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Crab
Shrimp
Taste: salty. Nature: cold. Another view holds that the nature is neutral. Toxic. Grows in marshes and ponds, burrowing in damp mud; emerges in the eighth and ninth lunar months to eat rice ears. (In late autumn when rice ripens, they all emerge from the fields, each holding an ear of rice facing their leader, then follow the leader to the Yangtze River and rush into it, turning from the river to the sea, becoming larger; some say they deliver rice to the Sea God.) They move sideways, having eight legs and two claws totaling eight limbs; shell is yellowish-brown with twelve slightly red star-like spots. (Similar to the thirty-six scales of a carp in size distribution.) Abdominal fullness or emptiness corresponds to the waxing and waning of the moon; distinction between male and female lies in the size of the abdomen flap. (Females have round and large flaps, males have pointed and small flaps.) Fishermen catch them; those caught after frost are better. (Those caught before frost are toxic and inedible.) Preserved by intoxicating with wine lees for storage; as a dish, it is considered a delicacy. (Avoid exposure to fire or light when handling/consuming, as this causes fever and spoilage.) Disperses blood and resolves nodules, benefits Qi and nourishes sinews. Eliminates chest heat, oppression, and irritability; removes facial swelling and deviation. Cures lacquer dermatitis, dissolves lacquer toxicity into water. (Immortal prescription: drinking the dissolved lacquer water promotes longevity.) Reconnects bones and sinews so broken sinews join immediately. (Take the yellow substance from the leg joints and carapace, plus brain matter, crush it, gently heat, and apply to the site of broken sinews to reconnect them.) Those suffering from wind disorders should not consume it, as it may trigger recurrence; pregnant women consuming it may cause breech presentation. Smoke from burning it can attract rats. Abnormal shapes indicate hidden toxicity. (Those with spotted legs, red eyes, single claw, single eye, eyes facing each other, hair on the abdomen, bone in the abdomen, or having six or four legs possess high toxicity and are inedible.) If accidentally swallowed into the throat, harm will ensue. Fermented soybean, garlic, winter melon, and black bean decoctions can detoxify it. Claws primarily break membranes and induce abortion, and also unblock postpartum blood stasis. Other varieties have specific therapeutic strengths. Crabs with broad shells and abundant yellow roe, and sharp claws, are suitable for treating wind disorders in adults. Scylla serrata (Mud crab) has flat, very large shells and smooth claws; useful for removing pediatric abdominal masses. Portunus trituberculatus (Swimming crab) is smaller; excessive consumption causes vomiting and diarrhea, harming the body. Small crabs are minute; their paste applied topically kills pathogens in wet tinea. (Not for internal use.) Xiphias gladius (Sword crab) has two unequal claws. The large claw extends often waiting for combat, while the small claw retracts for feeding; it is also toxic and should not be eaten. Shrimp Taste: sweet. Nature: neutral. Slightly toxic. Found in rivers and streams; good at swimming and leaping. The character derives from "borrow," implying movement borrowed from jellyfish. Alive, they are green; cooked, they turn bright red. As food, do not overconsume; they readily trigger sores and wind disorders. Children, chickens, and dogs should not eat them; accidental ingestion causes bent legs and difficulty walking. Crushed raw shrimp applied as a paste treats erysipelas and white swelling. Mouth ulcers and dental caries resolve overnight. Another variety lacks whiskers and has a completely black underside. Cooked, it turns white and contains hidden toxicity. Discard quickly into ditches to avoid harm. Dried shrimp is made by mixing with hot rice; caution advised against concurrent consumption with chicken meat. Large red shrimp originate from the sea, with fat bodies and long whiskers up to one zhang. (Historical records doubt this, but later travelers to the East Sea reported whiskers four chi four cun long, sealed and sent back.) Locals catch them and dry them under the scorching sun. Thick shells are used as wine cups; tough whiskers are cut into walking sticks. Sold only at good prices. Therapeutic indications and contraindications are the same as above. Seahorse belongs to the shrimp family, two to three cun long; males and females stay together, color yellowish-brown. Head resembles a horse but body remains shrimp-like; back has patterns resembling bamboo nodes. Caught using nets on the water surface. Induces labor and facilitates delivery, a sacred medicine for difficult birth. (Wearing it during labor or ingesting powdered form with wine is effective.) Potentiates yang and prevents impotence, truly a spring vitality formula. Jellyfish (Sound: cuo. Also written as , alias water mother. Chupoo fish.) Shape like white foam, common in the East Sea, varying sizes; no abdomen, head and eyes concealed, relies on shrimp for vision, swims swiftly. When shrimp are startled, jellyfish sink. Hence said: "When shrimp move, jellyfish sink." Also said: "The jellyfish uses the shrimp as its eye." Used for seasoning dishes, always add ginger and vinegar. Treats maternal exhaustion and blood stasis during childbirth; treats pediatric wind disorders and erysipelas.