Wiseman’s Chinese Medical Database

chán tuì / 蝉蜕 / 蟬蛻 / cicada molting

Latin pharmacognostic name: Cicadae Periostracum

Alternate English names:

Alternate Chinese names: 蜩甲 tiáo jiǎ; 唧唧猴皮 jī jī hóu pí; 唧唧皮 jī jī pí; 金牛儿 jīn niú ér; 枯蝉 kū chán; 蝉衣 chán yī; 蝉退 chán tuì

Origin: Animal

Use: medicinal

Category: Exterior-resolving agents / Cool acrid exterior-resolving agents

Properties: Sweet; cold.

Channel entry: lung and liver channels.

Indications:

• Disperses wind-heat: External contraction of wind-heat; initial-stage warm disease with heat effusion and headache.
• Outthrusts papules and relieves itching: Inhibited eruption of measles papules; itching in rubella (wind papules) or in wind-heat patterns.
• Clears the liver and brightens the eyes: Red eyes, eye screens, and profuse tearing, due to liver channel wind-heat.
• Extinguishes wind and checks tetany: Acute and chronic child fright wind; lockjaw.
• Additional actions: Chán tuì is also used for night crying in infants.

Dosage & Method:

Oral: 3–10g. Used in decoctions, powders, and pills. Large doses are needed to check tetany.

Warning:

Use with care in pregnancy.

Quality:

Best are light undamaged moltings that are yellowish brown in color and clean of earth.

Product Area:

Shāndōng, Hénán, Héběi, Húběi, Jiāngsū, and Sìchuān, with Shāndōng producing the most.