Introduction of Chan Tui:Periostracum Cicadae or Cicada Slough.
✵The article gives records of the herb Cicada Slough, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its source one insect species, (1).Cryptotympana pustulata Fabr., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this insect, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this insect, the features of the herb Cicada Slough, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Periostracum Cicadae(Cicada Slough).
Pin Yin Name: Chán Tuì.
English Name: Cicada Slough.
Latin Name: Periostracum Cicadae.
Property and flavor: cool, pungent.
Brief introduction: The herb Periostracum Cicadae is the slough shed by the nymph of Cryptotympana pustulata Fabr., used (1).to disperse wind and heat in the treatment of wind-heat affliction, (2).to promote eruption for measles and relieve itching for urticaria, (3) .to remove the nebula and improve eyesight, and (4).to relieve spasm in infantile convulsion and tetanus.
Source: The herb Periostracum Cicadae (Cicada Slough) is the slough shed by the nymph of Cryptotympana pustulata Fabr., it is an insect of the Cicadidae family of the Hemiptera order. It is also known as Periostracum Cicadae, Cicada Slough, Chán Tuì.
Herbal classic book defined the herb Periostracum Cicadae (Cicada Slough, or Chán Tuì) as the slough shed by the nymph of (1). Cryptotympana pustulata Fabr. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Cryptotympana pustulata Fabr.
Description of the Insect: The insect, Cryptotympana pustulata Fabr is also known as black cicada. The insect is large, black, and glossy; The male insect is 4.4~4.8 cm long, with a wingspan of about 12.5 cm, while the female insect is slightly shorter. 1 pair of compound eyes, big, there are 3 single eyes between two compound eyes, 1 pair of antennae. The mouth is well-developed, and piercing-sucking, the clypeus is comb-like, the upper lip is wide and short, and the lower lip is elongated into a tube, extending to the base of the 3rd pair of feet. The chest is developed, with a prominent coniform protuberance on the metasternum, extending backward. 3 pairs of feet. 2 pairs of wings, wings are membranous, dark brown, translucent, the base is stained with yellowish-green, wings covered in the back as a ridge when wings are quiet. The abdomen has 7 uromeres (segments), the abdomen of the male cicada has a special articulation, and the female cicada has an auditory organ in the same position.
Ecological environment and Habitat: The insect lives on trees of poplar, willow, elm, locust, and maple. It takes about 12 to 13 years to pass through a generation. Resource distribution: the insect is widely distributed in most areas of China, except northeast.
Habits of living: The adult insect mostly lives in the willow, the maple, the poplar, the apple tree, the pear tree, the peach tree, the apricot tree, and so on broadleaf trees. It is mainly produced in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China.
Characters of herbs: The herb is oblong, the whole herb looks like a cicada, and is hollow, about 4~4.5 cm long, and about 1.8~2 cm wide. The surface is mostly black, the abdomen edge is light yellowish brown, and glossy. There are 1 pair of filiform antennae (filiform antenna) in the head, most of which have been broken off, and 1 pair of compound eyes, protuberant, ellipsoidal globules, yellow-brown, translucent. The chest and back have membranous wings, transparent, pterigostium is light yellow-brown, mostly broken. The upper part of the chest and abdomen has 3 pairs of feet, mostly rotted off. The lower part of the male insect has 1 pair of cordate calling organs; the female insect has no calling organs, the abdomen is smaller, and has ovipositors. The tail end is in a triangle blunt shape, and the back and abdomen have ring segments. The herb is light and fragile. It has a slight smell and a mild taste.
Pharmacological actions: ①.anticonvulsant; ②.sedative; ③.antipyretic; ④.anti-allergic; ⑤.immunosuppressive; ⑥.analgesic effects; ⑦.selectively inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Medicinal efficacy: Dispel wind and dissipate heat, open the inhibited lung-energy, antispasmolysis, promoting eruption to relieve itching, removing nebula for improving eyesight, indicated for exogenous wind-heat affection, coughing and hoarsen, the poor eruption of measles, urticaria and itching, convulsive epilepsy or frightened epilepsy in children, red eyes, nebula, furuncle and malignant boils, tetanus.
Administration of Periostracum Cicadae (Chán Tuì):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Periostracum Cicadae (Chán Tuì)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 3~6 grams; ②.1~2 qian (about 3~6 grams),or prepare to pill,powder.Externally: wash with water decoction,or prepare to finely ground herb powder and apply stick; ③.3~6 grams, or prepare to pill,powder.Externally:proper amount,wash with water decoction, or prepare to finely ground herb powder and apply stick, or 3~10 grams, water decoction, take after mixing its fine powder with water or wine, big dosage needed for relieve spasmolysis.
Precautions: cautious use during pregnancy.
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1.Introduction of Chan Tui:Periostracum Cicadae or Cicada Slough.
✵The article gives records of the herb Cicada Slough, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its source one insect species, (1).Cryptotympana pustulata Fabr., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this insect, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this insect, the features of the herb Cicada Slough, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Chán Tuì.
Description of the Insect: The insect, Cryptotympana pustulata Fabr is also known as black cicada. The insect is large, black, and glossy; The male insect is 4.4~4.8 cm long, with a wingspan of about 12.5 cm, while the female insect is slightly shorter. 1 pair of compound eyes, big, there are 3 single eyes between two compound eyes, 1 pair of antennae. The mouth is well-developed, and piercing-sucking, the clypeus is comb-like, the upper lip is wide and short, and the lower lip is elongated into a tube, extending to the base of the 3rd pair of feet. The chest is developed, with a prominent coniform protuberance on the metasternum, extending backward. 3 pairs of feet. 2 pairs of wings, wings are membranous, dark brown, translucent, the base is stained with yellowish-green, wings covered in the back as a ridge when wings are quiet. The abdomen has 7 uromeres (segments), the abdomen of the male cicada has a special articulation, and the female cicada has an auditory organ in the same position.
Ecological environment and Habitat: The insect lives on trees of poplar, willow, elm, locust, and maple. It takes about 12 to 13 years to pass through a generation. Resource distribution: the insect is widely distributed in most areas of China, except northeast.
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