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Pungent in flavor, neutral in nature, and toxic. It primarily treats gu poison (parasitic poisoning) and gui zhu (a chronic wasting disease caused by evil qi), expels inauspicious evil qi, breaks the five types of long (urinary retention or difficulty in urination), and promotes diuresis. It grows in high mountains and flat valleys.

Tao Hongjing stated: There are two types of swallows: Hu swallow and Yue swallow. The Yue swallow, characterized by a purple chest and small size, is not used for medicinal purposes; the Hu swallow, characterized by black spots on the chest and loud calls, is used. Commonly called "Xiahou," they prefer to build long nests, with some said to be long enough to hold a bolt of silk, which is believed to bring wealth to the household. Swallow nests can also be used medicinally, similar to swallow droppings, often boiled for bathing to treat pediatric fright-evil. Nests facing north or those with curved tails and white colors belong to hundreds-of-years-old swallows; consuming them prolongs life. Swallow meat must not be eaten, as it is believed to cause one to be swallowed by dragons in water. Killing swallows is also inadvisable. The Tang Ben Zhu notes: *Bie Lu* records that Hu swallow eggs treat edema and floating swelling. Swallow meat removes worms from hemorrhoids. Yue swallow droppings also treat hemorrhoids, kill parasites, and remove eye nebulae. According to Chen Cangqi's herbal records: Swallow droppings are toxic. They treat malaria. Take a measure of one square inch, and on the morning of the patient's fever day, mix it with one sheng of wine and stir well. The patient should hold the bowl under their nose to inhale the fumes, strictly avoiding ingestion due to toxicity. Additionally, it treats gu poison. Take three he of swallow droppings, roast until fragrant, combine with ten peeled single-clove garlic bulbs, pound into pills. Take three pills, sized like wu tong seeds; the gu poison will be expelled via diarrhea. Ministers Yuxi et al., following Meng Shen, state: Stone swallows found in limestone caves are harvested in winter and are edible. Others are inedible but medicinal; consume twenty pieces soaked in one dou of wine for three days, then drink. Take one or two cups per dose according to tolerance, which greatly boosts qi and strength. Ri Hua Zi states: Stone swallow is warm and non-toxic. It strengthens yang, warms the waist and knees, replenishes essence and marrow, tonifies qi, moistens the skin, reduces urination, and resists wind-cold, mountain miasma, and epidemic qi.

The Tu Jing provides detailed illustrations under the entry for Sparrow Eggs.

*Waitai Miyao* treats qu niao chuang (a fatal ulcer encircling the body) by applying a mixture of soil from swallow nests, lard, and vinegar. *Zhouhou Fang* treats sudden onset of massive abdominal ascites by swallowing ten Hu swallow egg yolks at once. Ge Shi's Formula treats sudden impetigo with exudate originating from the heart; if untreated early, it spreads around the body and causes death. Apply soil from Hu swallow nests mixed with water. Another formula for stone lin (urinary calculi): take swallow droppings powder, administer with cold water, five qian bi in the morning; stones should be passed by mealtime. Jia Xiang Gong Niu Jing states: For cattle suffering from abdominal distension after ingesting mixed worms at irregular times, take one he of swallow dung, mix with two sheng of water-gruel, and drench the animal; this is effective.