味咸、辛，平，无毒。主治小儿惊痫，夜啼，去三虫，灭黑 。令人面色好，治男子阴
疡病。女子崩中赤白，产后余痛，灭诸疮瘢痕。生颖川平泽。四月取自死者，勿令中湿，湿
有毒，不可用。
人家养蚕时，有合箔皆僵者，即曝燥都不坏。今见小白色，似有盐度者为好。末以涂马
齿，即不能食草，以桑叶拭去乃还食，此明蚕即马类也。（《大观》卷二十一，《政和》四三
○
味咸、甘，平，无毒。主治伤中，疝瘕，阴痿，益精，生子，女子血闭，腰痛，通五淋，
利小便水道。又治男子虚损，五脏气微，梦寐失精，遗溺。久服益气，养神。一名蚀 。生
桑枝上，螳螂子也，二月、三月采蒸之，当火炙，不尔令人泄。得龙骨，治泄精。（畏旋复
花。）
世呼螳螂为 螂，逢树便产，以桑上者为好，是兼得桑皮之津气，市人恐非真，皆令合
枝
味咸，寒，有毒。主治心腹寒热洗洗，血积症瘕，破坚，下血闭，生子大良。一名地鳖，
一名土鳖。生河东川泽及沙中，人家墙壁下土中湿处。十月取曝干。（畏皂荚、菖蒲。）
形扁扁如鳖，故名土鳖，而有甲，不能飞，小有臭气，今人家亦有之。（《大观》卷二十
一，《政和》四三四页）
味咸，微温、微寒，有毒。主治恶血，血瘀痹气，破折血在胁下坚满痛，月闭，目中淫
肤，青翳白膜。治吐血在胸腹不去，及破骨 折，血结，金疮内塞，产后中寒，下乳汁。一
名蛴，一名 齐，一名 齐。生河内平泽及人家积粪草中。取无时，反行者良。（蜚虻
为之使，恶附子。）
大者如足大指，以背滚行，乃驶于脚，杂猪蹄作羹与乳母，不能别之，《诗》云领如蝤
蛴
[Bombyx Batryticatus (Silkworm)]
Taste: Salty, Pungent; Nature: Neutral; Toxicity: Non-toxic.
Indications: Pediatric convulsions and epilepsy (spasms caused by fright or extreme heat generating wind), nocturnal crying, expelling three types of intestinal parasites, eliminating dark spots. Improves complexion, treats penile ulcers and sores in men. Treats metrorrhagia (profuse or prolonged non-menstrual bleeding) with red and white leukorrhea in women, postpartum residual pain, and eliminates scars from various sores.
Habitat: Plains and marshes in Yingchuan.
Collection: Collected in April from naturally deceased individuals. Avoid moisture, as dampness induces toxicity, rendering them unusable.
Notes: When silkworms in a whole rearing tray stiffen and die, they can be sun-dried without rotting. Those that are small, white, and appear salted are considered superior. Applying powdered Bombyx Batryticatus to horse teeth prevents them from eating grass; wiping it off with mulberry leaves restores their ability to eat, indicating a kinship between silkworms and horses. (Source: *Da Guan Ben Cao*, Vol. 21; *Zheng He Zheng Lei Ben Cao*, p. 430)
[Larva of Mantis Ootheca (Mantis Egg Case)]
Taste: Salty, Sweet; Nature: Neutral; Toxicity: Non-toxic.
Indications: Internal injury and deficiency, hernia and mass accumulation (abdominal masses), impotence, tonifying essence and qi, aiding conception, treating amenorrhea in women, lower back pain, unblocking five types of strangury (painful, frequent, and scanty urination), and promoting urinary flow. Also treats male deficiency, weak qi of the five zang organs, seminal emission during dreams, and urinary incontinence. Long-term use benefits qi and nourishes the spirit.
Alternative Name: Youqi.
Habitat: Grows on mulberry branches; it is the ootheca (egg case) of the mantis.
Collection: Harvested in February and March, steamed, and roasted over fire to prevent diarrhea.
Compatibility: Combined with Dragon Bone (Fossil Bone) to treat seminal emission. (Incompatible with Inula Flower).
Notes: People call the mantis "tanglang". It lays eggs wherever it finds trees, with those on mulberry trees being superior as they absorb the sap and qi of mulberry bark. Market items may not be genuine and are often sold with branches attached.
[Eupolyphaga Sinensis (Ground Beetle)]
Taste: Salty; Nature: Cold; Toxicity: Toxic.
Indications: Alternating cold and heat sensations in the heart and abdomen resembling flowing water, blood stasis and abdominal masses, breaking down hard accumulations, unblocking menstrual obstruction, and significantly aiding conception.
Alternative Names: Dibie, Tubie.
Habitat: Rivers, marshes, and sands in Hedong, and damp soil under walls of houses.
Collection: Harvested in October and sun-dried.
Compatibility: Incompatible with Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit (Zaojia) and Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizome (Changpu).
Description: Flat like a turtle, hence the name Tubie. It has a shell but cannot fly. Has a slight odor and is common in households. (Source: *Da Guan Ben Cao*, Vol. 21; *Zheng He Zheng Lei Ben Cao*, p. 434)
[Larva of Scarabaeidae (Grub)]
Taste: Salty; Nature: Slightly Warm, Slightly Cold; Toxicity: Toxic.
Indications: Evil blood, blood stasis with bi-syndrome qi stagnation, breaking down blood accumulation causing hardness and fullness/pain in the hypochondrium, amenorrhea, excessive ocular discharge (pingye), and corneal opacity (qingyi baimo). Treats hematemesis retained in the chest and abdomen, bone fractures, blood coagulation, internal blockage from metal wounds, postpartum cold invasion, and promotes lactation.
Alternative Names: Si, [Missing Character], [Missing Character].
Habitat: Plains and marshes in Henei, and among accumulated manure and grass in households.
Collection: Can be harvested at any time. Individuals that walk upside down are considered superior.
Compatibility: Meloe (Blister Beetle) serves as its guiding herb (shi); incompatible with Aconite Lateral Root (Fuzi).
Description: Large ones are as big as a human toe, rolling forward on their backs, moving faster than feet. Cooked in soup with pig trotters for nursing mothers, indistinguishable from other meats. As stated in the *Classic of Poetry*: "Neck as white as the grub."