神农本草经禽（中品）

Shennong Bencao Jing: Birds (Medium Grade)

Overall Paraphrase

Yan Shi (Swallow's Droppings)
Acrid in flavor, neutral in nature. The ancients believed that it chiefly treats Gu-du (in ancient times, this referred to disease pathogens caused by poisonous insects, sorcery, etc.), Gui-zhu (a term used by the ancients to describe certain protracted, contagious, or mentally abnormal conditions), and can expel inauspicious evil influences, break through Wu-long (five types of difficulty or blockage in urination), and promote the free flow of urine 🌊. Its native habitat is in plains and valleys.
Supplementary note: Famous physicians believed that swallow's droppings grow on high mountains. Ancient dictionaries and monthly ordinance texts further explain: the swallow is the dark bird, whose name is related to its pictographic form and its cry; in the Qi and Lu regions, the swallow is called "Yi," arriving in spring and departing in autumn.

Tian Shu Shi (Bat's Droppings)
Acrid in flavor, cold in nature. Chiefly treats facial abscesses and swelling (infectious skin swellings), and an "xixi" discomfort of the skin—like cold water splashing on the body and causing intermittent pain; used for conditions of blood and qi in the intestines, able to break up cold-heat accumulations (abdominal masses or congealed gatherings of qi and blood), and to eliminate palpitations due to fright (an unsettled, throbbing sensation in the heart after being frightened). Also known as Shu Jia (Rat's Food) or Shi Gan (Stone Liver). Grows in mountain valleys.
Supplementary note: Famous physicians believed it is produced in Hepu, and harvested from the tenth to the twelfth month of the lunar calendar. Li Dang-zhi said that Tian Shu Shi (heaven-rat droppings) are in fact the feces of the bat (fuyi), which in local dialect is also called Xian Shu (immortal rat); he also corrected the error in the current edition of the Fangyan where "old rat" should read "tian rat."

🧠 Deep Understanding

Core Principles 💡

Both of these bird-related medicinals derive from animal excrement, yet both are dominated by "acrid" flavor. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that acrid substances disperse and move, and thus the ancients used them to "expel evil," "break accumulations," and "move qi and blood." Among them, swallow's droppings are neutral in nature, leaning toward unblocking water passages and dispelling conditions thought to be associated with evil influences; bat's droppings are cold in nature, leaning toward clearing facial abscesses and swelling, breaking cold-heat accumulations, and calming palpitations.

Such records reflect the relatively primitive "correspondence between medicinals and patterns" thinking of the Shennong Bencao Jing era: the ancients observed certain phenomena or experiences and then explained the effects of drugs using the logic of "correcting deviation with deviation." Among these, expressions such as "Gu-du," "Gui-zhu," and "inauspicious evil influences" clearly reveal traces of early shamanic medicine and apotropaic concepts; while "promoting urination" and "breaking accumulations" reflect a rudimentary understanding of the body's water metabolism and the congealing of qi and blood.

Modern Understanding 🌟

Swallow's droppings are essentially no longer used as a medicinal substance in modern times, lacking reliable safety and efficacy evidence. What the ancients called "Gu-du" and "Gui-zhu," from today's perspective, may correspond to vague descriptions of certain infectious diseases, mental-emotional disorders, or chronic contagious illnesses, and cannot be directly applied.

Tian Shu Shi, traditionally known as Ye Ming Sha (bat guano), occasionally appears in ancient herbal literature, but modern use demands extreme caution. Bat feces may carry pathogens and parasites, and collecting or using them on one's own carries significant hygienic risk. Both substances are animal excretions used as medicine; from the perspective of modern drug sourcing and sanitary standards, they are not suitable as daily health maintenance or therapeutic options. The above content is solely a study of ancient herbal principles and does not constitute medication guidance.

Health Insights ⚡

• Keeping the living environment dry, well-ventilated, and clean, and reducing contact with wild animals and their excrement, is a reasonable approach to disease prevention 🌿.
• Emotions should be kept stable; avoid prolonged fear, fright, or mental tension, as emotional dysregulation can affect the movement of qi and blood.
• Regular diet and smooth urination and defecation are the foundations of health. If one experiences difficulty urinating, facial swellings, abdominal masses, or palpitations, one should seek medical examination promptly and not self-medicate with animal feces to "break accumulations" or "promote water flow."
• Expressions such as "Gui-zhu" and "Gu-du" in ancient texts should be viewed rationally: they represent the ancients' way of explaining disease and should not serve as modern diagnostic or therapeutic bases.

📚 Related Knowledge

• Related Concepts: Wu-long (five kinds of urinary impediment), Gu-du/Gui-zhu, accumulations, palpitations due to fright, correcting deviation with deviation, Ye Ming Sha (traditional alias for tian shu shi).
• Further Reading: Other medium-grade medicinals in the Shennong Bencao Jing; records regarding swallows and bats in the bird and animal sections of the Bencao Gangmu; the discussion in Huangdi Neijing · Suwen · Linglan Midian Lun on the "San Jiao" and "Bladder" as officials in charge of water passages; and the discussion on emotional disorders in Lingshu · Benshen.

Bu Gua's reminder: This content is based on classical Chinese medicine texts and is provided solely for the study and reading of traditional culture. It does not constitute any medical diagnosis, medication, or therapeutic advice; if you feel unwell, please seek medical attention promptly.