Can Sha - 蚕沙 - Faeces Bombycis

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Excrementum Bombycis Mori Faeces Bombycis
Common English:	Silkworm Feces

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet Acrid	Warm (Lukewarm)	Liver Spleen Stomach	4.5-18g Tincture: 2-4ml 4.5-9g (Secondary source)

Actions

Indications/Syndromes

Dispels Wind and eliminates Dampness

Wind-Damp Bi

Wind-Damp skin rashes

Harmonizes the Stomach and transforms turbid Dampness

Turbid Dampness Obstructing the Middle with diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain, borborygmus and calf spasms

CONTRAINDICATIONS

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis Du Huo Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae Niu Xi	Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae Han Fang Ji Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren Fr. Forsythiae Lian Qiao	Fr. Evodiae Wu Zhu Yu Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin Fr. Chaenomelis Mu Gua
Extremity pain due to Wind-Dampness.	Damp-Heat Bi. Wind-Damp Bi.	Dampness causing abdominal pain, spasms of the calf muscles, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Sm. Phaseoli Radiati Lu Dou Alumen Ming Fan	Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae Bai Zhi Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong
Mixed with vinegar as a topical paste for traumatic injury.	Headache due to Dampness Accumulation.

It can be used for Bi pain in either the upper or the lower body.
Its mild nature makes it suitable for deficient patients.
Dry-fry it until warm, put it in a cloth bag while it is still warm, moisten the bag with rice wine and apply it to aching joints, areas of paralysis or the site of abdominal pain. This is known as the ironing method.
The wine or tincture is particularly good for uterine bleeding.
For itching, eczema and other skin disorders, it can be used alone, internally or topically.
Can Sha and Fr. Chaenomelis Mu Gua both harmonize the Middle, eliminate Dampness and treat cramps after vomiting and diarrhea. Mu Gua is the better choice for harmonizing the Middle, removing Dampness, calming the Liver and relaxing the sinews, and it can also treat Blood Deficiency with Liver Excess that leads to cramps and pain from undernourished tendons. Can Sha is good at expelling Wind to treat Wind-Dampness, and it is also good for itching.