Jiang Yong僵蛹
Batryticated Silkworm Pupa · Fermented Silkworm Pupa
Overview
The pupa of the silkworm Bombyx mori fermented with the same Beauveria fungus that produces Jiang Can 僵蚕, and appended to it in the wind-extinguishing group. It was developed to make use of the pupae left over from silk reeling at a time when Jiang Can was scarce, and it behaves like a gentler version of it: salty and acrid, neutral, settling wind and spasm, dispersing wind-heat and easing itching, but consistently weaker. It has no standard pharmaceutical Latin name and is standardised regionally rather than in the pharmacopoeia's main body.
Nature & Flavor
Salty, acrid · NeutralChannels
Liver · Lung · StomachTypical Dosage
At the practitioner's direction — commonly 5–10 g in decoction, or 1–3 g as powderActions
4 core actions
- Extinguishes wind, stops spasmTwitching and convulsion attributed to internal wind with phlegm, in the same patterns as Jiang Can but with less force.
- Dispels wind, relieves itchingItchy wind rash and urticaria, and wind-heat sore throat and headache — the indication it is most often used for in practice.
- Transforms phlegm, dissipates nodulesPhlegm nodules and scrofula, again as a milder stand-in for Jiang Can.
- A substitute, not an equalIt was introduced as a supply solution. Where Jiang Can is available and the pattern is acute, Jiang Can is what the prescription calls for; Jiang Yong suits milder, longer-running presentations.
In Formulas
Formulas containing Jiang Yong
No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.
Indications & Clinical Uses
- Itchy wind rash and urticaria
- Wind-heat sore throat, hoarseness and headache
- Twitching and convulsion from internal wind with phlegm (mild cases, as an adjunct)
- Phlegm nodules and scrofula
Western Medical Keywords
Searchable condition terms
Contraindications
Cautions
It is both an insect product and a fungal fermentation product, so allergy is the first concern: anyone sensitive to silk, silkworm pupa or moulds should be assessed before it is dispensed, and silkworm pupa in particular is a recognised food allergen that has caused serious reactions. Stop at once and seek care if a rash, swelling, wheeze or breathlessness follows a dose — people with asthma or marked atopy should be especially careful. It disperses rather than nourishes, so it is unsuitable for wind arising from blood or yin deficiency, or for convulsion in a depleted patient with no heat or phlegm. Because it is a regionally standardised fermentation product rather than a pharmacopoeial mainstay, batch quality varies more than for most items, and the supplier matters. Convulsion and a first seizure need medical assessment alongside any herbal treatment.
Contraindicated in pregnancy: Take in pregnancy only under practitioner supervision — a dispersing, wind-moving medicinal with no established safety record in pregnancy.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only
References
- Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed. (under Jiang Can 僵蚕).
2. Provincial materia medica standards — 僵蛹 is standardised regionally rather than in the main body of 《中华人民共和国药典》.
3. 《中药大辞典》.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.