味咸,寒,有毒。主血瘀,症坚,寒热,破积聚,喉咽闭,内寒无子,通利血脉。生晋
阳川泽及人家屋间,立秋采。
形亦似 虫而轻小能飞,本在草中。八月、九月知寒,多入人家屋里逃尔。有两三种,
以
啖之。
〔谨案〕此虫,味辛辣而臭,汉中人食之,言下气,名曰石姜,一名卢 ,一名负盘。
《别录》云∶形似蚕蛾,腹
下赤,二月、八月采此,即南人谓之滑虫者也。
味咸,寒,有毒。主心腹寒热洗洗,血积症瘕,破坚,下血闭,生子大良。一名地鳖
,一名土鳖。生河东川泽及沙中,人家墙壁下土中湿处。十月取,曝干。
畏皂荚、菖蒲。形扁扁如鳖,故名土鳖,而有甲,不能飞,小有臭气,今人家亦有之。
〔谨案〕此物好生鼠壤土中及
屋壁下,状似鼠妇,而大者寸余,形小似鳖,无甲,但有鳞也。
味咸,微温、微寒,有毒。主恶血,血瘀痹气,破折血在胁下坚满痛,月闭,目中淫肤、
青翳白膜。疗吐血在胸腹不去,及破骨 折,血结,金疮内塞,产后中寒,下乳汁。一名
蛴,一名肥齐,一名勃齐。
生河内平泽及人家积粪草中。取无时,反行者良。
蜚蠊为之使,恶附子。大者如足大指,以背滚行,乃驶于脚,杂猪蹄作羹与乳母,不能
别之。诗云领如蝤蛴,今此
别之。名以蛴字在下,恐此云蛴螬倒尔。
〔谨案〕此虫,有在粪聚中,或在腐木中。其在腐
柳树中者,内外洁白;土粪中
者,皮黄内黑黯。形色既异,土木又殊,当以木中者为胜。采虽无时,亦宜取冬月为佳。案
《尔雅》∶一名蝎,一名 ,
一名蝤蛴。
【蜚蠊】
味咸,性寒,有毒。主治血瘀阻滞、症瘕积聚(腹内结块)、寒热往来,能破除积滞,治疗喉咽闭塞,改善体内虚寒导致的不孕,并通利血脉。生长于晋阳地区的河川沼泽及人家屋檐下,立秋时节采集。
外形也类似蠃虫(蜗牛类)但更轻小且能飞翔,原本生活在草丛中。八月、九月天气转凉时,它们多进入人家屋内躲避。有几种不同的种类,可以食用。
〔谨案〕这种虫,味道辛辣且有臭味,汉中人食用它,认为能降气,名叫石姜,又名卢虫,又名负盘。
《名医别录》记载:形状像蚕蛾,腹部红色,二月、八月采集这种虫,就是南方人所说的滑虫。
【土鳖】
味咸,性寒,有毒。主治心腹部的寒战颤抖、血积和症瘕,能破除坚块,通利经血闭阻,对生育大有益处。又名地鳖虫,又名土鳖。生长于河东地区的河川沼泽及沙地中,以及人家墙壁下的潮湿泥土里。十月采集,晒干。
畏忌皂荚、菖蒲。形状扁平像鳖,所以叫土鳖,但有甲壳,不能飞翔,有轻微的臭味,现在人家中也常有。
〔谨案〕这种东西喜欢生在鼠洞周围的土壤中和屋壁下,形状像鼠妇(潮虫),大的有一寸多长,形体小像鳖,但没有甲壳,只有鳞片。
【蛴螬】
味咸,性微温、微寒,有毒。主治恶血、血瘀痹阻之气,破除胁下坚硬满痛的血结,治疗月经闭止,眼中生翳膜(淫肤、青翳白膜)。治疗吐血停滞在胸腹不去的情况,以及骨折、血结、金创(刀剑伤)内部堵塞、产后感受寒邪,还能促进乳汁分泌。又名蛴,又名肥齐,又名勃齐。
生长于河内地区的平原沼泽及人家堆积粪便的草丛中。随时可取,逆着行走的虫子药效更好。
以蜚蠊为使药,畏忌附子。大的像人的大脚趾,背部滚动爬行,比脚还快,混合猪蹄煮羹给乳母吃,无法分辨出来。《诗经》说“脖子像蝤蛴”,现在的这个可以区分开。名字中“蛴”字在下,恐怕这里说的“蛴螬”是倒置了。
〔谨案〕这种虫,有的生在粪堆中,有的在腐木中。生在腐烂柳树中的,内外洁白;生在土粪中的,皮黄内黑暗。颜色和形状既然不同,木材和土壤又各异,应当以木中的为优。采集虽无固定时间,但也宜取冬季的为佳。查考《尔雅》:又名蝎,又名[缺字],又名蝤蛴。
[Feilian (Cockroach)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Toxic.
Indications: Primarily treats blood stasis, fixed masses (Zheng Jian), alternating chills and fever; breaks up accumulations; treats throat and pharyngeal obstruction; addresses internal cold causing infertility; promotes the free flow of blood vessels.
Habitat: Grows in the rivers, marshes, and under the eaves of houses in Jinyang.
Harvest: Collected at Start of Autumn (Liqiu).
Description: The shape is similar to that of a snail but lighter, smaller, and capable of flight; originally lives in grass. In August and September, when it grows cold, they often enter human dwellings for shelter. There are two or three types, which can be consumed as food.
[Note]: This insect has a pungent, spicy taste and an odor. People in Hanzhong eat it, believing it directs Qi downward, calling it Shijiang (Stone Ginger), also known as Lu Chong, or Fupan.
*Bencao Jing Jiuyi* states: Its shape resembles a silkworm moth, with a red abdomen. It is harvested in February and August; this is what southerners call Huachong (Slippery Insect).
[Tubie (Ground Beetle / Eupolyphaga)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Toxic.
Indications: Primarily treats chills and shivering in the heart and abdomen, blood accumulation, and fixed masses (Zheng Jia); breaks up hardness; promotes menstruation in cases of amenorrhea; greatly beneficial for fertility.
Aliases: Dibie, Tubie.
Habitat: Grows in the rivers, marshes, and sands of Hedong, and in damp soil under the walls of houses.
Harvest: Taken in October, dried in the sun.
Antidotes/Incompatibilities: Averse to Saponin (Zaojiao) and Acorus (Changpu).
Description: Flat in shape like a turtle, hence the name Tubie; possesses a shell but cannot fly; has a slight odor; currently found in many households.
[Note]: This creature prefers to live in soil around mouse burrows and under house walls. Its shape resembles a woodlouse (Shufu); the larger ones are over one cun long. The form is small like a turtle but lacks a hard shell, having only scales.
[Qicao (White Grub)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Slightly Warm, Slightly Cold. Toxicity: Toxic.
Indications: Primarily treats bad blood, blood stasis with bi-syndrome Qi stagnation; breaks up blood clumps causing hardness, fullness, and pain in the hypochondrium; treats amenorrhea; treats ocular conditions such as pterygium, nebula, and leukoma. Treats hematemesis remaining in the chest and abdomen, fractures, blood clots, internal blockage from traumatic wounds (Jinchuang), postpartum cold invasion, and promotes lactation.
Aliases: Qi, Feiqi, Boqi.
Habitat: Grows in the flat marshes of Henei and in grassy areas where household manure accumulates.
Harvest: Can be taken at any time; those moving in reverse direction are considered superior.
Interactions: Guided by Feilian (Cockroach); incompatible with Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root).
Description: The large ones are as big as a human thumb; they move by rolling on their backs, faster than walking feet. Mixed with pig trotters to make soup for nursing mothers, they are indistinguishable. The *Classic of Poetry* says "neck like a Qici" (white grub); this specimen can be distinguished. Since the character 'Qi' is placed lower in the name, it is suspected that "Qicao" here is inverted.
[Note]: This insect is found either in manure piles or in rotting wood. Those in rotting willow wood are white inside and out; those in soil/manure have yellow skin and dark black interiors. Since their colors and forms differ, and their substrates (wood vs. soil) vary, the ones from wood are considered superior. Although harvest time is flexible, winter collection is preferred. According to *Erya*: Also known as Xie, [missing character], and Youqi.