典藏书目

Banmao (Mylabris) inherits the combined qi of Fire and Metal; therefore, its taste is pungent, its nature is cold, and it possesses great toxicity. When it comes into contact with human muscle, it causes ulceration, which reveals the extent of its toxicity. It enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Channel and the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Channel. Its pharmacological action can damage muscle tissue and erode necrotic flesh; thus, it is indicated for treating shulou (scrofula), ju sores, jixuan (scabies and tinea). Due to its pungent and cold nature, it has the ability to disperse and drain downward, making it effective for breaking up shichuang (lithiasis or hard swellings), blood stasis, and inducing abortion. It treats luoli (scrofula) and promotes the free flow of water passages because it can chase away turbid grease in the intestines and stomach, and also break up accumulations and direct them out through the lower orifices. It moves directly to the areas where essence and urine are stored, eroding foul matter in the lower jiao, causing unbearable pain; therefore, it should not be used in large doses. If pain occurs, it can be guided away using herbs such as Mutong (Akebiae Caulis).

To treat scrofula: Use two jin (approx. 1 kg) of soap fruit (Folliculus Gleditsiae Sinensis), removing the seeds (one follicle per unit). Place four Banmao (Mylabris) inside each, bind with thread, and steam. After steaming, remove the Banmao and the skin/tendons of the soap fruit, retaining only the pure pulp (yielding ten liang, approx. 375 g). Add Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus) two liang (approx. 75 g), Gualougen (Trichosanthis Radix), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), and Boheye (Menthae Haplocalycis Folium), each one liang five qian (approx. 60 g). Grind all into a fine powder. Mash the soap pulp into a paste to serve as a binder, and form pills the size of wutong seeds (Cercidiphylli Fructus). Take one qian (approx. 3-5 g) per dose, swallowed with warm water. Abdominal pain after taking the medicine should not cause worry; this is due to the drug's power to pursue and expel toxins.

To treat dog bites from rabid dogs: Use seven Banmao (Mylabris), removing the head, feet, and wings. Wash with wine, then stir-fry in a copper spoon with wet glutinous rice until the rice is cooked. Grind both substances into a fine powder. Add Liuyisan (Six-to-One Powder) three liang (approx. 112.5 g). Divide into seven doses. Take one dose early every morning, mixed with warm water. The victim must have two or three red hairs on the crown of the head; these should be sought out and plucked out regularly to internally eliminate toxins.

For treating scrofula, regardless of age: Use one liang (approx. 37.5 g) of Banmao (Mylabris), removing the head, feet, and wings. Stir-fry together with one sheng (approx. 200 ml) of millet until the millet is scorched. Remove the millet. Add four liang (approx. 150 g) of Boheye (Menthae Haplocalycis Folium) and grind into a powder. Form pills using the white of a black-bone chicken egg, sized like mung beans. Take three pills on an empty stomach with aged tea, gradually increasing to five pills. Then, decrease by one pill daily until reaching one pill, then increase by one pill daily again, continuing until the condition resolves.

When Banmao (Mylabris) is stir-fried with Jingmi (Oryza Sativa Indica), it reduces toxicity. Raw consumption causes severe vomiting and diarrhea that is difficult to bear. It breaks blood stasis, dissipates zhijia (abdominal masses), promotes urination, extracts the malignant roots of dingju (carbuncles), expels foul matter from the lower jiao, treats alternating chills and fever, guizhu (contagious diseases), and guduo (poisonous infections); cures shulou, scabies, tinea, and malignant sores; removes ulcerative lesions and erodes necrotic tissue; eliminates shishi (hard swellings), blood stasis, induces abortion, and causes flesh ulceration. Pregnant women should avoid it.