Introduction of Jiu Xiang Chong:Stink-bug or Aspongopus.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Stink-bug, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its source one insect species, ①.Aspongopus chinensis Dallas., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this insect species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this insect species, the features of the herb Stink-bug, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Aspongopus(Stink-bug).

Aspongopus:herb photo Pin Yin Name: Jiǔ Xiānɡ Chónɡ.
 English Name: Stink-bug.
 Latin Name: Aspongopus.
 Property and flavor: warm, pungent, salty.

 Brief introduction: The herb Aspongopus(Stink-bug) is the dried body of Aspongopus Chinensis Dallas(family Pentatomidae), used to (1).to regulate Qi and alleviate pain for treating epigastric distension and pain, and (2).to invigorate the kidney for treating impotence and lumbago. The herb is commonly known as Aspongopus, Stink-bug, Jiǔ Xiānɡ Chónɡ.

 Insect source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Aspongopus(Stink-bug) as the dried body of the species (1).Aspongopus Chinensis Dallas. It is an insect of the Megymeum genus, the Pentatomidae family (stinkbug family) of the Hemiptera order. This commonly defined species is introduced:

(1).Aspongopus chinensis Dallas.


 Aspongopus chinensis Dallas.:insect and herb Description: The insect is commonly known as Jiǔ Xiānɡ Chónɡ. All oval, 1.7~2.2 cm long, 1~1.2 cm wide, the body is generally purple-black, with copper luster, head, chest backplate, and small shield plate is black. The head is small and slightly triangular; Compound eyes are protruding, ovoid, grow on both sides near the base; Single eye 1 pair, orange; The beak is shorter, with 6 antennae, one is thick and cylindrical, the remaining 4 are slender and flat, 2 longer than 3. Anteriorly narrow and posteriorly broad, leading-edge concave, trailing edge slightly arched, middle transverse, lateral Angle prominent; Surface dense fine carved point, with miscellaneous black wrinkles, both sides of the front have a considerable "eyebrow area", dark color, only the middle with a carved point. The small shield is big. Wing 2 pair, the front wing is half Coleoptera, brown-red, the end of the wings is membranous, with longitudinal veins are very dense. 3 pairs of feet, hind foot is long, tarsal 3 segments. The ventral surface is covered with fine incisions and wrinkles. There are 2 stink holes in the anterior front of the posterior chest and abdominal plate. The 9th segment of the male insect is the reproductive segment, its end margin arc, the center especially arch protrusion.

 Aspongopus chinensis Dallas.:living insect on a leaf Ecological environment: The adult insects have wings and can fly. The host plants are mainly calabash plants, such as squash, wax gourd, watermelon, loofah, and watermelon. The newly hatched nymphs (larvae) mostly live on the host plant's tendrils, leaf buds and petioles, and inhabit in the yellow withered leaves with curly folds. The insect takes host plant juice as food, to the adult insects dormant under the earth rocks, stone cracks, melon shed, or wall cracks in the hole in the winter. It is widely distributed in the south area of China including the middle and lower reaches areas of the Yangtze River, the Zhujiang river area, the southwest area, and Taiwan of China. It is mainly produced in provinces southwest, the Zhujiang river area, and other areas of China.

 Aspongopus chinensis Dallas.:living insect on a leaf Growth characteristics: The adult insects have wings and can fly. They often pass over winter under clods of earth, stones, and crevices, and fly out in March every year.

 Stink-bug:herb photo Characters of herbs: The herb is slightly hexagonal flat oval, with a length of 1.6~2 cm and a width of about 1 cm. The surface is brown or dark brown, slightly shiny. The head is small, slightly triangular with the chest, the compound eye is prominent, oval-shaped, with one pair of monocular eyes and one pair of antennae with five knots each, most of which have fallen off. The abdomen is brown-red to brown-black, and there are small protruding spots near the edge of each node. The texture of the herb is crisp, with light brown contents on the ventral surface after breaking. The herb has a peculiar odor, it tastes slightly salty. The herb of better grade is uniform, chocolate-brown, oily, and not rotten due to insect bites.

 Pharmacological actions: ①.antibacterial effect by in vitro experiment; ②.strong inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus typhi, Bacillus paratyphosus A and Dysenteria flexneri.

 Aspongopus chinensis Dallas.:living insect on a leaf Medicinal efficacy: Regulate Qi and relieve pain, warm the middle energizer and supporting Yang, warm the kidney strengthening yang. It is indicated for stomach cold and distention pain, liver and stomach pain arising from the stagnation of Qi, distension pain in the chest and hypochondrium gastral cavity due to liver-stomach disharmony or cold stagnant in the middle energizer, kidney deficiency and impotence, waist and knee pain, lumbago due to Yang deficiency, deficiency of spleen and kidney, insufficiency of primordial Yang.

 Administration of Aspongopus (Jiǔ Xiānɡ Chónɡ): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Aspongopus (Jiǔ Xiānɡ Chónɡ)
TCM Books: ①.Internally:3~9 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 1~2 qian (about 3~6 grams), or prepare to pill, powder; ③.Internally:water decoction, 3~9 grams, or prepared to pill, powder, 0.6~1.2 grams.

 
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References:
  • 1.Introduction of Jiu Xiang Chong:Stink-bug or Aspongopus.

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