Cicada Slough

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Shandong.

Shaped like a hollow cicada, slightly curved. About 4cm long, 2cm wide. Externally yellowish-brown, translucent and lustrous. Head has one pair of antennae which have mostly broken and fallen; projected compound eyes and apex of neck; snout is advanced, upper lip is wide and short, lower lip is lengthened to pipe-shape. Back surface of thorax has a cross-shaped fissure, the fissure opening is curled inward; on the two sides of the back there are 2 sets of small wings; abdomen has 3 pairs of legs with yellowish-brown thin hair. Abdomen is blunt and round, 9 segments. Light and membranous, hollow, easily crushed texture; faint odor; taste bland.

Superior medicinal material is intact, yellow and shiny.

Sweet; cold.

Scatters wind and eliminates heat, benefits the throat, vents rashes, relieves eye screens, resolves tetany. Apply to win-hot cold, throat pain, hoarse voice, rashes, rubella, red eyes and eye screen, convulsion, tetanus.