Library

Spider
Qi is slightly cold. Toxic. There are many species, found everywhere. It can spin webs, but its skill is inferior to that of silkworms. Whenever used in medical prescriptions, selection is necessary.
Those spinning webs at the eaves are excellent; those with large, black abdomens are good. Collection has no fixed time; processing relies on experience. For adults suffering from Huhan (inguinal hernia) with unilateral pain and testicles moving up and down intermittently, it should be ground into powder and taken with liquid. For children suffering from Dingxi abdominal distension (a chronic malnutrition characterized by abdominal swelling and emaciation) and walking difficulties, it must be roasted thoroughly and eaten. It can interrupt the chills and fever of chronic malaria and dispel dry retching and cholera-like vomiting. For snake bites, crush and apply juice; for centipede bites, use a live spider to suck out the toxin. For carbuncles and sores, apply as a plaster to reduce swelling; for goiters (thyroid enlargement or neck masses), soak in wine and drink to eliminate them. Spider silk treats forgetfulness and can also enhance dexterity. Consuming it on the Qixi Festival (7th day of the 7th lunar month) yields miraculous effects. Tying tumors causes them to rot and fall off; wrapping hemorrhoids causes them to detach. (Using silk from flower spiders is particularly effective.)

Robber Fly (Mumeng)
Taste is bitter, Qi is neutral and slightly cold. Toxic. Those seen sucking blood from cattle and horses, with blood in their abdomen, are superior. Collect them, shade-dry, remove wings and legs, and stir-fry before use. It expels blood stasis and amenorrhea, alleviates chills, fever, and soreness; it can stop redness and pain in both eyes, and tearing due to trauma. Feimeng (another type of fly) can also fly; its shape is large like a honeybee. The taste and Qi are not significantly different, though there are distinctions regarding Mahuang (Ephedra). It unblocks blood vessels, orifices, and throat obstruction (houbi); it breaks up accumulated blood, zhengjia masses (abdominal masses), and hard痞块 (fixed lumps). It also drives away chills and fever and further expels blood stasis.

White Silkworm (Baijiangcan)
Silkworm Moth (Can'e)
Taste is salty and pungent, Qi is neutral. It ascends; it is Yang within Yin. It belongs to Fire, possessing attributes of Earth and Wood, and becomes stiff without decomposing due to Metal Qi. Non-toxic. One theory states: Nature is warm, slightly toxic. Found in household silkworm trays, select those that have died stiffly and upright. Do not let them become damp; if damp, discard them. (Because damp ones become toxic and should not be used.) Must select white, strip-shaped specimens, stir-fry to remove silk floss and eggs. Adversely interacts with Fuling (Poria), Bibo (Dioscorea hypoglauca), Jie Geng (Platycodon root), and Sangpiaoxiao (Mantis egg case). It has special efficacy in expelling wind-dampness; it is essential for cases of jaw lock and loss of voice; it is extremely effective in extracting carbuncle toxins; for severe swelling that is nearly critical, apply urgently. (Grind into powder and apply externally.) It primarily treats pediatric convulsions and night crying; it treats women's metrorrhagia and leukorrhea (red and white discharge). It stops genital itching and eliminates three parasites. It removes dark spots and scars from various sores, improving complexion; it disperses wind-phlegm and stagnant phlegm nodules; it is used for throat obstruction. (Danxi said: Treating throat obstruction utilizes its qi of clearing transformation within fire, to treat ministerial fire and dissipate turbid,逆 (rebellious), stagnant phlegm.) It drives away residual pain after childbirth and resolves Yin-Yang Yi disease (post-febrile sexual transmission syndrome) following Shanghan (Cold Damage). Changing inside the cocoon, it is named Yuan Can'e (Original Silkworm Moth). Qi is warm, taste is salty, slightly toxic. "Yuan" explains as "again," referring to rearing late-season silkworms. For medicinal use, strictly select male moths because they are keen on reproduction. Break off wings and legs, stir-fry lightly until yellow. Combine into powders or pills, use as appropriate. Strengthens the penis (essential for impotence); prevents fatigue during intercourse, benefits essence and qi, and secures difficult-ejaculating semen. Applied to sores to remove scars, stops hematuria, and warms the Kidney. Can Sha (silkworm feces) is silkworm dung; its nature is also damp. It treats damp-bi (painful obstruction), urticaria, and flaccidity due to wind; it primarily treats borborygmus, heat in the middle jiao, and xiaoke (wasting-thirst). There is also Can Tui (silkworm slough/molt), which is suitable for burning to ash. It mostly treats blood-wind, greatly benefiting women. It stops leukorrhea, metrorrhagia, red and white dysentery; it removes intestinal wind bleeding, epistaxis, and hematemesis. Ash applied to carbuncles; mixed with musk for gum ulcers (yagan). Ash rubbed on gums for periodontal recession; ash applied to mouth sores. It also treats evil influences, wind-epilepsy; mixed with wine and taken orally for immediate cure. Ben Jing adds: Modern physicians often use Can Tui Zhi (silkworm paper), (which is the skin shed by newly hatched silkworms on paper). Eastern physicians only use Can Tui Pi (silkworm slough). (This is the skin shed when the silkworm prepares to sleep and molt). Comparing the two uses, the Eastern method is correct. It must be lightly stir-fried before being added to powders or pills. Burned cocoon, ground and mixed with wine, immediately causes abscesses to perforate. One cocoon creates one hole, efficacy similar to Maozhen (cattail pollen/tip). If decocted into liquid and taken, it instantly kills parasites and stops diarrhea. Stored in jars of silk-reeling water, buried deep in soil for years. When xiaoke (wasting-thirst) strikes, take it urgently to drink. It guides clear qi to ascend and visit the mouth and tongue, descends ministerial fire to drain into the bladder, because it belongs to Fire yet possesses the function of Metal.