INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Bombyx Batryticatus |
| Common English: | Silkworm Bombyx Mori Silkworm Larva |
Taste |
Temperature |
Entering Meridians |
Dosage |
Acrid Salty |
Neutral (Warm) (Slightly Toxic) |
Liver Lung |
3-10g Powder: 1-3g Tincture: 2-4ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Extinguishes Wind and stops spasms and convulsions |
Childhood convulsions and facial paralysis Seizures due to Liver Wind or especially Wind-Phlegm-Heat |
Dispels Wind, disperses Wind-Heat and stops itching and pain |
Headache, red eyes, a sore, swollen throat and itching skin lesions such as Wind-Rash from externally contracted Wind-Heat or Liver Wind Loss of voice |
Transforms Phlegm, softens hardness, eliminates toxins and dissipates nodules |
Phlegm-Heat scrofula, goiter and other Phlegm nodules |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Calculus Bovis |
Rz. Gastrodiae |
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Seizures and convulsions due to Phlegm Heat. |
Febrile convulsions. |
Quickly developing convulsions with generalized twitching and wheezing. Convulsions with Phlegm and Fire. |
Scorpio |
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Chronic childhood convulsions due to chronic diarrhea associated with Spleen Deficiency. |
Tetany with opisthotonis. |
Muscular tetany. |
Scorpio |
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Mouth and eyes awry from Wind attacking the channels and collaterals. |
Epileptic seizures. |
Headache with red eyes. |
Fol. Mori |
Rx. Platycodi or Rx. Glycyrrhizae |
Periostracum Cicadae |
Headache, red, swollen eyes and tearing from drafts due to Wind-Heat attacking the Liver channel. |
Hoarseness and painful, red throat due to Wind-Heat. |
Itchy skin associated with Wind-Rash. |
Sp. Prunellae |
Flos Lonicerae |
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae |
Scrofula and other Phlegm nodules. |
Mastitis, mumps and deep-seated sores and abscesses. |
Frontal headache. |
Scorpio |
Rz. Gastrodiae |
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Eczema or rash due to Wind. |
Paralysis, involuntary facial twitching or facial paralysis. |
Headache due to Liver Yang Rising. |
Hb. Schizonepetae |
Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii |
Rx. Saposhnikoviae |
Sore throat and a hoarse voice. |
Toxic nodules. |
Childhood convulsions with night crying and fear. |
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As a powder for stubborn, pounding headaches that resemble a hammer striking the head. |
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- This is the dried larva of the silkworm, dead and stiffened due to infection of “Beauveria Bassiana”.
- This herb relieves swelling and pain related to the buildup of Phlegm and internal Wind with spasms.
- It is mostly used to treat hot Phlegm.
- One source says that it is used for subcutaneous nodes caused by Wind-Phlegm, scrofula and intermittent fever due to Phlegm and abdominal masses.
- It is said that this herb cures metrorrhagia.
- This herb has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
- One source says that for aching, hard movable or unmovable abdominal masses, powder 50g of this herb and mix with one bowl of horse urine for oral ingestion and topical application to the affected areas. "The effect is fantastic."
- For tongue cancer, pound 3g of this herb with honey-parched Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian into a powder and apply to the tongue.
- This herb, Scorpio Quan Xie, and Scolopendra Wu Gong all dispel Wind and stop spasms and are often used together in severe cases. They also can reduce swelling and disperse clumping. Jiang Can is used primarily for Phlegm-Heat and treating throat Bi. Wu Gong is pungent and warm, is the most intense and more appropriate for opisthotonis, convulsions and rigid spasms, while Quan Xie is pungent and neutral and is better for Heat. It more strongly extinguishes Wind and stops spasms and is more effective at treating tremors of the hands and feet, twitching and torticollis. Wu Gong and Quan Xie both attack toxin and are used to treat Heat toxin sores or scrofula and phlegm nodules.
- This herb as a powder mixed with vinegar and applied externally is a good treatment for acute mastitis.
- Both Jiang Can and Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui eliminate Wind and release spasms and are often combined to treat headache, swollen throat and convulsions due to Wind-Heat in the Lung and Liver channels. Jiang Can can transform Phlegm and disperse clumping, while Chan Tui vents rashes and reduces superficial visual obstruction.
- Dry-fried Silkworm Chao Jiang Can has a reduced ability to dredge Wind and travel through the channels, but its Phlegm-transforming and dispersing actions are strengthened. Therefore it is more appropriate for childhood convulsions, seizures, cramps, scrofula and Phlegm nodules.