INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Periostracum Cicadae
Common English: Cicada Molting (Slough)
Cryptotympana
Herbs that Release the Exterior: Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior (Wind-Heat Diaphoretics)
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
  • Use caution for those with Exterior Deficiency.
  • Use caution during pregnancy.
  • Use caution for those with Qi and/or Yin Deficiencies.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • This herb potentiates the sedative effect of sedatives such as, antihistamines, narcotic analgesics, barbiturates benzodiazepines and others and reduces the effect of caffeine.

Sm. Sterculae Lychnophorae
Pang Da Hai

Rx. Puerariae
Ge Gen
Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi
(Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis)
(Bo He)

Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis
Bo He

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.

Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis
Bo He

Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua
Fol. Mori
Sang Ye

Hb. Schizonepetae
Jing Jie
Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis
Ku Shen

Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua
Hb. Equiseti Hiemalis
Mu Zei

 

Strengthens Wind-dispersing actions of the previous combination.

Weepy red skin lesions in patients with pre-existing Damp-Heat.

Wind-Heat affecting the eyes.

Scorpio
Quan Xie
Bombyx Batryticatus
Jiang Can
Ram. cum Uncis Uncariae
Gou Teng
(Flos Chrysanthemi)
(Ju Hua)

Fr. Tribuli
Bai Ji Li
Hb. Schizonepetae
Jing Jie
(Rx. Saposhnikoviae)
(Fang Feng)

Hb. Equiseti
Mu Zei
Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua

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
Pang Da Hai
Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi
Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng

Scorpio
Quan Xie

Ram. cum Uncis Uncariae
Gou Teng
(Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis)
(Bo He)

Chronic hoarseness.

Loss of voice.

Seizures, tetany and childhood convulsions.

Continuous night crying in children under four months old.

Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis
Bo He

Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua
Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao

Scorpio
Quan Xie

Bombyx Batryticatus
Jiang Can
Ram. cum Uncis Uncariae
Gou Teng

Rz. Arisaematis
Zhi Tian Nan Xing
Rz. Gastrodiae
Tian Ma
Scorpio
Quan Xie

Bombyx Batryticatus
Jiang Can

Early-stage febrile disorders or Wind-Heat.

Muscle spasms and twitching.

Severe tetanus.

  1. This herb is common in formulas for eczema and measles.
  2. It is very useful for recalcitrant eczema.
  3. It is often used in childhood diseases.
  4. It is used to treat opacity of the eyes.
  5. It can be used alone with rice-based liquor to treat mild tetanus.
  6. It is also said to treat convulsive diseases.
  7. It is one of the main remedies for tetanus, corneal opacity and allergic and pruritic skin conditions.
  8. It was once used for delayed labor and expulsion of afterbirth therefore use caution during pregnancy.
  9. Some sources say that this herb cools the Lungs and Liver, stops itching, soothes the throat and stops Liver Qi Stagnation.
  10. It is especially appropriate for weak patients who cannot withstand normal exterior releasing methods.
  11. 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.
  12. This herb has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
  13. 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.
  14. Cicada Abdomen Chan Du with the front legs removed is better for clearing Wind-Heat.