INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Periostracum Cicadae |
| Common English: | Cicada Molting (Slough) Cryptotympana |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sweet Salty |
Slightly Cold (Cold) |
Lung Liver |
3-10g Tincture: 1-3ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Disperses Wind and clears Heat |
External Wind-Heat especially with loss of voice and a swollen, sore throat |
Vents rashes and relieves itching |
Early stage measles with incomplete expression of the rash |
Clears the eyes and removes superficial visual obstruction |
Eye problems due to Wind-Heat such as red, painful, swollen eyes or blurry vision Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiencies with Liver Yang Rising |
Stops spasms and extinguishes Liver Wind |
Childhood fevers in which Liver Wind causes convulsions, delirium, spasms, terror, tetanus, insomnia or nightmares |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
|
INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
|
Sm. Sterculae Lychnophorae |
Rx. Puerariae |
Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis |
Hoarseness and loss of voice due to Lung Heat. Can be used alone together for sudden hoarseness. |
Vents measles. |
Incomplete expression of measles. Wind, rash, or itchy, red eyes and pterygium. |
Strengthens Wind-dispersing actions of the previous combination. |
Weepy red skin lesions in patients with pre-existing Damp-Heat. |
Wind-Heat affecting the eyes. |
Fr. Tribuli |
||
Nightmares or convulsions due to Liver Wind. |
Wind induced itching. |
Wind-Heat in the Liver Channel with red, watery eyes and blurred vision. |
Sm. Sterculae Lychnophorae |
Scorpio |
Ram. cum Uncis Uncariae |
Chronic hoarseness. Loss of voice. |
Seizures, tetany and childhood convulsions. |
Continuous night crying in children under four months old. |
Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis |
Scorpio |
Rz. Arisaematis |
Early-stage febrile disorders or Wind-Heat. |
Muscle spasms and twitching. |
Severe tetanus. |
- This herb is common in formulas for eczema and measles.
- It is very useful for recalcitrant eczema.
- It is often used in childhood diseases.
- It is used to treat opacity of the eyes.
- It can be used alone with rice-based liquor to treat mild tetanus.
- It is also said to treat convulsive diseases.
- It is one of the main remedies for tetanus, corneal opacity and allergic and pruritic skin conditions.
- It was once used for delayed labor and expulsion of afterbirth therefore use caution during pregnancy.
- Some sources say that this herb cools the Lungs and Liver, stops itching, soothes the throat and stops Liver Qi Stagnation.
- It is especially appropriate for weak patients who cannot withstand normal exterior releasing methods.
- It is an absolutely indispensable herb to protect the eyes of children with pox and sores. It works to protect the eyes only before the rash erupts.
- This herb has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
- Both Chan Tui and Bombyx Batryticatus Jiang Can eliminate Wind, release spasms and are often combined to treat headache, swollen throat and convulsions due to Wind-Heat in the Lung and Liver channels. Chuan Tui vents rashes and reduces superficial visual obstruction while Jiang Can transforms Phlegm and disperses clumping.
- Cicada Abdomen Chan Du with the front legs removed is better for clearing Wind-Heat.