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Wanqing (Lytta vesicatoria)

Pungent, slightly warm, toxic. Primarily treats gu poison (poison caused by insects or parasites), feng zhu (disease transmitted by wind pathogens), gui zhu (disease attributed to malevolent spirits), and induces abortion. Harvested in the third lunar month, dried in the sun.

Tao Hongjing stated: Collect it when Yuanhua (Kadsura longipedunculata flowers) blooms; it is dark greenish-black, and can also treat shu lou (scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis). Ministers Yu Xi et al., according to the Shu Ben Tu Jing, recorded: Its shape and size resemble Banmao (Mylabris phalerata); it is purely green-blue, and currently originates from Ningzhou.

Tu Jing stated: Wanqing is not listed with its origin provinces in the Ben Jing (Shennong Ben Cao Jing). It is found everywhere now. Its shape is quite similar to Banmao, but it is purely green-blue, with a single yellow stripe on its back and a pointed beak. It appears in the third and fourth lunar months when Yuanhua blooms; it is mostly collected from the flowers and dried. When using Banmao, Wanqing, Tingchang (Lytta caraganae), or similar species, they should be stir-fried together with glutinous rice. When the rice turns yellowish-black, it indicates proper cooking; remove immediately. Remove the head, legs, and wings, wrap them in loose hair, hang them under the east wall of the house overnight, then use them to eliminate toxicity. Old theories state that Banmao, Wanqing, Ge Shang Tingchang, and Di Dan are the same type of insect changing names with time. Ancient prescriptions used all of them. Shen Shi treated lin syndrome (dysuria) using Tingchang, describing it most thoroughly. He said: Take Ge Shang Tingchang, break its abdomen; inside are white seeds like millet grains, about two or three fen in size. Place them on a white board to dry in the shade for two or three days until the medicine is ready. If someone suffers from ten-year lin syndrome, take three pills; if eight or nine years, take two pills. To administer, pour water into a small cup, amount like a jujube pit, place the medicine in the cup, grind with fingernails until flat pieces float on the water surface. Tilt the head back, have someone apply the medicine to the throat, avoiding contact with teeth. Though minute, upon swallowing, one feels it reaching the lower jiao where the lin syndrome lies. After a while, the drug effect becomes strong, causing unbearable restlessness and urgency; drink dried wheat meal juice to stop the drug's action. If no dried wheat meal is available, plain water suffices. Elderly and children take one-third dose. The lin discharge will follow like pus and blood continuously. For patients with stone lin, stones may be finger-sized, green or yellow; both men and women recover after taking it. This insect is called Ge Shang Tingchang in April, May, June; Banmao in July; and Di Dan in September, October. It changes with the seasons. During the Tingchang stage, the head should be red, body black. If the drug effect is slow and lin does not pass, adjust dosage by intuition and increase intake. Current physicians mostly use only Banmao and Wanqing, rarely using Tingchang or Di Dan. People also rarely collect them; since details are unknown, they are not fully recorded here.

Lei Gong stated: Wanqing, Banmao, Tingchang, and Chitou (Lytta cichorii) differ in appearance, habitat, diet, and efficacy. Wanqing has a pointed beak and a single yellow stripe on its back. Banmao has one yellow stripe and one black stripe on its back, with a small red dot at the beak tip; it lives on soybean leaves and feeds on soybean leaf sap. Tingchang is blackish-yellow, lives on vine leaves, and feeds on vine gum. Chitou has a large red spot on the forehead and a black body. Each has its advantages. For processing Wanqing, Banmao, Tingchang, and Chitou, mix with glutinous rice and small hemp seeds, stir-fry together until the rice turns yellowish-black, remove the seeds, discard wings, legs, and heads, wrap in xu yu (burnt human hair), hang in the corner of the east wall overnight, and use the next morning.