Library

(Song Dynasty *Kaibao Bencao* Record)

[Names] Ha Xie (from *Rihua Bencao*), Xian Chan.
Su Song stated: One male and one female, often calling out their own names.
Li Shizhen stated: *Gejie* is named after its sound; *Xianchan* is named after its shape; people in Lingnan call frogs "Ha", and since its head resembles a frog and a toad, it is so named.
Lei Xiao considered the male as "Ha" and the female as "Jie", which is also acceptable.

[Collection and Explanation]
Su Song stated: *Gejie* grows in the valleys of Lingnan, as well as on city walls or large trees. Its shape resembles a large gecko (*Shou Gong*), with a body length of four to five cun, and a tail equal in length to the body. People value its midsection most; the back has fine scales like silkworm eggs, yellowish-brown, with a short body and long tail. One cry indicates one year of age. Folk people collect and sell it, claiming it treats lung diseases.
Kou Zongshi stated: It lives in the waters of Guangnan and resides on banyan trees at night. Male and female follow each other; casting a net once catches two. Recently, there are also those in the Western Route; although smaller, their nourishing power is average. Folk people collect them, cut open their bellies, prop them open with bamboo strips, dry them in the sun, and sell them.
Using an iron fork, shaped like a sticky pole, waiting among banyan trees, stabbing with the fork, one part pierces the brain, another hooks the tail, thus it cannot bite. For medicinal use, both male and female must be used together. Some say men with Yang deficiency use females, and women with Yin deficiency use males.
(Tao Hongjing's view implied): The male is "Ha", with rough skin, large mouth, small body, and thick tail; the female is "Jie", with fine skin, pointed mouth, large body, and thin tail.
Li Shizhen stated: According to Duan Gonglu's *Buhu Lu*: Its head resembles a toad, back light green, with yellowish-brown spots like ancient brocade patterns, growing abundantly in Hengzhou, Guangxi. [Text fragment missing]. Regardless of gender, they can be used in miscellaneous medicines and veterinary prescriptions.

[Processing]
Lei Xiao stated: Its toxicity lies in the eyes. One must remove the eyes, as well as the hair/flesh on the claws, tail, and abdomen. Soak thoroughly in wine, slowly bake between two layers of paper until dry, store in a porcelain vessel, hang in the east corner of the house for one night before use; the efficacy increases tenfold. Do not damage the tail.
If the dorsal crest is unclean, roast with butter (or honey).
Li Xun stated: Whenever used, roast until yellow, then crush when cooked. Place a small amount in the mouth; if one can run without panting, it is genuine. Suitable for use in pills and powders.

[Flavor and Properties] Salty, neutral, slightly toxic. *Rihua Bencao* states: Non-toxic.

[Indications] Chronic cough, pulmonary tuberculosis/consumption (*Chuan Shi*), expelling evil spirits/qi, treating strangury/dribbling, promoting water passages (*Kaibao Bencao*). Treating kidney stones (*Shi Lin*), regulating menstruation, treating lung qi, healing hemoptysis (*Rihua Bencao*). Pulmonary fibrosis with hemoptysis, cough with qi rebellion, treating fractures (*Haiyao Bencao*). Tonifying lung qi, benefiting essence and blood, calming asthma and stopping cough, treating lung abscess and wasting-thirst syndrome.

[Elucidation]
Kou Zongshi stated: Effective for tonifying lung deficiency and chronic cough due to consumption.
Li Shizhen stated: Ancients said tonification removes weakness, such as with Ginseng and mutton. *Gejie* tonifies lung qi, calms asthma, and stops thirst/cough, with effects similar to Ginseng. It benefits yin-blood, assists essence, and supports emaciation, with effects similar to mutton. In recent times, for treating consumptive weakness, Xu Shimwei used it for wasting-thirst syndrome, all utilizing its nourishing properties. Liu Chun stated: Those with depletion of qi/fluids and exhaustion of yin-blood should use it. He Daying stated: For calming asthma and stopping cough, nothing is better than this.

[Attached Prescriptions] Two old prescriptions.
Chronic cough and lung abscess: Kou Zongshi stated: Chronic cough... choking pain. Use *Gejie*, Ejiao, Deer Antler Gelatin, Raw Rhinoceros Horn, and Antelope Horn, each 2.5 qian. Boil in three sheng of river water in a silver or ceramic vessel over fire until reduced to half a sheng, filter the juice. Li Shizhen stated: ...float... grind half liang into powder, melt four liang of wax, mix into six cakes. Each time, boil a cup of thin rice porridge, put in one cake, stir to dissolve, drink slowly while hot. (*Puji Fang*)