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[Sangpiaoxiao (Mantis Egg Case)]
Taste and Nature: Salty, Neutral. Indications: Treats internal injury (Shangzhong), hernia masses (Shanjia), impotence (Yinwei), benefits essence and promotes fertility (Yijing Shengzi), treats women's amenorrhea with lower back pain (Nüzi Xibiyao Tong), unblocks the five types of strangury (Wulin), and promotes urination via the water pathways (Li Xiaobian Shuodao).

Chen Xiuyuan states: Sangpiaoxiao is the egg case of the mantis. Its neutral nature belongs to Metal, and its salty taste belongs to Water. Among all insects, the mantis has the most rigid nature; because it possesses the properties of Metal, it enables the Lung's governance and regulation (Zhi Jie) to exert its authority, thus treating hernia masses, women's amenorrhea, unblocking the five types of strangury, and promoting water pathways. Furthermore, possessing the properties of Water, it enables the Kidney's function of strength and ingenuity (Zuoqiang) to be effective, thus treating impotence, benefiting essence for fertility, and lower back pain. Its treatment of internal injury is because it grows on mulberry trees, absorbing the Qi of the mulberry to repair injuries. Nowadays, people specifically use it to reduce urination frequency. Although it can both open and close, investigating its inherent nature, its primary function lies in repairing injuries rather than reducing urination.

[Ganjiang (Dried Ginger Rhizome)]
Taste and Nature: Pungent, Warm, Non-toxic. Indications: Treats chest fullness, coughing with rebellious Qi ascending (Xiongman Keni Shangqi), warms the middle and stops bleeding (Wenzhong Zhixue), induces sweating (Chuhan), expels wind-damp bi syndrome (Zhufengshi Bi), and treats intestinal dysentery (Changxia Li).
Raw Ganjiang is particularly effective.

Chen Xiuyuan states: Ganjiang has a warm temperature, inheriting the Qi of Jueyin Wind-Wood. If it is warm but not fierce, it attains the harmonious Qi and belongs to Earth. It has a pungent taste, acquiring the flavor of Yangming Dry-Metal. If the pungency is not excessive, Metal can generate Water and transform into moisture. Therefore, Ganjiang is a key herb for treating cold syndromes of the Zang organs. The chest is the domain of the Lung. When the Lung is cold, Metal loses its descending nature, causing Qi to stagnate in the chest leading to fullness. Fullness causes Qi to rebel upward, resulting in symptoms of coughing and rebellious Qi. Ganjiang treats these through its pungent dispersing and warming moving actions. The Middle Jiao belongs to Earth; when Earth is deficient, it becomes cold, and this herb warms it. The hemostatic effect occurs because when Yang is deficient, Yin blood must wander; warmth allows the blood to return to its vessels. The sweating effect is due to the pungent-warm nature being able to disperse. The expulsion of wind-damp bi is due to treating cold pathogens lingering in the sinews and bones. The treatment of intestinal dysentery is due to removing cold pathogens trapped in the intestines and stomach. All these therapeutic effects utilize its vigorous and potent nature, akin to Mencius's description of the "great and flowing vigor" (Gangda Haoran zhi Qi) that fills heaven and earth. When raw, the pungent flavor is complete, hence it is further stated: Raw Ganjiang is superior. For instance, in *Jingui Yaolue*, Ganjiang is used in Gancao Ganjiang Tang for lung wasting-heat, with a note to use processed ginger. This is because a deficient Lung cannot suddenly tolerate strong pungency; processing slightly reduces the pungency as a temporary expedient. This is not like the later practice of charring or burning to ash, which completely destroys the original nature of ginger. Ye Tianshi also claimed that charred ginger enters the Kidney, which is how shallow!