（古人用蝉，今人用蜕，气性亦相近。）气味寒、咸。主小儿惊痫、夜啼，癫病寒热。
陈修园曰∶蚱蝉气寒禀水气，味咸得水味，而要其感凉风清露之气以生，得金气最全。
其主
小儿惊痫者，金能平木也。蚱蝉日出有声，日入无声，故止夜啼也。癫病寒热者，肝胆之风
火也，蚱蝉具金水之气，金能制风，水能制火，所以主之。
张隐庵曰∶蝉脱、僵蚕，皆禀金水之精，故《本经》主治，大体相同。但蝉饮而不食，
溺而
不粪；蚕食而不饮，粪而不溺，何以相同？经云∶“饮入于胃……，上归于肺……。”谷入
于胃，乃传之肺。是饮食虽殊，皆由肺气之通调，则尿粪虽异，皆禀肺气以传化矣。
石膏 气味辛、微寒，无毒。主中风寒热，心下逆气惊喘，口干舌焦，不能息，腹中坚痛，
除邪鬼，产乳，金疮。
陈修园曰∶石膏气微寒，禀太阳寒水之气；味辛无毒，得阳明燥金之味。风为阳邪，在
太阳
则恶寒发热，然必审其无汗烦燥而喘者，可与麻桂并用；在阳明则发热而微恶寒，然必审其
口干舌焦大渴而自汗者，可与知母同用。曰心下气逆，即《伤寒论》，气逆欲呕之互词；曰
不
能息，即《伤寒论》虚羸少气之互词；然必审其为解后里气虚而内热者，可与人参、竹叶、
半夏、麦冬、甘草、粳米同用。腹中坚痛，阳明燥甚而坚，将至于胃实不大便之症。邪鬼者
，阳明邪实，妄言妄见，或无故而生惊，若邪鬼附之，石膏清阳明之热，可以统治之。阳
明
之
溃烂也。但石品见火则成锻石，今人畏其寒而 用，则大失其本来之性矣。
（古人使用蝉虫，今人使用蝉蜕，其气性也相近。）气味：寒、咸。主治：小儿惊痫、夜间啼哭，癫病伴寒热症状。
陈修园说：蚱蝉的气寒，禀受水气；味咸，获得水的味道；然而它依靠感受凉风和清露之气而生长，因此获得的金气最为完备。
它主治小儿惊痫的原因，是因为金能平抑木（肝）。蚱蝉日出时鸣叫，日落时停止鸣叫，所以能止住夜间啼哭。癫病伴有寒热的症状，是肝胆的风火所致；蚱蝉具备金和水的气性，金能制约风，水能制约火，所以用它来主治。
张隐庵说：蝉蜕、僵蚕，都禀受了金和水的精华，所以《神农本草经》中的主治功效大体相同。但是蝉只喝水不吃食物，排尿但不排便；蚕吃食物不喝水，排便但不排尿，为什么功效相同呢？经文说：“饮入于胃……，上归于肺……。”谷物进入胃中，然后传送到肺。虽然饮食不同，但都由肺气的通调作用决定，那么尿液和粪便虽然不同，也都禀受肺气来进行传导和化生。
石膏 气味：辛、微寒，无毒。主治：中风引起的寒热，心下部气逆导致的惊喘，口干舌焦，呼吸急促，腹部坚硬疼痛，驱除邪鬼（精神异常），治疗产后乳疾，金疮（刀箭创伤）。
陈修园说：石膏气微寒，禀受太阳寒水之气；味辛且无毒，获得阳明燥金的味道。风属于阳邪，在太阳经则表现为恶寒发热，但必须审察是否有无汗、烦躁而喘的症状，才可以与麻黄汤、桂枝汤并用；在阳明经则表现为发热而轻微恶寒，但必须审察是否有口干舌焦、大渴且自汗的症状，才可以与知母同用。所谓“心下气逆”，就是《伤寒论》中“气逆欲呕”的互文说法；所谓“不能息”，就是《伤寒论》中“虚羸少气”的互文说法；但必须审察其为解表后里气虚弱而内热的情况，可以与人参、竹叶、半夏、麦冬、甘草、粳米同用。腹部坚硬疼痛，是阳明燥热过盛而变得坚硬，即将发展为胃实不大便的症状。所谓“邪鬼”，是指阳明邪气实证，胡言乱语、妄见幻视，或者无故产生惊恐，好像被邪鬼附身一样，石膏能清泄阳明之热，可以统管治疗这种情况。这是针对阳明经溃烂的情况。但是石类药材遇到火就会变成锻石，现在的人畏惧它的寒性而不敢使用，这就大大失去了它本来的药性了。
(Ancestors used the cicada insect, while modern people use the cicada slough; their qi properties are also similar.) Odor and flavor: Cold, Salty. Indications: Pediatric convulsions (Xiao'er Jingxian), nocturnal crying, epilepsy with alternating chills and fever.
Chen Xiuyuan stated: The Qi of the grasshopper cicada is cold, inheriting the Qi of Water; its flavor is salty, obtaining the taste of Water. However, it grows by absorbing the Qi of cool wind and clear dew, thereby acquiring the most complete Qi of Metal.
Its indication for pediatric convulsions is because Metal can pacify Wood (Liver). The grasshopper cicada sings when the sun rises and remains silent when the sun sets; thus, it stops nocturnal crying. Epilepsy with alternating chills and fever stems from Wind and Fire of the Liver and Gallbladder. The grasshopper cicada possesses the Qi of Metal and Water; Metal can restrain Wind, and Water can restrain Fire; therefore, it is used to treat these conditions.
Zhang Yin'an stated: Cicada slough (Chan Tui) and silkworm (Jiang Can) both inherit the essence of Metal and Water. Hence, the indications in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* are largely identical. However, the cicada drinks but does not eat, and urinates but does not defecate; the silkworm eats but does not drink, and defecates but does not urinate. Why are their effects similar? The Classic states: "Fluids enter the Stomach... and ascend to return to the Lung..." Grain enters the Stomach and is then transmitted to the Lung. Although dietary intake differs, all are governed by the diffusing and descending functions of Lung Qi. Thus, although urine and feces differ, they are all transformed and transmitted by inheriting Lung Qi.
Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) Odor and flavor: Acrid, Slightly Cold, non-toxic. Indications: Alternating chills and fever due to Wind-Stroke (Zhongfeng), rebellious Qi in the epigastrium causing palpitations and panting, dry mouth and scorched tongue, inability to breathe comfortably, hardness and pain in the abdomen, dispelling evil spirits (psychiatric disturbances), postpartum disorders, and metallic wounds (Jinchuang).
Chen Xiuyuan stated: Shigao has a slightly cold nature, inheriting the Cold-Water Qi of the Taiyang (Greater Yang) channel; its acrid flavor and non-toxicity obtain the Dry-Metal flavor of the Yangming (Bright Yang) channel. Wind is a Yang pathogen. When in the Taiyang channel, it manifests as aversion to cold and fever; however, one must verify the presence of anhidrosis, irritability, and panting before combining it with Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) or Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction). When in the Yangming channel, it manifests as fever with slight aversion to cold; however, one must verify dry mouth, scorched tongue, intense thirst, and spontaneous sweating before combining it with Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma). "Rebellious Qi in the epigastrium" is a synonymous expression for "rebellious Qi desiring to vomit" in the *Shanghan Lun*; "inability to breathe comfortably" is a synonymous expression for "emaciation and shortness of breath" in the *Shanghan Lun*. However, one must verify that this occurs after the resolution of exterior symptoms, where interior Qi is deficient and internal heat exists, allowing combination with Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Zhuye (Bambusae Folium), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), and Jingsmi (Oryzae Semen). Hardness and pain in the abdomen indicate excessive Dryness in Yangming leading to hardness, approaching the syndrome of gastric excess with constipation. "Evil spirits" refers to Yangming pathogenic excess causing delirious speech, hallucinations, or unprovoked fright, as if possessed by evil spirits; Shigao clears Yangming heat and can govern such cases. This addresses ulceration in the Yangming channel. However, mineral drugs become calcined gypsum (Duanshi) when exposed to fire. Modern practitioners, fearing its cold nature, often avoid using it, which greatly deviates from its original medicinal properties.