【释名】蝉壳、枯蝉、腹
【修治】时珍曰∶凡用蜕壳，沸汤洗去泥土、翅、足，浆水煮过，晒干用。
【气味】咸、甘，寒，无毒。
【主治】小儿惊痫，妇人生子不下。烧灰水服，治久痢（《别录》）。
小儿壮热惊痫，止渴（《药性》）。研末一钱，井华水服
以水煎汁服，治小儿疮疹出不快，甚良
风及疔肿毒疮，大人
【发明】好古曰∶蝉蜕去翳膜，取其蜕义也。蝉性蜕而退翳，蛇性窜而祛风，因其性而
为用也。
时珍曰∶蝉乃土木余气所化，饮风吸露，其气清虚。故其主疗，皆一切风热之证。古人
用身，后人用蜕。大抵治脏腑经络，当用蝉身。治皮肤疮疡风热，当用蝉蜕，各从其类也。
又主哑病、夜啼者，取其昼鸣而夜息也。
【附方】旧二，新十四。
小儿夜啼∶《心鉴》∶治小儿一百二十日内夜啼。用蝉蜕四十九个，去
末，分四服。钓藤汤调灌之。《普济方》蝉花散∶治小儿夜啼不止，状若鬼祟。用
截，为末。一字，薄荷汤入酒少许调下。或者不信，将上半截为末，煎汤调下，即复啼也。
古人立方，莫知其妙。
小儿惊啼∶啼而不哭，烦也；哭而不啼，躁也。用蝉蜕二七枚，去翅、足为末，入朱砂
末一字，蜜调与吮之。（《活幼口议》）
小儿天吊∶头目仰视，痰塞内热。用金牛儿（即蝉蜕）以浆水煮一日，晒干为末。每服
一字，冷水调下。（《卫生易简方》）
小儿噤风∶初生口噤不乳。用蝉蜕二七枚，全蝎（去毒）二七枚。为末。入轻粉末少许，
乳汁调灌。（《全幼心鉴》）
破伤风病发热∶《医学正传》∶用蝉蜕，炒研，酒服一钱，神效。《普济方》∶用蝉蜕
，为末，葱涎调，涂破处。即时取去恶水，立效。名追风散。
头风旋晕∶蝉壳一两，微炒为末。非时酒下一钱，白汤亦可。（《圣惠》）。
皮肤风痒∶蝉蜕
痘疮作痒∶蝉蜕三七枚，甘草（炙）一钱，水煎服之。（《心鉴》）
痘后目翳∶蝉蜕为末。每服一钱，羊肝煎汤下，日二。（钱氏）
耳出脓∶蝉蜕半两（烧存性），麝香半钱（炒），上为末，绵裹塞之。追出恶物，效。
（《海上》）。
小儿阴肿∶多因坐地风袭，及虫蚁所吹。用蝉蜕半两，煎水洗。仍服五苓散，即肿消痛
止。（危氏）。
胃热吐食∶清膈散∶用蝉蜕五十个，去泥，滑石一两，为末。每服二钱，水一盏，入蜜
调服。（《卫生家宝方》）
疔疮毒肿∶不破则毒入腹。《青囊杂纂》∶用蝉蜕，炒为末。蜜水调服一钱，外以津和，
涂之。《医方大成》∶
[Names] Cicada Slough (Chan Tui), Withered Cicada (Ku Chan), Abdomen (Fu)
[Preparation] Li Shizhen stated: When using the slough, wash it with boiling water to remove soil, wings, and legs. Then boil it in rice gruel water, dry it in the sun, and use it.
[Flavor and Property] Salty, sweet, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Infantile convulsion (Xiao'er Jing Xian - convulsions and spasms in children caused by fright), difficult labor in women. Burn to ash and take with boiled water to treat chronic dysentery (Bie Lu).
Infantile high fever and convulsion, relieve thirst (Yao Xing). Grind into powder, one qian, taken with well water drawn at dawn.
Boil in water to make a decoction and take to treat slow eruption of infantile pox/rash, which is very effective.
Wind pathogens and carbuncles/swelling/toxic sores, adults... [Text cuts off here]
[Elucidation] Hao Gu said: Cicada slough removes nebula (eye opacity) because it takes its meaning from molting. The nature of cicada is to molt and remove nebula; the nature of snake is to crawl and dispel wind. This utilizes their inherent natures for therapeutic effect.
Li Shizhen said: Cicadas are transformed from the residual qi of earth and wood, drinking wind and absorbing dew, so their qi is clear and empty. Therefore, their therapeutic indications all address various wind-heat syndromes. Ancients used the whole body, later generations used the slough. Generally speaking, for treating diseases of the zang-fu organs and meridians, one should use the cicada body; for treating skin sores and wind-heat, one should use the cicada slough, each following its own kind.
It also treats aphonia and night crying, taking advantage of its characteristic of singing during the day and resting at night.
[Attached Prescriptions] Two old prescriptions, fourteen new prescriptions.
Infantile Night Crying: Xin Jian: Treats night crying in infants within 120 days of birth. Use 49 cicada sloughs, remove head and tail, grind into fine powder, divide into four doses. Administer mixed with Uncaria Decoction (Diao Teng Tang). Pu Ji Fang Cicada Flower Powder (Chan Hua San): Treats incessant night crying in infants, resembling ghost possession. Use... cut off, grind into powder. One zi dose, taken with Mint Decoction mixed with a little wine. If one does not believe this, grinding the upper half into powder and taking it as a decoction will cause the crying to resume. The subtlety of ancient prescriptions is unknown to many.
Infantile Startle Crying: Crying without wailing indicates vexation; wailing without crying indicates restlessness. Use 14 cicada sloughs, remove wings and legs, grind into powder. Add one zi of Cinnabar powder, mix with honey and let the infant suck. (Huo You Kou Yi)
Infantile Tian Diao (Head Deviation): Head and eyes looking upward, phlegm obstruction with internal heat. Use Jinniu'er (i.e., Cicada Slough), boil in rice gruel water for one day, dry and grind into powder. Take one zi dose each time, mixed with cold water. (Wei Sheng Yi Jian Fang)
Infantile Jin Feng (Lockjaw): Newborn with locked jaw unable to nurse. Use 14 cicada sloughs, 14 Scorpion (Qu Xia) (remove toxicity). Grind into powder. Add a small amount of Realgar powder, mix with breast milk and administer. (Quan You Xin Jian)
Tetanus with Fever: Yi Xue Zheng Zhuan: Use Cicada Slough, stir-fry and grind, take one qian with wine, miraculous effect. Pu Ji Fang: Use Cicada Slough... grind into powder, mix with onion juice, apply to the wound. Immediately draw out foul fluid, immediate effect. Named Zhui Feng San (Wind-Chasing Powder).
Head Wind Vertigo: Cicada Shell one liang, lightly stir-fried and ground into powder. Take one qian with wine at any time, white tea water is also acceptable. (Sheng Hui Fang).
Skin Itching due to Wind: Cicada Slough... [Text cuts off here]
Itching from Smallpox/Rashes: Cicada Slough 21 pieces, Licorice Root (Zhi Gan Cao) one qian, decoct in water and take. (Xin Jian)
Nebula after Smallpox: Cicada Slough ground into powder. Take one qian each time, administered with broth made from sheep liver, twice daily. (Qian Yi)
Otorrhea (Ear Discharge): Cicada Slough half liang (burned until carbonized but retaining properties), Musk half qian (stir-fried). Grind both into powder, wrap in cotton and insert into the ear. Draws out foul matter, effective. (Hai Shang Ji Yan Fang).
Infantile Genital Swelling: Often caused by wind invasion from sitting on the ground, or blowing by insects/ants. Use Cicada Slough half liang, decoct in water for washing. Also take Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria), swelling and pain will subside. (Wei Yi Lin).
Stomach Heat Vomiting: Qing Ge San (Clear Diaphragm Powder): Use 50 Cicada Sloughs, remove soil, Talcum Rock one liang, grind into powder. Take two qian each time, with one cup of water, mixed with honey. (Wei Sheng Jia Bao Fang)
Carbuncle Toxic Swelling: If not broken, toxin enters the abdomen. Qing Nang Za Zuan: Use Cicada Slough, stir-fry and grind into powder. Mix with honey water to take one qian, externally mix with saliva and apply. Yi Fang Da Cheng: ... [Text cuts off here]