☯ TCM Properties
Regulates Qi, soothes the Liver and stops pain; Replenishes Kidney Yang; Replenishes Spleen Yang
Traditional Chinese Uses
Jiu Xiang Chong, the dried body of the aromatic stink bug Aspongopus chinensis, is a salty, warm herb entering the Spleen, Liver and Kidney channels. It regulates Qi, soothes the Liver and relieves pain, warms the Middle and reinforces Yang, and tonifies Kidney and Spleen Yang.
It is used for epigastric and abdominal distension and pain from Cold in the Stomach or Liver-Stomach Qi stagnation — combined with Chuan Lian Zi, Mu Xiang and Yan Hu Suo — and for Kidney-Yang deficiency with sore, weak lower back and knees and impotence, paired with Bu Gu Zhi and other yang tonics. It is usually ground into powder or taken in pills. Being warm and yang-supporting, it is contraindicated where there is Yin-deficient internal Heat.
Botanical Description
Jiu Xiang Chong (九香蟲) is the dried adult body of the brown stink bug Aspongopus chinensis Dallas (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae, also referred to in older literature as Coridius chinensis), a hemipteran insect native to southern China, where it feeds on cucurbitaceous and other cultivated plants. The insects are collected in autumn and winter, typically killed by brief immersion in hot water or wine, then dried. The dried insect is dark brown to nearly black, about 1.5–2 cm long, oval and somewhat flattened, with a strong characteristic odor from defensive secretions. In TCM, Jiu Xiang Chong is classified as salty and warm, entering the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney channels, and is used to regulate qi and relieve pain, warm the middle, and tonify Kidney yang for epigastric and chest pain from qi stagnation and cold, lumbar pain, and impotence. As an animal substance, plant fields do not apply.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 3-9g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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