Cicada Slough (Chantui)

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.