( Bai) Jiang Can - 僵蠶 - Bombyx Batryticatus - Silkworm
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Bombyx Batryticatus |
| Common English: | Bombyx Mori Silkworm Silkworm Larva |
Category
Substances that Extinguish Wind and Stop TremorsProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid Salty | Neutral (Warm) (Slightly Toxic) | Liver Lung | 3-10g Powder: 1-3g Tincture: 2-4ml 3-9g (d), 1-1.5g (p) (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Extinguishes Wind and stops spasms and convulsions | Childhood convulsions and facial paralysis Seizures due to Liver Wind or especially Wind-Phlegm-Heat |
Dispels Wind, disperses Wind-Heat and stops itching and pain | Headache, red eyes, a sore, swollen throat and itching skin lesions such as Wind-Rash from externally contracted Wind-Heat or Liver Wind Loss of voice |
Dissipates nodules, Eliminates toxins, Softens hardness, Transforms Phlegm | Phlegm-Heat scrofula, goiter and other Phlegm nodules |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Calculus Bovis | Periostracum Cicadae | Rz. Gastrodiae |
Seizures and convulsions due to Phlegm Heat. | Febrile convulsions. | Quickly developing convulsions with generalized twitching and wheezing. Convulsions with Phlegm and Fire. |
| Rx. Codonopsis | Scorpio | Scorpio |
Chronic childhood convulsions due to chronic diarrhea associated with Spleen Deficiency. | Tetany with opisthotonis. | Muscular tetany. |
| Scorpio | Periostracum Cicadae | Ram, Mori |
Mouth and eyes awry from Wind attacking the channels and collaterals. | Epileptic seizures. | Headache with red eyes. |
Fol. Mori | Rx. Platycodi Or Rx. Glycyrrhizae | Periostracum Cicadae |
Headache, red, swollen eyes and tearing from drafts due to Wind-Heat attacking the Liver channel. | Hoarseness and painful, red throat due to Wind-Heat. | Itchy skin associated with Wind-Rash. |
Sp. Prunellae | Flos Lonicerae | Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae |
Scrofula and other Phlegm nodules. | Mastitis, mumps and deep-seated sores and abscesses. | Frontal headache. |
Periostracum Cicadae | Scorpio | Rz. Gastrodiae |
Eczema or rash due to Wind. | Paralysis, involuntary facial twitching or facial paralysis. | Headache due to Liver Yang Rising. |
Hb. Schizonepetae | Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii | Rx. Saposhnikoviae |
Sore throat and a hoarse voice. | Toxic nodules. | Childhood convulsions with night crying and fear. |
Gypsum Fibrosum | ||
As a powder for stubborn, pounding headaches that resemble a hammer striking the head. |
Notes
- This substance is the dried silkworm larva that has died and become stiff after infection with “Beauveria Bassiana”.
- It eases swelling and pain associated with accumulated Phlegm and with internal Wind that produces spasms.
- Its main use is for hot Phlegm.
- According to one source, it is applied to subcutaneous nodes from Wind-Phlegm, to scrofula, to intermittent fever arising from Phlegm, and to abdominal masses.
- This herb is reported to cure metrorrhagia.
- Research indicates that it inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- One source recommends, for aching abdominal masses that are hard and either movable or fixed, grinding 50g of this herb into powder and mixing it with one bowl of horse urine, to be taken orally and also applied topically to the affected areas. "The effect is fantastic."
- In tongue cancer, 3g of this herb is pounded into a powder together with honey-parched Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian and applied to the tongue.
- Together with Scorpio Quan Xie, and Scolopendra Wu Gong, this herb dispels Wind and halts spasms, and the three are frequently combined for severe cases. All of them can also reduce swelling and break up clumping. Jiang Can is chiefly used for Phlegm-Heat and for throat Bi. Wu Gong, being pungent and warm, is the most powerful and better suited to opisthotonis, convulsions and rigid spasms, whereas Quan Xie is pungent and neutral and is preferred for Heat. It has a stronger action in extinguishing Wind and stopping spasms and works better for tremors of the hands and feet, twitching and torticollis. Wu Gong and Quan Xie each attack toxin and are used for Heat toxin sores or scrofula and phlegm nodules.
- Powdered, mixed with vinegar and applied externally, this herb is an effective treatment for acute mastitis.
- Jiang Can and Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui both expel Wind and relieve spasms, and they are commonly paired for headache, swollen throat and convulsions arising from Wind-Heat in the Lung and Liver channels. Jiang Can additionally transforms Phlegm and breaks up clumping, whereas Chan Tui vents rashes and clears superficial visual obstruction.
- When dry-fried, Silkworm Chao Jiang Can is less able to dredge Wind and move through the channels, but its ability to transform and disperse Phlegm becomes stronger. For this reason it is better suited to childhood convulsions, seizures, cramps, scrofula and Phlegm nodules.
- Dui Yao pair with Di Long: for chronic headache from Wind-Phlegm obstructing the channels, convulsions and seizures with a high fever, and Bell's palsy, trigeminal neuralgia and hemiplegia from impeded flow in the channels.