神农本草经禽（中品）

Shennong's Classic of the Materia Medica — Birds (Middle Grade)

Overall Paraphrase

Swallow Droppings (Yan Shi)
Acrid in taste, neutral in nature. The ancients believed it could treat gu-du (poisonous curses) (referring in ancient times to pathogenic evils caused by poisonous insects, sorcery, etc.), gui-zhu (ghost afflictions) (a term used by ancients to describe certain chronic, contagious, or mentally abnormal conditions), expel inauspicious evil qi, break through wu-long (five types of urinary obstruction) (five kinds of difficult or blocked urination), and promote diuresis 🌊. Its original habitat was in plains and valley lowlands.
Supplementary note: Famous physicians stated that swallow droppings are found on high mountains. Ancient dictionaries and monthly-ordinance texts further explain: the swallow is the "dark bird" (xuan niao), its name being related to its pictographic form and call; in the Qi and Lu regions, the swallow was called "Yi," arriving in spring and departing in autumn.

Bat Droppings (Tian Shu Shi)
Acrid in taste, cold in nature. It treats facial yong-zhong (infected swellings of the skin), cutaneous "xi-xi" discomfort — a sensation like cold water being splashed on the body with intermittent pain; used for blood-qi disorders in the intestines, able to break up cold-heat accumulations (abdominal masses or conglomerations of qi and blood), and to calm fright palpitations (restless pounding of the heart after being startled). Also known as Shu Jia and Shi Gan. Grows in mountain valleys.
Supplementary note: Famous physicians state it is produced in Hepu, harvested from the tenth to twelfth lunar months. Li Dangzhi stated that bat droppings are the excrement of the bat (fu yi), referred to in dialect as "immortal mouse"; he also corrected the error in the current edition of the Fangyan (Dialects), where "old mouse" should read "heavenly mouse."

🧠 Deep Understanding

Core Principles 💡

Both of these bird-related medicinals derive from animal excrement, yet both are primarily "acrid" in taste. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that acrid substances can disperse and promote movement, so the ancients used them to "expel pathogens," "break accumulations," and "move qi and blood." Among them, swallow droppings are neutral in nature, leaning toward promoting the flow of water passages and expelling disorders believed to be associated with pathogenic influences; bat droppings are cold in nature, leaning toward clearing and dispersing facial swellings, breaking up cold-heat accumulations, and calming fright palpitations.

Such records reflect the relatively primitive "medication-syndrome correspondence" thinking of the Shennong's Classic of the Materia Medica era: the ancients observed certain phenomena or experiences, then explained drug effects through the approach of "correcting imbalance with opposing properties." Expressions such as "gu-du," "gui-zhu," and "inauspicious evil qi" clearly bear traces of early shamanistic medicine and apotropaic concepts; while "promoting diuresis" and "breaking accumulations" reflect early, simple understanding of bodily fluid metabolism and the congealing of qi and blood.

Modern Understanding 🌟

Swallow droppings are essentially no longer used as medicinal material in modern times, lacking reliable evidence of safety and efficacy. What the ancients called "gu-du" and "gui-zhu" may, from today's perspective, correspond to vague descriptions of certain infectious diseases, mental-emotional disorders, or chronic contagious conditions — they cannot be directly adopted.

Bat droppings are what is traditionally known as Ye Ming Sha (night-shining sand) , occasionally used in ancient herbal texts, but modern usage demands extreme caution. Bat feces may carry pathogens and parasites, and self-collection or use poses significant hygiene risks. Both substances are animal excrements used as medicine; from the perspective of modern drug sourcing and sanitary standards, they are not suitable choices for daily health preservation or treatment. The above content is provided solely for the study of classical herbal theory and is not intended as medical guidance.

Health Preservation Insights ⚡

• Keeping one's living environment dry, well-ventilated, and clean, while minimizing contact with wild animals and their excrement, is a sound disease-prevention approach 🌿.
• Emotional stability is advisable; avoid prolonged fear, fright, or mental tension, as emotional dysregulation can impair the movement of qi and blood.
• Regular eating habits and maintaining normal urination and bowel movements are foundational to health. If one experiences difficulty urinating, facial swelling, abdominal masses, or restless palpitations, seek medical attention promptly rather than self-administering animal excrement to "break accumulations" or "promote diuresis."
• Expressions in ancient texts such as "gui-zhu" and "gu-du" should be viewed rationally: they represent the ancients' way of explaining disease and should not serve as a basis for modern diagnosis and treatment.

📚 Related Knowledge

• Associated Concepts: Wu-long, gu-du/gui-zhu, accumulations, fright palpitations, correcting imbalance with opposing properties, Ye Ming Sha (traditional alternate name for bat droppings).
• Further Reading: Other middle-grade medicinals in the Shennong's Classic of the Materia Medica; entries on swallows and bats in the bird and animal sections of the Compendium of Materia Medica; the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic: Basic Questions, Chapter on the Secrets of the Spirit Orchid discourse on the Triple Burner and bladder as "officials of irrigation"; and the Spiritual Pivot, Chapter on the Original Spirit discussion of emotional disorders.

Bugu's reminder: This content is based on classical Chinese medical texts and is provided solely for traditional cultural study and research. It does not constitute any medical diagnosis, medication, or treatment advice; please consult a physician promptly if you feel unwell.