Cicada slough is the exuviae of the cicada insect Cryptotympana pustulata during its molting process, also known ascicada sloughIt is widely distributed in the southern regions, and is harvested from trees or beneath them when cicadas shed their shells. It is often dried in the sun and used raw.
I. Efficacy of Cicada Slough:
Cicada Slough tastes sweet, cold. It belongs to the Lung and Liver meridians. Its effects includeDispel wind-heat, soothe the throat and restore voice, promote eruption, improve vision and remove nebula, calm wind and relieve convulsion。
Commonly used forWind-heat common cold, early stage of warm disease, sore throat and hoarseness, measles not fully erupted, rubella itching, red eyes with nebula, acute and chronic infantile convulsions, tetanus syndrome, infantile night crying and restlessnessTreatment of conditions such as
Summary of Famous Works by Renowned Authors:
"Bie Lu": "Primarily treats infantile epilepsy."
Materia Medica on Properties: "Primarily used for children with high fever all over the body, convulsions, and also capable of quenching thirst."
Compendium of Materia Medica: "Treats wind-induced dizziness, itchy skin due to wind-heat, tetanus, and toxic sores such as furuncles and abscesses, loss of voice in adults, infantile convulsions with lockjaw and opisthotonos, fright-induced crying and night crying, and genital swelling."
Jade Carving Medicine Explanation: Cicada slough is light and floating, dispersing and dissipating, specifically treating the skin and hair, clearing away nebula and membrane, reducing swelling and toxicity, treating adult loss of voice, infant night crying, taking its meaning of chirping by day and resting by night.
"Compendium of Materia Medica": "Cicadas are transformed from the residual qi of earth and wood, drinking wind and dew without eating. Their qi is clear and ethereal, with a sweet and cold taste, thus they dispel wind-heat. Their bodies are light and buoyant, thus they promote the eruption of pox and rashes. Their nature is adept at molting, thus they clear eye opacities and expedite childbirth and placental expulsion. Their molted shells are used to treat skin sores, ulcers, and hidden rashes. Their sound is clear and resonant, thus they treat wind stroke and loss of voice."
II. Compatibility and Application of Cicada Slough:
1. For external contraction of wind-heat and early stage of warm disease, with symptoms such as fever and headache. Cicada slough is effective in dispersing wind and clearing heat, as well as clearing and benefiting the head and eyes. For the initial stage of wind-warm syndrome, it is often combined with chrysanthemum, mulberry leaf, and peppermint. For wind-heat stagnation in the lung, with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and hoarseness, it is often combined with sterculia seed, arctium fruit, and platycodon root to promote lung qi dispersion.
Zhang Xichun said, "Cicada slough has no odor, is slightly cool in nature, can induce sweating, is good at relieving external wind-heat, and is an essential medicine for the early stage of warm disease."
2. For the early stage of measles, inadequate eruption of rashes, and itching of urticaria, etc. Cicada slough has a dispersing nature and is good at expelling and dispersing external pathogens. For treating inadequate eruption of rashes, it is often combined with herbs such as Pueraria root and Arctium fruit. For treating urticaria and wind-heat syndrome with skin itching, it is often combined with herbs that dispel wind and relieve itching, such as Tribulus terrestris and Schizonepeta.
Li Shizhen said, "For treating skin sores and ulcers due to wind-heat, cicada slough should be used; for treating the internal organs and meridians, the cicada body should be used. Each follows its own category."
Zhang Xichun said, "Cicada slough is good at expelling rashes and hives, with the power to reach the skin through the skin, so it is also an important medicine for treating rashes and hives. When used together with snake slough, it is effective in treating systemic scabies and itching. If taken alone as a powder, it is also good at treating maggots in sores; after taking it several times in a row, the maggots will dissolve on their own."
3. For wind-heat in the liver meridian, red eyes, nebula, excessive tearing, and other symptoms. Cicada slough has the effect of dispersing wind-heat in the liver meridian, improving vision, and removing nebula. It is often combined with chrysanthemum, scouring rush, etc., known as Chan Hua San.
4. For wind-heat in the liver meridian, acute and chronic infantile convulsions, and infantile night crying and other syndromes. Cicada slough is good at cooling the liver to extinguish wind, calming fright and stopping convulsions. To treat the above syndromes, it can be used alone; or combined with scorpion, silkworm, uncaria and other drugs that dispel wind and stop convulsions.
Wang Ang said, "Cicadas chirp during the day and rest at night, so they can stop children from crying at night."
5. For insomnia. Cicada slough has anticonvulsant and sedative effects, and can regulate sleep. For treating intractable insomnia, it is often combined with Acorus tatarinowii, Bupleurum, licorice, fried jujube seed, and Poria cocos, namelyCicada Slough Sleep-Promoting DecoctionIt can also be combined with other medicines according to the syndrome, which can enhance the effect of calming and tranquilizing the mind.
III. Usage and Dosage of Cicada Slough:
Cicada slough is often used in decoctions and can also be made into pills or powders. The usual dosage in decoctions ranges from a few grams to over ten grams.
Wang Ang said, "There are many types of cicadas, but only the large and black ones are used in medicine."
IV. Application Notes for Cicada Slough:
Cicada Slough is dispersing in nature, soUse with caution in pregnant women。
If used to stop convulsions and calm the mind, the dosage should be slightly larger; otherwise, the effect may not be apparent.
Huang Yuanyu said, "It is inappropriate for mediocre physicians to use it to treat adult head wind and dizziness, as well as children's smallpox itching and collapse. Dizziness is not caused by wind pathogens, and itching and collapse are entirely due to the sinking of defensive qi. How can cicada slough treat these conditions? Moreover, its use in treating convulsions and lockjaw is also highly questionable."
