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**Agaricus (Guo Yu)**

Salty in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats facial paralysis caused by thief wind (wind pathogen invading the channels), sudden tendon traction and rectal prolapse, as well as convulsions and spasms due to fright and epilepsy.

Also known as Lingli, Tuwo, or Fuwo. It grows in ponds and marshes of Mount Tai, as well as under sandy stone walls in shady places. Harvested in August.

Tao Hongjing stated: Agaricus has no shell and should not bear the name "Wo" (snail). The so-called "Fuwo" is also called snail. Those growing in pond marshes and sandstones should be the current mountain snail. Or perhaps it refers to its head shape resembling that of a snail insect. In common parlance, when "snail" is written with the radical "gua", the character "Wo" is pronounced "Gua". This refers to the "battle on the horn of a snail" mentioned in *Zhuangzi*. Agaricus falls within the limit of the Thirty-Six Zodiac Animals and belongs to the category of four-horned insects. It is considered the essence of the Ying Shi Star; medical practitioners rarely use it nowadays.

The Tang Ben Zhu notes: Among the Thirty-Six Zodiac Animals, at Hai position, there are three pigs, KT (a beast), hedgehog, also called Haozhu. Its hair is like arrows, shaking them can shoot people. Dried feces from its belly burned into ash treat jaundice; it belongs to the pig category. Tao's assertion that it is a slug is a major error. Furthermore, *Shan Hai Jing* states: KT has a pig body and human face, sounds like an infant, and eats humans and beasts. *Erya* states: KT resembles Shu. It runs swiftly and eats people; neither refers to agaricus. Agaricus is indeed the shell-less Wo Li.

Chen Yuxi et al., according to the Shu Ben Zhu, state: This is the snail. However, the Xin Fu section already has a separate entry for snails. Although the characters differ slightly, the therapeutic indications are identical, suggesting this was erroneously duplicated by later editors. Similarly, *Ji Chang* (Chicken Intestine) appears in the Grass Section of *Bie Lu*, while *Fan Lou* appears in the Vegetable Section of Xin Fu. According to *Erya*: Fu Luo is Agaricus. The annotation says: Snail. And the annotation under the character "Yu" in *Yupian* also states: Agaricus is the snail. Thus, it is clearly one substance. It resembles a small snail shell, is white, grows among grass and trees in ponds and marshes, has four horns on its head, extends when moving, and retracts upon being startled, hiding both head and tail inside the shell. Su Song's note claiming it is a shell-less snail is incorrect.

Now, referring to *Ben Jing*: Also named Lingli, and having the name Tuwo. Since "Wo" and "Li" refer to shelled gastropods, Tao's statement that it shouldn't have the name "Wo" if it lacks a shell is correct. Additionally, in low and damp areas, there exists a creature larger than the snail, without a shell but with horns, said to be an old snail.

Tu Jing states: Agaricus grows in ponds and marshes of Mount Tai and under sandy stone walls in shady places. Snails, whose origin provinces are not recorded in *Ben Jing*, are now found everywhere. Yin Yin Ju's note states: Snails resemble agaricus, except they carry a shell on their back. This corresponds to the "battle on the snail's horn" in *Zhuangzi*. It is also said that the common name for snail uses the "Gua" shape, hence "Wo" is pronounced "Gua". *Ben Jing* lists Agaricus as also named Fuwo. Since agaricus has no shell, it shouldn't have the name "Wo"; perhaps it was named so because its head shape resembles a snail. Some say it is one substance with two names, similar to Ji Chang and Fan Lou.

According to Guo Pu's annotation of *Erya*: Fu Luo is Agaricus, which is the snail. The *Zishu* explains the character "Yu" stating: Agaricus is the snail. Thus, it is clearly one substance. However, in low and damp places today, there is a type larger than the snail, with horns but no shell, traditionally said to be an old snail. If so, they were originally one substance, differing only in that the long-term shed-shell variety became distinct. Both are harvested in August. Medical texts state that snail saliva treats Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome). Cui Yuanliang's *Haishang Fang* records the method: Take fourteen snails, soak them in three he of water in a porcelain bowl, cover with a vessel overnight. The snails will climb up the vessel to drink water. Treatment is complete within three doses. For using snails, round and large ones are superior. After prolonged rain followed by sunshine, many appear in bamboo forests and ponds. There is a flat and small type in shady wall areas which is weak and unsuitable for use. Snails are best used in medicines for infants; their shells are also usable. Wei Dan: Treats all types of Gan accumulation (pediatric malnutrition). Take seven old dead shells, those with thin, yellowish-white skin are authentic. Wash thoroughly, ensuring no dust remains. Drain dry, place butter inside the shells, put in a porcelain cup, seal the top with paper, and steam over rice cooking pot. When steaming rice below, continue steaming until rice is cooked. Remove, grind finely into a paste-like consistency, and administer gradually, finishing within one day, which is optimal.

*Yanyi* states: Agaricus and snails are two different substances. Agaricus has its flesh as a single segment. Snails have additional flesh on their back to carry the shell while walking, which is obviously different. If they were one substance, how could the Classics list them as two separate entries? Their therapeutic effects are largely similar, indicating they belong to different categories. The claim that agaricus is an old snail is baseless. Agaricus has two horns, snails have four, and snails possess flesh attached to the shell on their back; how can they be the same substance?