Bombyx Batryticatus
Aliases：Bái Jiāng Cán (White Stiff Silkworm); Tiān Chóng (Heavenly Insect); Jiāng Chóng (Stiff Insect); Bái Jiāng Chóng (White Stiff Insect).
Jiāng Cán (Stiff Silkworm) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is a medicinal substance used for extinguishing wind and stopping convulsions. It is the dried body of the 4th–5th instar larva of the silkworm Bombyx mori Linnaeus (Bombycidae) that has died after being infected (either naturally or through artificial inoculation) with the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuillant. It is slightly cylindrical in shape, curved and wrinkled, measuring 2–5 cm in length and 0.5–0.7 cm in diameter. The surface is grayish-yellow and covered with a white, powdery layer of aerial mycelia and conidia. Jiāng Cán was first recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica).
Efficacy & Actions
Extinguishes wind and stops convulsions; dispels wind and relieves pain; resolves phlegm and disperses nodules.
Indications
Anticonvulsant effect: Exhibits sedative and anticonvulsant effects. Anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects: Exhibits anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects. Anticancer effect: Exhibits anticancer activity. Hypnotic effect: Exhibits hypnotic effects. Hypoglycemic effect: Exhibits blood sugar-lowering effects. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects: Exhibits anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Immunomodulatory effect: Exhibits immunomodulatory functions.
Modern Pharmacology
Anticonvulsant effect: Exhibits sedative and anticonvulsant effects. Anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects: Exhibits anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects. Anticancer effect: Exhibits anticancer activity. Hypnotic effect: Exhibits hypnotic effects. Hypoglycemic effect: Exhibits blood sugar-lowering effects. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects: Exhibits anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Immunomodulatory effect: Exhibits immunomodulatory functions.
Ingredients
Proteins and polypeptides Sterols Flavonoids Organic acids Other components: Fats, amino acids, trace elements, and ammonium oxalate
Usage & Dosage
Decoction for oral use: The standard dosage is 5–10g. The specific dosage should be individualized based on the patient’s condition and constitution, strictly following the physician’s prescription. Powder for oral use: 1–1.5g per dose.
Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy. Contraindicated in patients with blood deficiency complicated by wind-cold pathogens. Use with caution in patients with thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, or bleeding tendencies. Use with caution in patients with hepatic coma: The anticonvulsant effect of Jiāng Cán (Stiff Silkworm) is primarily due to ammonium oxalate, whose metabolism can produce ammonia and potentially worsen hepatic coma. Use with caution in individuals allergic to insect-derived medicines, as allergic reactions may occur. The dosage should not exceed 20g, as large doses may cause abdominal distension. Should not be used together with Mantis Egg-case (Sāng Piāo Xiāo), Platycodon Root (Jié Gěng), Poria (Fú Líng), or Dioscorea (Bì Xiè).
Selected Formulas
or febrile diseases with high fever affecting the exterior, interior, and triple energizer (Han Wen Tiao Bian, Shengjiang San) Take 2 liang of Jiangcan (stiff silkworm), 2.5 qian of Chantui (cicada slough), 2.5 qian of Jianghuang (turmeric), and 4 liang of Dahuang (rhubarb). Grind into fine powder, mix with ginger juice to make pills. Also available as powder: 5 jin of Jiangcan, 2.5 jin of Chantui, 12 liang of Jianghuang, and 10 jin of Dahuang. Take as powder. For headache (Bai Yi Xuan Fang) Take equal parts of white Jiangcan (silk and mouth removed) and Liangjiang (galangal). Grind into fine powder. Take 0.5 qian each time with white plum tea, before the attack. For scrofula (Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang) Take white Jiangcan, grind into powder. Take 5 fen-spoonfuls with water, three times daily. For infantile convulsion (Bencao Yanyi) Take equal parts of Jiangcan and Xie Shao (scorpion tail), plus 1 qian total of Tianxiong tip and Fuzi tip (lightly processed). Grind into fine powder. Take 1 zi or 0.5 qian each time, mixed with warm ginger water and administer orally. For lockjaw with difficulty in opening the mouth (Zhongzang Jing) Take Jiangcan, lightly stir-fry and grind into powder. Take 1 qian each time, mixed with fresh ginger juice, and administer.
Daily Consumption
Dietary Use of Stiff Silkworm: Grind the dried Stiff Silkworm (Jiāng Cán) into a fine powder and add a small amount to congee or soup for consumption.
Medicinal Parts
Dried body.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry, airtight container in a cool, dry place, protected from insects.
