味咸，性寒有毒，入心肝脾三经。主留血壅瘀，心腹寒热洗洗，祛坚积症瘕、下乳通经。
一名 虫，畏屋游，皂角、菖蒲。
按∶土鳖专主血症，心主血，肝藏血，脾裹血，故三入之。今跌打损伤者，往往主此，
或不效则加而用之。殊不知有瘀血作疼者，诚为要药；倘无瘀血，而其伤在筋骨脏腑之间，
法当和补。愚者不察，久服弗已，其流祸可胜数耶。
味咸酸，性寒有小毒，不载经络。主小儿惊风螈 ，大人癫狂疰忤，破血堕胎，通肠治
胀。又主疔恶诸疮，出箭头入肉。去足翅火炙，勿置水中，令人吐，畏羊肉、羊角。
按∶《庄子》云∶蜣螂之智，在于转丸，宜其皮血通肠之功矣。惊狂皆属炎，亦赖之以
泄其
味辛咸，性寒有大毒，不载经络。主寒热鬼疰，虫毒鼠漏，疥癣恶疮，疽蚀死肌，破
石癃血积，利水道堕胎。凡使去足翅，拌糯米炒，米黄为度，马刀为使，畏巴豆、丹参、空
青，恶曾青，豆花。
按∶斑蝥入腹，有开山凿岭之势，最称猛烈，故辄致腹痛不可忍。余见里中一壮年患痞
疾，服斑蝥数剂，初则大泻不止，烦闷欲绝，断则二便来红，三日而死。自非百药不效之病，
不
味甘咸，性微寒有毒，不载经络。主五邪惊悸，妇人鬼魅悲伤，山岚瘴疟，恶疮疥癣，
蚁漏痔漏，亦能去风，炙黄用。
按∶穿山甲形似鲤鱼，有四足，能陆能水，山岸间开鳞甲如死，令蚁入中，闭而入水，
开甲蚁浮水面，于是食之，故主蚁漏，其性喜穿山。是以名之。故其用亦主溃痈疽，通血脉，
及治吹乳疼痛。
[Ground Beetle / Eupolyphaga]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Toxic. Meridian Tropism: Enters the Heart, Liver, and Spleen meridians.
Indications: Primarily treats retained blood and stagnation, alternating cold and heat sensations in the heart and abdomen, dispels hard accumulations and masses (Zheng Jia), promotes lactation, and unblocks the collaterals.
Synonym: Chong (Insect).
Antidotes/Contraindications: Feared by Wuyou (a type of insect), Gleditsiae Fructus (Zaojiao), and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (Changpu).
Commentary: Ground beetle specifically treats blood disorders. Since the Heart governs blood, the Liver stores blood, and the Spleen envelops/controls blood, the herb enters these three meridians. Currently, for treating traumatic injuries, this herb is often used as a primary agent; if efficacy is insufficient, the dosage is increased. However, one must not fail to realize that while it is indeed a crucial herb for pain caused by blood stasis, if there is no blood stasis and the injury involves the sinews, bones, or internal organs, the treatment method should be harmonizing and tonifying. Ignorant practitioners who do not examine the condition carefully may administer it for long periods without cessation, leading to countless disastrous consequences.
[Mylabris / Cantharis]
Taste: Salty, Sour. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Slightly toxic. Meridian Tropism: Not recorded.
Indications: Treats pediatric convulsions and spasms, adult mania and delirium due to epidemic pestilence or invasion, breaks blood stasis, induces abortion, unblocks the intestines, and treats distension. Also treats carbuncles and malignant sores, helping to expel arrowheads embedded in flesh.
Preparation: Remove feet and wings, roast over fire. Do not place in water, as it causes vomiting.
Antidotes/Contraindications: Feared by mutton and sheep horns.
Commentary: The Zhuangzi states, "The wisdom of the dung beetle lies in rolling balls," which aptly explains its merit in unblocking skin and blood and promoting bowel movement. Mania and delirium are all related to fire/heat, and this herb relies on its ability to drain such pathogenic factors... [Text cuts off]
[Mylabris / Cantharis - Continued/Confused Entry]
Taste: Pungent, Salty. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Highly toxic. Meridian Tropism: Not recorded.
Indications: Treats alternating chills and fever, epidemic pestilence (Gui Zhu), insect toxins, rat-related fistulas (Shu Lou), scabies, tinea, malignant sores, necrotic muscle tissue from ulcers, breaks stone strangury and blood accumulation, promotes urination, and induces abortion.
Preparation: Remove feet and wings, stir-fry with glutinous rice until the rice turns yellow.
Antidotes/Contraindications: Used with Madao (Margaritifera); Feared by Crotonis Fructus (Badou), Danshen, and Azurite (Kongqing); Dislikes Malachite (Zengqing) and bean flowers.
Commentary: When Mylabris enters the abdomen, it has the momentum of opening mountains and digging ridges; it is extremely potent and thus often causes unbearable abdominal pain. I once witnessed a robust young man in my village suffering from an abdominal mass (Pi Ji) who took several doses of Mylabris. Initially, he suffered from incessant severe diarrhea and extreme restlessness bordering on death; later, he passed bright red blood in both stool and urine, and died after three days. Unless the disease is incurable by other medicines, one should not... [Text cuts off]
[Pangolin Scales / Manis]
Taste: Sweet, Salty. Nature: Slightly cold. Toxicity: Toxic. Meridian Tropism: Not recorded.
Indications: Treats palpitations due to five types of pathogens, women's melancholic depression resembling ghost possession, mountainous miasma and malaria, malignant sores, scabies, tinea, ant-related fistulas, and hemorrhoidal fistulas. It can also dispel wind. Use after roasting until yellow.
Commentary: Pangolin scales resemble carp, have four feet, and can live on land and in water. On mountain banks, it opens its scales, feigning death, allowing ants to enter. It then closes itself and enters the water; upon opening its scales again, the ants float to the surface, whereupon it eats them. Therefore, it primarily treats ant-related fistulas. Its nature favors penetrating through mountains, hence its name. Thus, its therapeutic actions include resolving abscesses and ulcers, unblocking blood vessels, and treating acute mastitis (Chui Ru) with pain.