Cicada Slough (Chantui)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Periostracum Cicadae |
| Botanical Name: | Cryptotympana pustulata Fabricius |
| Common Name: | Cicada Slough |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Mingyi Bielu |
| art Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The slough shed by the cicada is found on the ground or on the branches of trees then dried in the sun. |
| Properties and Taste: | Sweet and cool |
| Meridian: | Lung and liver |
| Functions: | To disperse wind and clear heat To bring the rash to the surface and relieve itching To clear eyes To stop spasms |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Wind-heat exterior syndrome manifested as fever, headache, sore throat and horse voice. *Use with Boat sterculia seed (Pangdahai), Arctium fruit (Niubangzi) and Platycodon root (Jiegeng). 2. Early stage of measles without rash. *Use with Pueraria root (Gegen) and Arctium fruit (Niubangzi). 3. Itching due to the surface being attacked by exogenous wind. *Use with Tribulus fruit (Baijili) and Schizonepeta (Jingjie). 4. Wind-heat of liver meridian manifested as red eyes, watery eyes and blurred vision. *Use with Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua) and Shave grass (Muzei) in the formula Chan Hua San. 5. Convulsions and spasms due to tetanus or high fever. *Use with Scorpion (Quanxie), White-stiff silkworm (Baijiangcan), Uncaria stem (Gouteng) and Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua). |
| Dosage: | 3-10 g |
| Cautions: | This herb should be used with caution during pregnancy. |