气味辛温，有毒。主治鬼疰蛊毒 ，诸蛇虫鱼毒，杀鬼物老精，温疟，去三虫。
（蜈蚣江以南处处有之，春出冬蛰，节节有足，双须岐尾，头上有毒钳。入以头足赤者
为良。蜈蚣一名天龙，能制
龙蛇蜥蜴，畏虾蟆、蛞蝓、蜘蛛、雄鸡。《庄子》所谓∶物畏其天
在气也。）
蜈蚣色赤性温，双钳两尾，头尾咸红。生于南方，禀火毒之性，故《本经》主治皆是以
火毒
而攻阴毒之用也。
愚按∶蛇属金，蜈蚣属火，故能制之。鸡应昴宿，是又太阳出而爝火灭之义矣。
气味咸寒，无毒。主治蛇瘕，去三虫，伏尸鬼疰，蛊毒，杀长虫。
（蚯蚓生湿土中，凡平泽膏壤地中皆有之，孟夏始出，仲冬蛰藏，雨则先出，晴则夜鸣，
其
如丘，其行也引而后伸，故名蚯蚓。能穿地穴，故又名地龙。入药宜大而白颈，是其老
者有力。日华子曰∶路上踏杀者，名千人踏，入药更良。）
蚯蚓冬藏夏出，屈而后伸，上食稿壤，下饮黄泉，气味咸寒，宿应轸水，禀水土之气化。
主
治尸疰虫蛊，盖以泉下之水气上升，地中之土气上达，则阴类皆从之而消灭矣。蜈蚣属火，
名曰天龙。蚯蚓属水，名曰地龙。皆治鬼疰，蛊毒，蛇虫毒者，天地相交，则水火相济，故
禀性虽有不同，而主治乃不相殊。
【气味与主治】
气味辛、温，有毒。主治鬼疰（一种具有传染性、症状迁延的慢性消耗性疾病）和蛊毒（由虫毒或邪气引起的中毒病症），各种蛇、虫、鱼类的毒素，能杀灭鬼物老精（指久留不散的邪祟或致病因素），治疗温疟（以发热为主、寒热往来的疟疾），驱除三虫（泛指肠道寄生虫）。
（蜈蚣在长江以南各地都有分布，春季出土活动，冬季蛰伏冬眠，身体分节且每节有足，双须分开，尾部呈叉状，头部有毒钳。入药以头足呈红色的为优良品种。蜈蚣又名天龙，能够制服龙、蛇、蜥蜴等动物，但畏惧蛤蟆、蛞蝓、蜘蛛和雄鸡。《庄子》中所说的“物畏其天”，是指万物都有其天然的克制关系。）
蜈蚣颜色赤红，性质温和，拥有双钳和分叉的尾部，头尾均为红色。它生长于南方，禀受了火毒的性质，所以《神农本草经》中记载的主治功效，都是利用其火毒之性来攻伐阴毒之邪的作用。
愚者按语：蛇属金，蜈蚣属火，火克金，所以蜈蚣能制服蛇。鸡对应昴宿星，这又体现了太阳升起而微弱火光熄灭的道理（即阳气胜则阴邪退）。
【气味与主治】
气味咸、寒，无毒。主治蛇瘕（因蛇毒或湿气积聚形成的腹内结块），驱除三虫，伏尸鬼疰（潜伏体内的鬼疰病），蛊毒，杀灭长虫（大型寄生虫）。
（蚯蚓生活在潮湿的土壤中，凡是平坦沼泽或肥沃的土地中都有，孟夏时节开始出土，仲冬时节蛰伏藏匿，下雨时先出土，晴天则在夜间鸣叫，其形态像土丘，爬行时先收缩后伸展，因此得名蚯蚓。它能挖掘地穴，所以又名地龙。入药宜选用体型大、颈部白色的，那是年老力壮的个体。日华子说：路上被踩踏死的蚯蚓，名叫“千人踏”，入药效果更佳。）
蚯蚓冬季蛰伏、夏季出土，先屈曲后伸展，上吃枯草腐土，下饮地下泉水，气味咸寒，对应轸宿（二十八宿之一，属水），禀受了水土之气化作用。主治尸疰、虫蛊，这是因为地下的水气上升，地中的土气上达，那么阴类邪气都会随之消灭。蜈蚣属火，名为天龙；蚯蚓属水，名为地龙。两者都能治疗鬼疰、蛊毒、蛇虫毒，这是因为天地相交，则水火相济，所以虽然禀赋性质不同，但主治功效却不相上下。
[Flavor, Nature, and Indications]
The flavor is pungent and the nature is warm; it is toxic. It treats Guizhu (a contagious, chronic wasting disease caused by pathogenic factors), Gudistoxin (poisoning caused by insect toxins or evil qi), various snake, insect, and fish poisons, kills ancient spirits of ghosts (pathogenic factors lingering for a long time), treats Warm Malaria (malaria characterized primarily by fever with alternating chills and heat), and expels the Three Worms (general term for intestinal parasites).
(Wugong [Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans] is found everywhere south of the Yangtze River. It emerges in spring and hibernates in winter. Its body is segmented with legs at each segment, has bifid antennae, a forked tail, and poisonous pincers on its head. For medicinal use, those with red heads and feet are considered superior. Wugong is also known as Tianlong (Heavenly Dragon); it can subdue dragons, snakes, and lizards, but fears toads, slugs, spiders, and roosters. The "Zhuangzi" refers to this as "creatures fear their natural counterparts," meaning all things have natural predators.)
Wugong is red in color and warm in nature, possessing double pincers and a forked tail, with both head and tail being red. It grows in the south and inherits the nature of fire toxicity. Therefore, the indications recorded in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* utilize its fire-toxic nature to attack yin-toxic pathogens.
Commentary: Snakes belong to Metal, while Wugong belongs to Fire; thus, Fire overcomes Metal, enabling Wugong to subdue snakes. The Rooster corresponds to the Mao constellation, illustrating the principle that when the sun rises, the flickering fire is extinguished (i.e., when Yang energy prevails, Yin pathogens recede).
[Flavor, Nature, and Indications]
The flavor is salty and the nature is cold; it is non-toxic. It treats Shejia (abdominal masses formed by snake toxin or dampness accumulation), expels the Three Worms, treats Fushi Guizhu (Guizhu latent within the body), Gudistoxin, and kills Changchong (large intestinal parasites).
(Qiuyin [Pheretima aspergillum] lives in moist soil and is found in flat marshes or fertile lands. It emerges in early summer and hibernates in mid-winter. It appears first after rain and croaks at night during clear weather. Its shape resembles a mound, and it moves by contracting and then extending, hence the name Qiuyin (Earthworm). It can burrow into the ground, so it is also called Dilong (Earth Dragon). For medicinal use, large specimens with white necks are preferred, as they are old and potent. Ri Huazi stated: Earthworms crushed underfoot on roads are called "Qianrenta" (Tread-by-Thousands) and are even more effective medicinally.)
Qiuyin hibernates in winter and emerges in summer, moving from contracted to extended positions. It feeds on decaying soil above and drinks underground springs below. Its flavor is salty and cold, corresponding to the Zhen constellation (one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, associated with Water), inheriting the Qi transformation of Earth and Water. It treats Shizhu (corpse-transmission disease) and insect/Gu toxins because the water Qi from below rises and the Earth Qi from the middle reaches upward, causing Yin-type pathogens to be eliminated. Wugong belongs to Fire and is named Tianlong (Heavenly Dragon); Qiuyin belongs to Water and is named Dilong (Earth Dragon). Both treat Guizhu, Gudistoxin, and snake/insect poisons because Heaven and Earth interact, leading to the mutual assistance of Water and Fire. Thus, although their inherited natures differ, their therapeutic indications are similar.