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[Ge Shang Ting Chang]
Pungent in flavor, slightly warm in nature, toxic. Primarily treats gu poison (poison caused by magical or parasitic means), gui zhu (a chronic wasting disease attributed to evil qi), breaks up lin syndrome nodules, dissipates accumulations (masses formed within the body), and induces abortion. Harvested in the seventh lunar month and dried in the sun.

Tao Hongjing stated: It is harvested when the kudzu flowers bloom. Its body is black with a red head, resembling a person wearing black clothes and a red cap, hence the name "Ting Chang" (Station Master). This insect undergoes five transformations, and its therapeutic effects are similar across forms: in the second and third months on Yuan Hua (Daphne genkwa) flowers, it is called "Yuan Qing"; in the fourth and fifth months on Wang Bu Liu Xing (Vaccaria seeds) plants, it is called "Wang Bu Liu Xing Chong"; in the sixth and seventh months on Kudzu flowers, it is called "Ge Shang Ting Chang"; in the eighth month on bean flowers, it is called "Ban Mao" (Mylabris); in the ninth and tenth months, preparing to hibernate underground, it is called "Di Dan". This is a fake Di Dan, but its therapeutic properties still belong to the same category. Ting Chang has eggs in its abdomen, white like rice grains, primarily treating various lin syndrome nodules. The Tang Ben Zhu annotation states: Currently, checking herbal texts and ancient and modern prescriptions, there is no record of using Wang Bu Liu Xing Chong. If so, then these four insects live exclusively together. Currently, Di Dan comes from Bin Zhou, Yuan Qing from Ning Zhou, Ting Chang from Yong Zhou, and Ban Mao is found everywhere. These four insects originate from four different places; could these insects travel among these four prefectures from one location? Moreover, Yuan Qing and Ban Mao have similar shapes and segments, while Ting Chang and Di Dan look vastly different. Di Dan from Bin Zhou is collected from grasslands from March to October, not taken from the ground. Tao's statements seem to be arbitrary assertions. Ministers Yu Xi et al. carefully followed the Shu Ben Tu Jing stating: Collected from kudzu leaves in May and June, resembling Yuan Qing but with a grayish-black color. When using Ban Mao, Yuan Qing, Ting Chang, etc., they should be stir-fried together with glutinous rice until the rice turns yellow-black, then removed. Remove heads, legs, and wings.

[Wugong]
Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, toxic. Primarily treats gui zhu, gu poison, consumes poisons from various snakes, insects, and fish, kills ghosts, old spirits, and warm malaria, removes three parasites (intestinal worms), treats cold-heat nodular accumulations in the heart and abdomen, induces abortion, and dispels bad blood. Grows in Da Wu River Valleys and Jiangnan regions. Those with red heads and legs are of good quality.

Tao Hongjing stated: Currently, wugong with red legs mostly come from Jing Kou, and there are also many in Chang Shan, Gao Li Shan, and Mao Shan. They are found in rotting accumulated grass piles. Do not injure them; dry them in the sun. Those with yellow legs are numerous but unsuitable for use. People often roast them with fire to turn them red to pass them off as genuine, which is not true. Also known as Ma Lu. Zhuangzi said: Ma Lu is Gan Dai. Huainanzi stated: Teng She (flying snake) rides the mist but fears Ma Lu. Its nature allows it to subdue snakes; upon seeing a large snake, it climbs onto it and eats its brain. Wugong also bites humans; applying mulberry juice and white salt to the wound heals it. The Tang Ben Zhu annotation states: People in Shandong call spiders "Ma Lu," which can also subdue snakes, but the spider section lacks this statement. Zhuangzi mentioned Ma Lu is Gan Dai, and Huainanzi said Teng She fears Ma Lu, both referring to wugong. Ministers Yu Xi et al. carefully followed the Shu Ben Tu Jing stating: Grows in the rocks and soil of southern mountains' valleys, and also in house walls. Resembles Ma Lu, with a flat, long black body; those with red heads and legs are of good quality. Currently produced in An, Xiang, Deng, Sui, Tang and other prefectures, harvested in July and August. Ri Hua Zi stated: Wugong treats zheng pi (abdominal masses), evil spirits, and snake venom; it must be roasted before medicinal use.

Tu Jing stated that wugong grows in Wu Zhong river valleys and Jiangnan, and is now found in Jiang Zhe, Shan Nan, Tang, and Deng areas. It is mostly found between rocks, soil, and house walls. Those with red heads and legs are superior. Harvested in July and August; yellow-legged ones are most common. People roast them with fire to turn them red to pass them off as genuine, but they are unsuitable for use. Its nature allows it to subdue snakes; upon suddenly seeing a large snake, it climbs onto it and eats its brain. Tao Hongjing and Su Gong both believed that Zhuangzi's mention of Ma Lu being Gan Dai and Huainanzi's statement that Teng She fears Ma Lu refer to this wugong. However, Guo Pu's commentary on Erya stated regarding Ji Li (Caltrop): Ma Lu. He described it as resembling a locust but with a large abdomen and long horns, appearing to be another species. Below, the Ma Lu section also resembles wugong, three to four cun long, spotted, lying on its side after death, shaped like a knife ring, hence also named Dao Huan Chong. Books state: A centipede does not stiffen even after death. This insect has many legs; if cut into inches, it still crawls inch by inch, which is what this refers to. Hu Qia used wugong in all prescriptions for treating shi zhu (corpse transmission) and evil qi. Current physicians treat newborns with trismus (lockjaw) who cannot suckle by using red-legged wugong, removing the legs, roasting, grinding into powder, mixing half a qian with two he of pig milk, dividing into three or four doses, and administering warm.

Lei Gong stated: When using wugong, do not use the thousand-legged worm. The real one looks similar, but has white flesh on the head, with a pointed face and mouth. If mistakenly used and held, the foul odor entering the head can cause death. To prepare wugong, first stir-fry it with wood dust or willow dust in an earthen vessel until the dust turns black-brown. Remove the water residue, then use a bamboo knife to scrape off the legs and shells before use. Qian Jin Fang strongly treats she gong and shui nu toxins. Use one large wugong, roast and grind into powder, mix with vinegar, and apply externally; it also treats trismus. Zi Mu Mi Lu treats pediatric cu kou disease (infant tetanus/mouth closure); check if there are sores on the tongue the size of millet grains. Apply wugong juice, scraped from broken nails, ground and applied to the fleshy ends of the lips; the disease heals. If fresh ones are unavailable, dried ones suffice. Bao Pu Zi stated: Wugong powder treats snake sores.

Yan Yi stated: Wugong has a glossy black-green back, red legs, and a yellow belly. For those poisoned by it, mix bird droppings with water to a thick consistency and apply to the bite site; it is effective. Applying garlic is also effective. It can also treat dan du liu (erysipelas tumors). One dried wugong, bai fan (alum) the size of a soap bean, one lei wan (Fritillaria cirrhosa bulb), and two qian of bai bu (Stemona root), weighed and ground together into powder, mixed with vinegar and applied. It fears slug (kuo yu) and dares not cross their path; touching its body kills the wugong, so people collect slugs to treat wugong poisoning. Mulberry juice and white salt are also effective.