What are the effects and actions of Sangpiaoxiao (Mantis Egg-case)?
Sangpiaoxiao is the dried egg-case of the mantis species Tenodera sinensis, Statilia maculata, or Hierodula patellifera, belonging to the family Mantidae, commonly known respectively as Tuanpiaoxiao, Changpiaoxiao, and Heipiaoxiao. As a medicinal substance, it has the effects of securing essence and reducing urination, and tonifying the kidney to assist yang. It has a relatively good therapeutic effect on conditions such as seminal emission and spermatorrhea, enuresis and frequent urination, and turbid white urine. Let us take a look at the effects and actions of Sangpiaoxiao below!
The Medicinal Effects of Sangpiaoxiao
[Nature and Flavor]Sweet and salty in flavor, neutral in nature.
[Meridian Tropism]Liver and Kidney meridians.
[Effects]Secures essence and reduces urination, tonifies the kidney and assists yang. Mainly treats seminal emission and spermatorrhea, enuresis and frequent urination, and turbid white urine.
Processing Methods of Sangpiaoxiao
1. Sangpiaoxiao: Take the raw medicinal material, remove impurities, place in a steaming vessel and steam for about 1h, then remove and dry. The steamed product can eliminate the raw material's diarrhea-inducing effect.
2. Salt-processed Sangpiaoxiao: Take clean Sangpiaoxiao, add salt water and mix well, let it soften by covering, then place in a wok, heat over gentle fire, stir-fry until a fragrant aroma is released, then remove and let cool. For every 100 kg of Sangpiaoxiao, use 2.5 kg of table salt. Salt-processed Sangpiaoxiao can enhance the effect of benefiting the kidney and securing essence.
3. Stir-fried Sangpiaoxiao: Take clean Sangpiaoxiao, place in a wok, heat over gentle fire, stir-fry until brownish-yellow with scorched spots, then remove and let cool.
4. Wine-processed Sangpiaoxiao: Take steamed clean Sangpiaoxiao, spray evenly with wine, slightly moisten, place in a wok and heat over gentle fire, stir-fry until slightly dry, then remove and let cool. For each 100 kg of Sangpiaoxiao, use 10 kg of yellow rice wine.
Medicinal Prescriptions of Sangpiaoxiao
1. To calm the soul and spirit, stabilize the mind, treat forgetfulness and frequent urination, and tonify heart qi: Sangpiaoxiao, Yuanzhi (Polygala root), Changpu (Acorus rhizome), Longgu (dragon bone), Renshen (ginseng), Fushen (Poria with pine wood), Danggui (Angelica sinensis), and Guijia (tortoise shell, vinegar-roasted) one liang each. Grind into powder. At bedtime, take two qian mixed with ginseng decoction.
2. To treat seminal emission with white turbidity, night sweats, and consumptive fatigue: Sangpiaoxiao (roasted) and Bainonggu (white dragon bone) in equal parts. Grind into fine powder. Take two qian per dose, sent down with salt water on an empty stomach.
3. To treat frequent and uncontrollable urination during pregnancy: Twelve Sangpiaoxiao. Crush into powder. Divide into two doses, take with rice water.
4. To treat urinary retention and shifting of the bladder: Crush Sangpiaoxiao into powder, take one fangcunbi with rice water, three times a day.
5. To treat hernia and abdominal masses with pain in men and women: Sangpiaoxiao one liang, Xiaohuixiang (fennel) one liang and two qian. Grind together into powder. Take two qian per dose, mixed with Sichuan pepper decoction.
6. To treat fishbone stuck in the throat: Sangpiaoxiao, decoct with vinegar and sip.
7. To treat postpartum enuresis or frequent urination: Sangpiaoxiao (roasted) half a liang, Longgu (dragon bone) one liang. Grind into powder. Take two qian with rice water per dose.
8. To treat ear discharge: One Sangpiaoxiao. Roast over slow fire until about eighty percent cooked, retain its nature, grind finely, add one character's worth of Shexiang (musk), grind into powder, sprinkle into the ear, using half a character each time. If there is pus, first use a cotton ball to wipe it away, then sprinkle the medicinal powder into the ear.
9. To treat soft boils in children: Sangpiaoxiao calcined and retained in its nature, grind into powder, mix with oil and apply.
Dietary Methods of Sangpiaoxiao
1. Sangpiaoxiao Soup
[Ingredients]Sangpiaoxiao 30 pieces (roasted), Lurong (deer antler velvet, roasted) 3 liang, Huangqi (Astragalus) 3 liang, Shengjiang (ginger) 4 liang, Renshen (ginseng) 2 liang, Muli (oyster shell, prepared) 2 liang, Gancao (licorice, roasted) 2 liang.
[Usage]Chew the above into pieces. Add 6 sheng of water, decoct to 2.5 sheng, divide into 3 doses.
[Effects]Mainly treats frequent urination after childbirth.
2. Sangpiaoxiao Pig Stomach Soup
[Ingredients]Pig bladder 2 pieces, Sangpiaoxiao 15 g, Duzhong (Eucommia bark) 12 g, Huaishanyao (Chinese yam) 30 g, Shengjiang (ginger) 4 slices.
[Usage]Cut away residual fat from the pig bladder, rinse repeatedly with clean water, then marinate with salt, wash clean, blanch in boiling water until cooked, set aside. Wash Sangpiaoxiao, Duzhong, Huaishan, and Shengjiang. Place all ingredients in a pot, add an appropriate amount of clean water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for about 1-2 hours, season and serve.
[Effects]Tonifies the kidney and reduces urination.
3. Sangpiaoxiao Frog Soup
[Ingredients]Frog 1 piece (about 90 g), Sangpiaoxiao (can also be substituted with Jinyingzi) 9 g, Shanyurou (Cornus fruit) 30 g, Bajitian (Morinda root) 10 g, Gouqizi (goji berry) 15 g.
[Usage]Wash the frog, remove head, skin, and innards, cut into pieces. Wash Sangpiaoxiao, Shanyurou, Bajitian, and Gouqizi. Place all ingredients together in a pot, add an appropriate amount of clean water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 2 hours, add salt to taste. Serve as a side dish, 1-3 times daily, 150-200 ml each time.
[Effects]Tonifies kidney qi and secures essence. Suitable for seminal emission, frequent urination, weak urination, slowed urine flow, reduced urine volume, fatigue and lack of strength, sore lower back and tinnitus, pale and slightly enlarged tongue with white coating, and deep thin pulse caused by kidney qi deficiency. Those with frequent urination caused by damp-heat in the bladder should avoid drinking this soup.
4. Sangpiaoxiao Pill
[Ingredients]Sangpiaoxiao 30 g (slightly stir-fried), Tusizi (dodder seed) 15 g (soaked in water for three days, sun-dried, separately pounded into powder), Shugandihuang (prepared rehmannia) 60 g, Shanzhuyu (Cornus fruit) 22 g, Huanglian (Coptis rhizome) 30 g (remove fibrous roots)
[Usage]Pound and sift the above medicines into powder, mix with refined honey and pound two to three hundred times, form pills the size of Firmiana seeds. Take 30 pills each time on an empty stomach with barley decoction.
[Effects]Tonifies the kidney and secures essence, drains fire and resolves toxins. Mainly treats kidney water deficiency with rampant heat toxin causing consumptive kidney disorder, turbid white urine, and chronic non-healing.
5. Huangqi Sangpiaoxiao Chicken
[Ingredients]Huangqi (Astragalus) 20 g, 10 g, chicken 500 g, ginger 5 g, cooking wine 10 ml, scallion and salt 10 g each.
[Usage]Wash the chicken and cut into small pieces 4 cm long and 3 cm wide, crush the ginger, cut the scallion into sections, slice the Huangqi after softening, wash the Sangpiaoxiao and set aside. Place the chicken, cooking wine, salt, ginger, scallion, and medicinal ingredients together in a stewing pot, add 1000 ml of water, and stew for 45 minutes. Once daily, serve as a side dish.