Mantis egg case (Sangpiaoxiao)
Pharmaceutical Name: Ootheca Mantidis
Zoological Name: 1. Tenodera sinensis Saussure; 2. Statilia maculata (Thunb.); 3. Hierodula patellifera (Serville)
Common Name: Mantis egg case
Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing
Part Use & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The egg case is collected in late autumn or spring, and then boiled or steamed and dried in the sun.
Properties & Taste: Sweet, salty and neutral
Meridians: Liver and kidney.
Functions: 1. To tonify the kidneys and strengthen yang; 2. To control essence and decrease urination
Indications & Combinations: Deficient yang of the kidneys manifested as seminal emissions, nocturnal enuresis or leukorrhea. Mantis egg case (Sangpiaoxiao) is used with Dragon’s bone (Longgu), Oyster shell (Muli), Dadder seed (Tusizi) and Psoralea
fruit (Buguzhi).
Dosage: 3-10 g
Cautions & Contraindications: This substance is contraindicated in cases with deficient yin with excessive fire, or heat in the urinary bladder with frequent urine.