The efficacy and function of raw silkworm excrement

There are so many medicinal herbs in the world, and it is inevitable that there are some that we are not familiar with. But as long as we have the spirit of learning throughout our lives, I believe we can slowly learn more medical herbs. So do you know about the medicinal material raw silkworm feces?

[Other names] Original silkworm feces (Bielu), silkworm feces (Tao Hongjing), late silkworm feces (Dou Men Fang), horse liver (Dongyi Baojian), late silkworm droppings (Bencao Beiyao), two silkworm feces (Jiangsu Yaocai Zhi).

[Source] The dried feces of the larvae of the silkworm moth, an insect of the family Bombyx mori. It is collected from June to August, mainly from the feces during the second to third dormancy. After collection, it is dried, the soil is dusted off, and light particles and mulberry leaf debris are removed.

[Habitat distribution] It is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Sichuan, Henan, Jiangsu, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Anhui, Gansu, Hubei, Shandong, Liaoning and other places.

[Properties] Dry silkworm feces are short cylindrical particles, 2 to 5 mm long and 1.5 to 3 mm in diameter. The surface is gray-black and rough, with 6 obvious longitudinal ridges and 3 to 4 shallow horizontal lines. The two ends are slightly flat and hexagonal. It is hard and brittle and easily breaks apart when exposed to moisture. Slightly smells of grass. The best ones are dry, black, solid, uniform and free of impurities.

[Chemical composition] Silkworm feces contain 83.77-90.44% organic matter, 9.56-16.23% ash, and 1.91-3.60% total nitrogen. It also contains chlorophyll, which can be extracted with ethanol or acetone. It is reported that the feces of third, fourth and fifth instar silkworms contain 1.6, 2.0 and 2.4% crude chlorophyll respectively, but only a small part of them is real chlorophyll. For example, the crude chlorophyll of the fifth-instar silkworm feces contains only 13.19% pure chlorophyll, with the rest being 48.92% saponifiable matter and 44.45% unsaponifiable matter.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet and spicy, warm.

[entry into meridians] Enters the liver and spleen meridians.

【Functions and indications】 Dispel wind and dampness, promote blood circulation and relieve pain. It is used to treat rheumatic pain, itchy rashes, headache, numbness of the skin, joint paralysis, acute vomiting and diarrhea, cramps, cold pain in the waist and feet, and ulcers.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3 to 5 qian; or made into pills or powder. For external use: stir-fry and iron, decoct in water for washing, or grind into powder for application.

【Note】 "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "It is not suitable for patients with paralysis, loose muscles and weak bones due to blood deficiency that cannot nourish the meridians, but without rheumatism or external evil invasion."

[Additional prescription] ① Treats dampness and heat accumulation in the meridians, chills and fever, pain in the joints, gray and dull tongue, sallow face, a disease called dampness and arthritis: 50 cents each of Stephania tetrandra, apricot kernel, and talcum powder, 30 cents each of Forsythia suspensa and Gardenia jasminoides, 50 cents of Coix seed, 30 cents of Pinellia ternata (fried with vinegar), 30 cents of late silkworm feces, and 30 cents of adzuki bean skin. Boil eight cups of water and take three cups of water, divided into three doses while warm. If the pain is severe, add two qian of sliced ​​turmeric and three qian of Pittosporum tobira bark. (Xuanbi Decoction from Treatise on Febrile Diseases)

【Explanations by various scholars】 ① "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Silkworms are dry in nature, and dryness can overcome wind and remove dampness, so silkworm feces are mainly used to treat rheumatism. Some people with rheumatism can use this ironing method to treat rheumatism. According to "Chen's Experience Prescription", a paste can cure rotten string wind eye, and its function is also to remove wind and absorb dampness. It can also be mixed with mulberry wood ash, soaked in juice, boiled with turtle meat to make pills, to treat abdominal knots."

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

The above is a detailed introduction to the original silkworm feces of traditional Chinese medicine. We can consume it according to our own needs. I believe there will be improvement after a period of time. It is indeed a good choice.