Pinyin: Chantui
Aliases
Chanqiao, Chanjia, Chanyi, Zhiliaopi
Source
1. For pneumonia: Renshen 6 g, decoct in water and take orally.Cryptotympana pustulataFabricius's nymphal exuviae shed during molting.
Distribution
Distributed in various regions south of Liaoning in China.
Harvesting and Processing
Collected in summer and autumn, remove sediment and sand, sun-dry.
Medicinal Properties
The whole product resembles a cicada in shape but is hollow, slightly curved, 3-4 cm long and about 2 cm wide. The surface is yellowish-brown, translucent, and lustrous. There is a pair of filamentous antennae on the head, mostly broken off, with protruding compound eyes. The front of the neck is prominent, the rostrum is well-developed, the upper lip is broad and short, and the lower lip is elongated into a tubular shape. The dorsal side of the thorax has cruciform lobes with the fissures curled inward, and there are two pairs of small wings on either side of the ridge; the ventral side has three pairs of legs covered with yellowish-brown fine hairs. The abdomen is blunt and rounded, consisting of 9 segments. The body is light, hollow, and fragile. Odorless; taste: bland.
Chemical Constituents
This product primarily contains a large amount of chitin, protein, and amino acids.
Pharmacology
Has anticonvulsant effects as well as sedative, analgesic, antipyretic, immunosuppressive, anti-allergic, and anti-tumor actions; it can also slow the heart rate.
Properties and Channel Entry
Sweet, cold. Enters the Lung and Liver channels.
Functions and Indications
Dispels Wind-Heat, benefits the throat, promotes eruption of measles, brightens the eyes and removes cataracts, and relieves spasms. Used for Wind-Heat common cold, sore throat and hoarseness, incomplete measles eruption, rubella with itching, red eyes with cataracts, infantile convulsions and spasms, and tetanus.
Dosage and Administration
Internal: decoct 3-6 g in water for oral administration; or made into pills or powder. External: appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing; or grind into powder for topical application.
Prescriptions
1. For vertigo with head spinning: *Cicada Slough* 60 g, lightly stir-fried, ground into fine powder. Take 3 g with warm wine at any time. (From *Sheng Hui Fang*: Cicada Slough Powder) 2. For cough with lung qi stagnation and discomfort: *Cicada Slough* (remove soil, lightly stir-fried) 30 g, *Renshen* (remove rootlet) 30 g, *Schisandra Fruit* 30 g, *Tangerine Peel* 15 g, *Licorice* (honey-fried) 15 g. Grind together into fine powder. Take 1.5 g with ginger decoction, at any time. (From *Xiao Er Wei Sheng Zong Wei Lun Fang*: Cicada Slough Decoction) 3. For smallpox fever, itching, and scratching: *Cicada Slough* 30 g, *Cortex Lycii* 30 g. Grind into powder. Take 2-3 spoonfuls with white wine, 2-3 times daily. (From *Chi Shui Xuan Zhu*: Cicada Flower Powder) 4. For smallpox with blackish lesions, neck stiffness, eyes staring straight, abdominal distension, and convulsions: *Cicada Slough* 1.5 g, *Earthworm* 30 g. Grind into powder. Take 6 g with breast milk and frankincense decoction. (From *Yi Xue Ru Men*: Zhou Tian Powder) 5. For chronic infantile convulsions: *Scorpion* 7 pieces (remove tail and tip), *Cicada Slough* 21 pieces, *Licorice* 7.5 g (honey-fried), *Large Arisaema* 1 piece (roasted until fragrant). Grind into powder. Take 1.5 g with ginger and jujube decoction. (From *Zhi Zhi Xiao Er Fang*: Cicada Scorpion Powder) 6. For suppurative otitis media: *Cicada Slough* 15 g (burned to retain property), *Musk* 1.5 g (stir-fried). Grind into powder. Wrap in cotton and stuff into ear to expel pus. (From *Hai Shang Fang*) 7. For rectal prolapse: *Cicada Slough* (remove legs), roast and grind into powder, mix with vegetable oil and apply topically. (From *Wang Shi Yi Cun*) 8. For neonatal lockjaw (trismus neonatorum) unable to nurse: *Cicada Slough* 20 pieces, *Scorpion* 27 pieces, grind into powder, add a little *Calomel* powder, mix with breast milk and administer orally. (From *Quan You Xin Jian*)
