Chan Tui - 蝉蜕 - Periostracum Cicadae - Cryptotympana
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Periostracum Cicadae |
| Common English: | Cicada Molting (Slough) / Cicada moulting Cryptotympana |
Category
Herbs that Release the Exterior: Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior (Wind-Heat Diaphoretics)Properties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet Salty | Slightly Cold (Cold) | Lung Liver | 3-10g Tincture: 1-3ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Disperses Wind and clears Heat | External Wind-Heat especially with loss of voice and a swollen, sore throat |
Vents rashes and relieves itching | Early stage measles with incomplete expression of the rash |
Clears the eyes and removes superficial visual obstruction | Eye problems due to Wind-Heat such as red, painful, swollen eyes or blurry vision Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiencies with Liver Yang Rising |
Stops spasms and extinguishes Liver Wind | Childhood fevers in which Liver Wind causes convulsions, delirium, spasms, terror, tetanus, insomnia or nightmares |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Sm. Sterculae Lychnophorae | Rx. Puerariae | Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis |
Hoarseness and loss of voice due to Lung Heat. Can be used alone together for sudden hoarseness. | Vents measles. | Incomplete expression of measles. Wind, rash, or itchy, red eyes and pterygium. |
| Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis | Hb. Schizonepetae | Flos Chrysanthemi |
Strengthens Wind-dispersing actions of the previous combination. | Weepy red skin lesions in patients with pre-existing Damp-Heat. | Wind-Heat affecting the eyes. |
| Scorpio | Fr. Tribuli | Hb. Equiseti |
Nightmares or convulsions due to Liver Wind. | Wind induced itching. | Wind-Heat in the Liver Channel with red, watery eyes and blurred vision. |
Sm. Sterculae Lychnophorae | Scorpio | Ram. cum Uncis Uncariae |
Chronic hoarseness. Loss of voice. | Seizures, tetany and childhood convulsions. | Continuous night crying in children under four months old. |
Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis | Scorpio | Rz. Arisaematis |
Early-stage febrile disorders or Wind-Heat. | Muscle spasms and twitching. | Severe tetanus. |
Notes
- Formulas for eczema and measles commonly contain this herb.
- It is highly effective for recalcitrant eczema.
- It is frequently used for childhood diseases.
- It treats opacity of the eyes.
- Taken alone with rice-based liquor, it can treat mild tetanus.
- It is also reported to treat convulsive diseases.
- For tetanus, corneal opacity and allergic and pruritic skin conditions, it is one of the principal remedies.
- Because it was formerly used for delayed labor and to expel the afterbirth, caution is needed during pregnancy.
- According to some sources, this herb cools the Lungs and Liver, stops itching, soothes the throat and stops Liver Qi Stagnation.
- It is particularly suitable for weak patients who cannot tolerate standard exterior releasing methods.
- For protecting the eyes of children with pox and sores, it is absolutely indispensable. This protective effect on the eyes only occurs if it is given before the rash erupts.
- Research has shown that this herb inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- Chan Tui and Bombyx Batryticatus Jiang Can both eliminate Wind and release spasms, and they are often combined for headache, swollen throat and convulsions due to Wind-Heat in the Lung and Liver channels. Chuan Tui vents rashes and reduces superficial visual obstruction, whereas Jiang Can transforms Phlegm and disperses clumping.
- For clearing Wind-Heat, Cicada Abdomen Chan Du with the front legs removed is the better choice.
From Class
- Wind herbs: Gou Teng, Tian Ma, Bai Ji Li, Shi Jue Ming, Fang Feng, Chan Tui, insects: Thorny vines hook out hidden wind; abalone anchors yang; Fang Feng treats internal and external wind; Chan Tui for itching; insects indispensable for some (stroke). (Shea)