head and square head. They are used in *Jiu Sheng Ku Hai Wu Hu Dan* (Five Tiger Pill from the Sea of Suffering) to treat acute Qi blockage, primarily leveraging their agile, penetrating action as guiding herbs.
Taste is acrid, neutral, slightly toxic. Nature is mobile and unstatic. Treats cough, convulsions, traumatic wounds, fractures, frostbite, and failure of measles rash to erupt.
Treating *Lu E Wen* (A respiratory illness resembling asthma).
*Wang Shi Xiao Fang* (Effective Prescriptions of Mr. Wang): *Lu E Wen* presents with incessant coughing, occurring in dozens of bursts consecutively; it resembles asthma but is not asthma, and resembles panting but is not panting. Children often suffer from this. Take ten grasshoppers from grain fields, decoct in water and drink; cured after three doses.
*Bai Cao Jing* (Mirror of Hundred Herbs): *Lu E Yu* (same as *Lu E Wen*) also occurs in children. Symptoms resemble choking on an object, wanting to vomit but unable to; eventually, a small amount of phlegm is expectorated. If prolonged, death ensues. Treat with decoction of dried grasshopper.
Treating Tetanus (*Po Shang Feng*).
*Jiu Sheng Ku Hai* (Sea of Suffering for Salvation) treats trauma using square-headed, grey grasshoppers collected from rice fields after Frost Descent. Store them in a cloth bag with grain, dry them, and ensure... [Text fragment implies drying process].
Treating Sha Distension (*Sha Zhang*).
*Yang Su Yuan Ji Yan Fang*: Use five or six grasshoppers, decoct in water and take warm.
Treating Frostbite (*Dong Chuang*).
*Yang Su Yuan Ji Yan Fang*: Use square-headed, yellow grasshoppers, air-dry and grind into powder. Mix with sesame oil for topical application; sprinkling powder directly is also acceptable.
Treating Pediatric Convulsions (*Xiao Er Jing Feng*).
*Li Shi Biao Fang*: Use grasshoppers in any quantity, calcine to retain charred properties (*Cun Xing*), mix with rock sugar and take; cure is immediate. Another method for acute and chronic convulsions uses dosage based on patient size and number of patients, decocted and taken orally. Wang Liren's *Yi Jian Fang* (Easy and Simple Prescriptions): Roast *Ma La* (grasshopper) until dry, grind to powder, mix with ginger juice and take a small amount; cure is immediate.
Treating Acute and Chronic Convulsions (*Ji Man Jing Feng*).
*Bai Cao Jing*: After Frost Descent, collect square-headed, yellow-bodied grasshoppers from rice fields in any quantity. Place in a cloth bag with grain, air-dry, and keep drying regularly to prevent moisture and insect damage. Upon encountering this syndrome, use seven or ten specimens, add one pinch each of Uncaria Rhynchophylla (*Gou Teng Gou*) and Mentha Haplocalyx (*Bo He Ye*), decoct in water and administer. Dregs can be re-decocted and taken. Severe cases resolve in three doses. Li Donglai frequently administers this medicine. It is said that grasshoppers from Shandong ("Wang Chong") are particularly effective; only two specimens are needed per dose.
*Wang Zhan Zhu Bu Yao Liang Fang* (Excellent Prescriptions Without Medicine by Wang Zhan Zhu): For acute and chronic convulsions, first administer half a cup of juice from the root of White Balsam Apple (*Bai Feng Xian Hua Gen*). Immediately follow with powder of roasted, square-headed grasshoppers mixed with boiling water; cure is immediate.
Treating Postpartum Wind Invasion (*Chan Hou Mao Feng*).
Wang Liangsheng's *Jiu Ji Fang* (Emergency Rescue Prescriptions): Use dozens of dried grasshoppers, calcine on a tile to retain charred properties, mix with good wine and take.