（《本经》下品）
【校正】并人有名未用石蠹虫。
【释名】沙虱（《本经》）、石蠹虫（《别录》
弘景曰∶沙虱乃东间水中细虫。人入水浴，着身略不可见，痛如针刺，挑亦得之。今此
或名同而物异耳。
时珍曰∶按《吴普本草》沙虱作沙蚌。
【集解】
别录曰∶石蚕生江汉池泽。
宗 曰∶石蚕在处山河中多有之。附生水中石上，作丝茧如钗股，长寸许，以蔽其身。
其色如泥，蚕在其中，故谓之石蚕，亦水中虫耳。方家用者绝稀。
《别录》曰∶石蠹虫生石中。
藏器曰∶石蠹虫一名石下新妇，今伊芳洛间水底石下有之。状如蚕，解放丝连缀小石如茧。
春夏羽化作小蛾，水上飞。
时珍曰∶《本经》石蚕，《别录》石蠹，今观陈、寇二说及主治功用，盖是一物无疑矣
。又石类亦有石蚕，与此不同。
【正误】
弘景曰∶李当之云∶石蚕江左不识，谓为草根。其实类虫，形如老蚕，生附石上。伧人
得而食之，味咸微辛。所言有理，但江汉非伧地。大都是生气物，如海中蛤、蛎辈，附石生
不动，皆活物也。今俗用草根，黑色，多角节，亦似蚕。恐未是实，方家不用。
恭曰∶石蚕形似蚕，细小有角节，青黑色，生江汉侧石穴中。岐、陇间亦有，北人多不
用，采者遂绝耳。
韩保升曰∶李谓是草根，陶谓是生气物。苏恭之说，半似草，半似虫，皆妄矣。此虫所
在水石间有之，取为钩饵。马湖石间最多，彼人啖之，云咸、微辛。
颂曰∶石蚕，陶、苏都无定论，《蜀本》之说为是。今川、广中多有之。其草根之似蚕
者，亦名石蚕，出福州。今信州山石上，四时常有之，亦采入药。详见菜部草石蚕下。
【气味】咸，寒，有毒。
保升曰∶咸、微辛。
吴普曰∶雷公∶咸，无毒。
【主治】五癃，破石淋堕胎。其肉∶解结气，利水道，除热（《本
石蠹虫∶主石癃，小便不利（《别录》）。
【发明】宗 曰∶石蚕谓之草者，谬也。《经》言肉解结气，注中更
时珍曰∶石蚕连皮壳用也，肉则去皮壳也。
【附录】云师、雨虎
时珍曰∶按《遁甲开山图》云∶霍山有云师、雨虎。荣氏注云∶云师如蚕，长六寸，
有毛似兔。雨虎如蚕，长七、八寸，似蛭。云雨则出在石上。肉甘，可炙食之。此亦石蚕之
类也。
（收录于《神农本草经》下品）
【校正】补充了前人记载中“有名无实”的石蠹虫。
【释名】沙虱（出自《神农本草经》）、石蠹虫（出自《名医别录》）。
陶弘景说：沙虱是东方地区水中的细小虫子。人进入水中沐浴时，它附着在身上，肉眼几乎看不见，疼痛像针刺一样，挑破皮肤也能找到它。现在的这种药可能只是名称相同而实物不同罢了。
李时珍说：查阅《吴普本草》，沙虱写作“沙蚌”。
【集解】
《名医别录》说：石蚕生长在江汉地区的池塘沼泽中。
苏颂说：石蚕在各地的山河中都有很多。它附着生长在水中的石头上，吐丝结茧像发钗的股线一样，长约一寸左右，用来遮蔽自己的身体。它的颜色像泥土，蚕在其中，所以叫作石蚕，也是水中的虫子罢了。医生使用它的非常稀少。
《名医别录》说：石蠹虫生长在石头里面。
陈藏器说：石蠹虫又名石下新妇，现在伊水、洛水之间的水底石头下有这种虫子。形状像蚕，吐出丝来连接小石头形成像茧一样的结构。春夏季节羽化变成小蛾，在水面上飞。
李时珍说：《神农本草经》中的石蚕，《名医别录》中的石蠹，现在查看陈藏器和寇宗奭两人的说法以及主治功效，这确实是一种东西无疑了。另外，石类中也有叫石蚕的，与此不同。
【正误】
陶弘景说：李当之说：石蚕在江东地区人们不认识，把它当作草根。其实它类似虫子，形状像老蚕，生长附着在石头上。粗鄙之人得到后食用，味道咸微辛。所说的有道理，但江汉地区不是粗鄙之人的居住地。大都是活着的生物，像海里的蛤蜊、牡蛎之类，附着在石头上生长不动，都是活物。现在民间使用的草根，黑色，多角节，也类似蚕。恐怕不是真实的，医生不使用。
苏恭说：石蚕形状像蚕，细小且有角节，青黑色，生长在江汉侧面的石穴中。岐山、陇山之间也有，北方人大多不使用，采集的人于是断绝了。
韩保升说：李当之说是草根，陶弘景说是活生物。苏恭的说法，半像草半像虫，都是荒谬的。这种虫子所在的水石间有，取来作为钓鱼的饵料。马湖的石缝中最多的，那里的人吃它，说味道咸、微辛。
苏颂说：石蚕，陶弘景、苏恭都没有定论，《蜀本》的说法是正确的。现在四川、广东地区有很多。那种像蚕的草根，也叫石蚕，出产于福州。现在信州的山石上，四季常有的，也采集入药。详见菜部草石蚕条下。
【气味】味咸，性寒，有毒。
韩保升说：味咸、微辛。
吴普说：雷公认为：味咸，无毒。
【主治】五种癃闭（排尿困难），破除石淋（尿路结石），堕胎。其肉：能解散郁结之气，通利水道，清热（出自《神农本草经》）。
石蠹虫：主治石癃（尿道结石引起的尿痛），小便不利（出自《名医别录》）。
【发明】苏颂说：把石蚕称为草，是错误的。《神农本草经》说肉能解结气，注释中更……
李时珍说：石蚕是连皮壳一起使用的，肉则是去掉皮壳后的部分。
【附录】云师、雨虎
李时珍说：查阅《遁甲开山图》说：霍山有云师、雨虎。荣氏注解说：云师像蚕，长六寸，有毛像兔子。雨虎像蚕，长七、八寸，像水蛭。下雨或起云时就出现在石头上。肉味甘，可以烤着吃。这也是石蚕的一类。
(Recorded in the Lower Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Correction] Supplementing the "Stone Borer Insect" (Shi Du Chong), which was previously listed by earlier authors as having a name but no practical use.
[Names] Sand Leech (Sha Li, recorded in *Shennong Bencao Jing*); Stone Borer Insect (Shi Du Chong, recorded in *Mingyi Bielu*).
Tao Hongjing stated: The sand leech is a tiny insect found in the waters of the eastern regions. When people bathe in the water, it attaches to their bodies; it is barely visible to the naked eye, causing pain like needle pricks, and can be extracted by picking at the skin. It is likely that this medicinal substance today shares the same name but is a different organism.
Li Shizhen stated: According to *Wu Pu Bencao*, "sha li" is written as "sha bang".
[Collected Explanations]
*Mingyi Bielu* states: Shi Can (Stone Silkworm) grows in the ponds and marshes of the Jianghan region.
Su Song stated: Shi Can is abundant in rivers and mountains everywhere. It attaches to stones underwater, spinning silk cocoons resembling the strands of a hairpin, about one cun long, used to cover its body. Its color resembles mud, with the silkworm inside, hence the name Shi Can; it is merely an aquatic insect. It is rarely used by physicians.
*Mingyi Bielu* states: Shi Du Chong grows within rocks.
Chen Cangqi stated: Shi Du Chong is also known as "Shi Xia Xin Fu" (New Bride Under the Stone). It is found under stones at the bottom of waters in the Yi and Luo river areas. It resembles a silkworm, spinning silk to bind small stones together into a cocoon-like structure. In spring and summer, it pupates into a small moth and flies over the water surface.
Li Shizhen stated: The Shi Can in *Shennong Bencao Jing* and the Shi Du in *Mingyi Bielu*, when comparing the views of Chen Cangqi and Kou Zongshi along with their therapeutic functions, are undoubtedly the same substance. Additionally, there is another stone-related entity also called Shi Can, which is different from this one.
[Correction of Errors]
Tao Hongjing stated: Li Dangzhi said: Shi Can is unknown in the Jiangzuo region, where it is mistaken for a root herb. In reality, it resembles an insect, shaped like an old silkworm, growing attached to stones. Rough people obtain and eat it; it tastes salty and slightly pungent. His statement has merit, but the Jianghan region is not inhabited by such rough people. Generally, these are living organisms, similar to clams and oysters in the sea, which attach to stones and do not move; they are all living creatures. Currently, the root herbs used by common people are black, have many nodes, and resemble silkworms. This is likely incorrect and is not used by professional physicians.
Su Gong stated: Shi Can resembles a silkworm, is small with nodes, and is bluish-black. It grows in stone crevices on the banks of the Jianghan rivers. It is also found between Qishan and Longshan, but people in the north rarely use it, so collectors have ceased gathering it.
Han Baosheng stated: Li claimed it was a root herb, while Tao claimed it was a living organism. Su Gong's view that it is half plant and half insect is absurd. This insect exists among the stones in water; it is collected as fishing bait. It is most abundant in Mahu, where locals eat it, describing the taste as salty and slightly pungent.
Su Song stated: Regarding Shi Can, neither Tao Hongjing nor Su Gong reached a definitive conclusion; the explanation in the *Shu Ben* edition is correct. It is now abundant in Sichuan and Guangdong. The root herb resembling a silkworm is also named Shi Can and originates from Fuzhou. On the mountain stones in Xinzhou, it is present year-round and is also collected for medicinal use. See details under the entry for Cao Shi Can in the Vegetable Section.
[Properties and Flavor] Salty, Cold, Toxic.
Han Baosheng stated: Salty, slightly pungent.
Wu Pu stated: Lei Gong considered it: Salty, non-toxic.
[Therapeutic Actions] Treats five types of Long syndrome (dysuria/urinary retention), breaks up Shi Lin (urinary calculi/stones), and induces abortion. Its meat: Resolves stagnant Qi, promotes urination, and clears heat (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Shi Du Chong: Mainly treats Shi Long (painful urinary obstruction due to stones) and difficult urination (*Mingyi Bielu*).
[Elucidation]
Su Song stated: Calling Shi Can a "grass" is erroneous. The Classics state that its meat resolves stagnant Qi... [text incomplete in source].
Li Shizhen stated: Shi Can is used with its shell intact, whereas the "meat" refers to the part without the shell.
[Appendix] Yun Shi (Cloud Master), Yu Hu (Rain Tiger)
Li Shizhen stated: According to *Dunjia Kaishan Tu*: Mount Huo has Yun Shi and Yu Hu. Rong's annotation states: Yun Shi resembles a silkworm, is six cun long, and has fur like a rabbit. Yu Hu resembles a silkworm, is seven or eight cun long, and resembles a leech. They appear on stones when clouds gather or rain falls. Their meat is sweet and can be roasted for consumption. These are also categories of Shi Can.