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What are the medicinal effects and functions of cicadas?

Jul 11, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Cicadae are cold in nature and can dispel external wind-heat pathogens, alleviating symptoms such as fever, headache, and slight aversion to wind caused by wind-heat感冒. They promote the expulsion of wind-heat pathogens from the body through sweating, thereby relieving physical discomfort. For sore throat and hoarseness resulting from wind-heat invading the throat, cicadae can clear and benefit the throat, reduce local inflammation, aid in restoring normal throat function, and improve voice conditions.

Cicadas, also known as蝉 (chán), generally have medicinal properties and functions including dispersing wind-heat, benefiting the throat and improving voice, promoting eruption of rashes, improving vision and removing corneal opacity, calming liver wind and relieving convulsions. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Dispersing Wind-Heat: Cicadas are cold in nature and can dispel external wind-heat pathogens, alleviating symptoms such as fever, headache, and slight aversion to wind caused by wind-heat感冒 (common cold). They help expel wind-heat pathogens through sweat, thereby relieving physical discomfort.

2. Benefiting the Throat and Improving Voice: Cicadas can clear and benefit the throat when wind-heat attacks the throat, causing sore throat and hoarseness. They help reduce local inflammation, restore normal throat function, and improve voice quality.

3. Promoting Eruption of Rashes: Cicadas can promote the eruption of rashes and are suitable for cases of initial measles or poor eruption of rashes. By unblocking the skin surface, they help rashes erupt smoothly and prevent rashes from stagnating in the body and causing other discomforts.

4. Improving Vision and Removing Corneal Opacity: Cicadas can clear liver fire and improve vision. They help alleviate symptoms such as red, swollen, and painful eyes, dry eyes, blurred vision, and corneal opacity caused by upward inflammation of liver fire, thereby relieving eye discomfort.

5. Calming Liver Wind and Relieving Convulsions: Cicadas can subdue liver wind and relieve convulsions. They can be used to treat symptoms such as infantile convulsion, seizures, and night crying caused by internal movement of liver wind, alleviating limb convulsions and calming the mind.

Cicadas must be processed before use. Follow medical advice when using them, and determine the dosage and method according to the specific condition. Use cautiously in individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency cold. If discomfort occurs after taking the medicine, promptly consult a healthcare professional to adjust the treatment plan.

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