Sang Piao Xiao (Ootheca cylindrical, yellowish-brown, multi-layered scaly membranous transverse wrinkles, chambers store eggs, longitudinal groove attached to branches, light and spongy, hard, brittle and tough)

Stir-fried Sang Piao Xiao

Sang Piao Xiao cut open

【Naming】

Sang Piao Xiao

【Source】

Shen Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica, Upper Grade · Mantis

【Common Usage Level】

C

【Botanical Source】

The dried ootheca of Paratenodera sinensis de Saussure, Statilia maculata Thunb., Mantis religiosa L., or Hierodula patellifera Serrille of the Mantidae family.

【Characteristics】

The ootheca is generally cylindrical, composed of multiple membranous layers, about 2.5~4cm high and 2~3cm in diameter. One end is enlarged and thick, and the other end is narrow and thin. The surface is yellowish-brown or brown, with multiple layers of scaly transverse wrinkles. Each chamber stores eggs. It is harvested in February and March. The side attached to the branch has a longitudinal groove. It is tough, the cross-section is yellowish-brown, slightly like chrysanthemum. Each side of the ootheca is arranged with 13~14 rows of oval eggs. The eggshell is reddish-brown, and the ruptured ones reveal yellowish-brown eggs. The texture is light.
The Tuan Piao Xiao (Paratenodera sinensis) type is round and clustered, light yellow, and has a light and tough texture. The Chang Piao Xiao (Statilia maculata) type is long and slender, grayish-yellow, and has a hard and brittle texture. The Hei Piao Xiao (Hierodula patellifera) type is parallelogram-shaped, dark brown, and has a hard and tough texture. There are slight differences between the three.

【Processing】

1. Used raw. 2. Stir-fried Sang Piao Xiao

【Identification】

《Notes on Materia Medica》: “The ones from mulberry trees are the best.”
《Illustrated Materia Medica》: “The ones from mulberry trees also obtain the essence of mulberry bark, so they are considered good.”
《Classified Materia Medica》: “The illustrated classic says: ‘The method of soaking and roasting is not as good as slightly steaming it,'” “Yan Yi says: ‘Sang Piao Xiao, the ones that are self-collected are genuine’.”
《Universal Relief Prescriptions》: “Sang Piao Xiao must be collected from mulberry trees in the twelfth lunar month for the best quality.”
《Essential Compendium of Materia Medica》: “Mostly found in small woody brambles, the ones from mulberry trees also obtain the essence of mulberry bark, so they are considered good.”
《Essentials of Materia Medica》: “Mantis egg, the ones produced on mulberry trees are the best.”
《Discernment of Good and Bad》: “The yellowish-brown, boat-shaped, loose and sparse ones are the best.”
《Discernment of Good and Bad》: “The light brown, large insects with fresh air are the best; the ones with broken insects are useless.”
The best ones are dry, yellow, without mud, light in texture, without branches and insect damage. The inferior ones are black, have broken pieces, or have already hatched small larvae.

【Section】

Invertebrates