气味咸平，微寒，无毒。主治伤寒寒热，温疟洒洒，惊恚怒气，除拘缓，鼠 ，女子
带下赤白。久服强骨节，杀邪鬼延年。
（牡蛎出东南海中，今广闽、永嘉、四明海旁皆有之，附石而生， 相连如房，每一
房内
有肉一块，谓之蛎黄，清凉甘美，其腹南向，其口东向，纯雄无雌，故名曰牡，粗大而坚，
故名曰蛎。）
牡蛎假海水之沫，凝结而成形，禀寒水之精，具坚刚之质。太阳之气，生于水中，出于
肤表
，故主治伤寒寒热，先热后寒，谓之温疟。皮毛微寒，谓之洒洒。太阳之气，行于肌表，则
温疟洒洒可治也。惊恚怒气，厥阴肝木受病也。牡蛎南生东向，得水中之生阳，达春生之木
气，则惊恚怒气可治矣。生阳之气，行于四肢，则四肢拘缓自除。鼠 乃肾脏水毒，上淫于
脉。牡蛎味咸性寒，从阴泄阳，故除鼠 。女子带下赤白，乃胞中湿热下注。牡蛎禀水气而
上行，阴出于阳，故除带下赤白。具坚刚之质，故久服强骨节。纯雄无雌，故杀邪鬼。骨节
强而邪鬼杀，则延年矣。
气味咸甘平，无毒。主治伤中、疝瘕、阴痿，益精，生子，女子血闭腰痛，通五淋
，利小便水道。
（螵蛸，螳螂子也。在桑树作房，粘于枝上，故名桑螵蛸。是兼得桑皮之津气也。其粘
在他
树上者，不入药用。螳螂两臂如斧，当难不避，喜食人发，能翳叶捕蝉，一前一却。其房长
寸许，大如拇指，其内重重相隔，隔中有子，其形如蛆卵，至芒种节后，一齐生出，约有
数百枚。月令云∶仲夏螳螂生是也。）
《经》云∶逆夏气，则太阳不长。又云∶午者，五月，主右足之太阳。螳螂生于五月，
禀太
阳之气而生，干则强健，其性怒升。子生于桑，又得桑之金气，太阳主寒水，金气属阳明，
故气味咸甘。主治伤中，禀桑精而联属经脉也，治疝瘕，禀刚锐而疏通经脉也。其性怒升，
当辙不避，具生长迅发之机，故治男子阴痿，而益精生子。女子肝肾两虚，而血闭腰痛。螳
螂捕蝉，一前一却，乃升已而降，自然之理，故又通五淋，利小便水道。
【牡蛎】
气味：咸，平，微寒，无毒。
主治：伤寒引起的寒热往来，温疟导致的战栗发抖，惊恐、愤恨、愤怒等情绪引发的病症，解除肢体拘挛或弛缓，治疗鼠瘰（颈部淋巴结结核），以及女子赤白带下。长期服用可强健骨节，驱除邪祟，延年益寿。
（注：牡蛎产于东南大海中，如今广东、福建、永嘉、四明海边都有，附着在石头上生长，一串串相连像房舍一样，每一房内有一块肉，称为“蛎黄”，味道清凉甘美。它的腹部朝南，口朝东，纯雄性无雌性，所以名叫“牡”；形体粗大且坚硬，所以名叫“蛎”。）
牡蛎借助海水的泡沫凝结而成形，禀受寒水之精气，具有坚刚的质地。太阳之气生于水中，出于体表，所以能主治伤寒引起的寒热往来，先热后寒的称为“温疟”。皮毛感到轻微寒冷战栗，称为“洒洒”。太阳之气运行于肌表，则温疟和洒洒之症可治。惊恐、愤恨、愤怒等情绪，是厥阴肝木受病所致。牡蛎生于南方而口向东，得水中之生发阳气，通达春生之木气，则惊恐、愤恨、愤怒等症可治。生发之气运行于四肢，则四肢的拘挛或弛缓自然消除。鼠瘰是肾脏的水毒，上淫于脉络。牡蛎味咸性寒，从阴分泄出阳气，所以能去除鼠瘰。女子带下赤白，是胞宫中的湿热下注所致。牡蛎禀受水气而上行，使阴出于阳，所以能去除带下赤白。因其具有坚刚的质地，所以长期服用可强健骨节。因其纯雄无雌，所以能驱除邪祟。骨节强健且邪祟被驱除，就能延年益寿。
【桑螵蛸】
气味：咸，甘，平，无毒。
主治：内伤中气、疝气、癥瘕积聚、阳痿，补益精气，助孕生子，女子经血闭阻及腰痛，通利五淋，通畅小便水道。
（注：螵蛸是螳螂的卵鞘。在桑树上筑巢，粘附在树枝上，所以叫桑螵蛸。这是兼得了桑皮津液之气。粘附在其他树上的，不入药用。螳螂两臂如斧，面临困难不退缩，喜欢吃人的头发，能遮蔽树叶捕捉蝉，动作是一前一退。其卵鞘长约一寸，大如拇指，内部重重相隔，隔中有子，形状像蛆卵，到芒种节后，一齐孵化出来，约有数百枚。《月令》说：“仲夏时节螳螂出生”就是这个意思。）
《内经》说：“违背夏气，则太阳之气不能生长。”又说：“午时，即五月，主右足太阳经。”螳螂生于五月，禀受太阳之气而生，干燥后身体强健，其性怒而升发。卵生于桑树，又得桑树的金气。太阳主寒水，金气属阳明，所以气味咸甘。主治内伤中气，是禀受桑树精华而联络经脉；治疗疝气和癥瘕，是禀受刚锐之气而疏通经脉。其性怒而升发，面对车辙也不回避，具备生长迅发的机理，所以能治疗男子阳痿，并补益精气以助生子。女子肝肾两虚，导致经血闭阻和腰痛。螳螂捕蝉，一前一退，这是升发之后下降，是自然的道理，所以又能通利五淋，通畅小便水道。
[Oyster Shell / Mu Li]
Odor and Flavor: Salty, neutral, slightly cold, non-toxic.
Indications: Chills and fever caused by Cold Damage (Shanghan), shivering due to Warm Malaria (Wen Nue), disorders arising from fright, resentment, and anger; relief of limb stiffness or flaccidity; treatment of scrofula (Shu Liu); and red-and-white leukorrhea in women. Long-term consumption strengthens bone joints, expels evil spirits, and prolongs life.
(Note: Oyster shells are produced in the southeastern seas. Currently, they are found along the coasts of Guangdong, Fujian, Yongjia, and Siming. They grow attached to rocks, connected in clusters resembling houses. Inside each cluster is a piece of meat called "Li Huang," which is cool and sweet. Its abdomen faces south, and its mouth faces east. Being purely male without females, it is named "Mu" (male); being coarse and hard, it is named "Li".)
Oyster shell forms through the condensation of sea foam, inheriting the essence of cold water and possessing a firm and rigid quality. The Qi of the Taiyang (Greater Yang) meridian originates in water and emerges at the body surface; therefore, it treats chills and fever associated with Cold Damage. The pattern characterized by fever preceding chills is termed Warm Malaria. The sensation of slight cold and shivering on the skin and hair is termed "Sha Sha." When the Qi of the Taiyang meridian circulates at the muscle-surface level, both Warm Malaria and Sha Sha can be treated. Fright, resentment, and anger indicate pathology of the Jueyin Liver Wood. Since Oyster Shell grows in the south and faces east, it acquires the generating Yang Qi from water and communicates with the Wood Qi of spring generation; thus, it treats disorders of fright, resentment, and anger. The generating Yang Qi circulates in the four limbs, thereby naturally eliminating stiffness or flaccidity of the limbs. Scrofula is water toxicity of the Kidney that overflows into the vessels. Due to its salty flavor and cold nature, Oyster Shell drains Yang from Yin, thus removing scrofula. Red-and-white leukorrhea in women results from damp-heat pouring downward from the uterus (Bao Zhong). Oyster Shell inherits Water Qi and moves upward, allowing Yin to emerge from Yang, thus resolving leukorrhea. Possessing a firm and rigid quality, long-term consumption strengthens bone joints. Being purely male without females, it expels evil spirits. With strengthened joints and expelled evil spirits, longevity is achieved.
[Mantis Egg Case / Sang Piao Xiao]
Odor and Flavor: Salty, sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
Indications: Internal injury to the Middle Jiao, hernia, masses (Zheng Jia), impotence, tonification of essence, promotion of fertility, amenorrhea with lower back pain in women, unblocking the five types of strangury (Wu Lin), and facilitating urination.
(Note: Piao Xiao refers to the egg case of the mantis. It builds nests on mulberry trees, adhering to branches, hence named "Sang Piao Xiao" (Mulberry Mantis Egg Case). This allows it to absorb the fluid and Qi of the mulberry bark. Those adhering to other trees are not used medicinally. The mantis has arms like axes, does not retreat when facing difficulties, eats human hair, hides behind leaves to catch cicadas, and moves forward and backward. Its egg case is about one cun long and as thick as a thumb. Internally, it is divided into layers containing eggs resembling maggot larvae. After the Mangzhong solar term, they hatch simultaneously, numbering several hundred. The *Monthly Ordinances* states: "In midsummer, mantises are born," referring to this.)
The *Classic* states: "Violating the Qi of Summer causes the Qi of Taiyang to fail to grow." It also states: "Wu corresponds to the fifth month, governing the Taiyang meridian of the right foot." The mantis is born in the fifth month, inheriting the Qi of Taiyang. When dried, it becomes strong and robust, with a nature that is angry and ascending. Its eggs are born on the mulberry tree, acquiring the Metal Qi of the mulberry. Taiyang governs cold water, and Metal Qi belongs to Yangming; therefore, its odor and flavor are salty and sweet. It treats internal injury to the Middle Jiao by inheriting the essence of the mulberry to connect and bind the meridians. It treats hernia and masses by inheriting a sharp and rigid quality to dredge and unblock the meridians. Its nature is angry and ascending, not avoiding obstacles (such as chariot ruts), embodying the mechanism of rapid growth and emergence; thus, it treats male impotence and tonifies essence to promote fertility. For women with deficiency of both Liver and Kidney leading to amenorrhea and lower back pain, the mantis catching cicadas—moving forward and then retreating—illustrates the principle of descending after ascending, which is natural law. Therefore, it also unblocks the five types of strangury and facilitates urination.