Chan Tui: The TCM Herb for Relieving Wind-Heat and Itchiness
- Hongji Medical
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Chan Tui, also known as cicada slough, is the dried exoskeleton of the Cryptotympana pustulata cicada nymph after it molts. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is valued for its ability to disperse wind-heat, promote rash eruption, and relieve itching. It is commonly used for conditions like colds, measles, and itchy skin.
Chan Tui was first recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica) as a lower-grade herb, noted for treating childhood seizures, night crying, and fever.
The Mingyi Bielu added its benefits for postpartum issues and childhood hernia. Li Shizhen’s Compendium of Materia Medica described its collection process—harvested from soil or tree trunks during molting—and emphasized its role in clearing wind-heat, resolving rashes, and soothing eye and skin conditions. The Yaoxing Fu succinctly praised its ability to clear wind-heat and improve vision, cementing its importance in TCM.
Properties of Chan Tui
Nature and Channels
Taste: Sweet
Nature: Cold
Channels: Lung, Liver
Main Benefits
Disperses wind-heat
Promotes rash eruption and relieves itching
Improves vision and clears eye conditions
Calms spasms and seizures
Dosage
Internal use: 3–6 grams, boiled in decoctions.
Growing Regions and Harvest
Found across China, with high yields in Shandong, Henan, and Hebei. Collected in summer or autumn, cleaned of dirt, and dried.
Identification
Shape: Oval, slightly curved, about 3–4.5 cm long, 2 cm wide.
Color: Pale yellow, translucent, glossy.
Features: Head with thread-like antennae and polygonal compound eyes; thorax with three longitudinal ridges; abdomen with nine distinct segments.
Texture: Light, brittle.
Scent and Taste: Mild scent, bland taste.
Preparation
Raw: Stronger for dispersing wind and relieving itching.
Slightly roasted: Milder to reduce cold nature.
Clinical Uses of Chan Tui
Chan Tui is used in TCM to treat various conditions:
Wind-Heat Colds: Relieves fever, aversion to wind, headache, stuffy nose, sore throat, cough with yellow phlegm, and thirst.
Incomplete Measles Eruption: Helps rashes surface fully when they appear faint or delayed.
Itchy Rashes: Eases red, itchy skin spots with fever or wind symptoms.
Skin Itching: Soothes unexplained, persistent, or intermittent itching, often with redness or bumps after scratching.
Sore Throat: Reduces throat swelling, pain, or hoarseness caused by wind-heat or toxins.
Red, Cloudy Eyes: Treats red, painful, teary eyes or corneal opacity from wind-heat or liver fire.
Infant Night Crying: Calms unexplained nighttime crying in babies.
Tetanus: Relieves spasms and convulsions associated with tetanus.
Specific Benefits
Dispersing Wind-Heat: Its cold, sweet nature clears wind-heat, reducing fever and cold symptoms.
Promoting Rash Eruption and Relieving Itching: Helps rashes emerge and soothes itchy skin.
Improving Vision: Clears heat to relieve eye redness and cloudiness.
Calming Spasms: Reduces convulsions and seizures, including in tetanus or childhood conditions.
Chan Tui in TCM Formulas
Chan Tui is often combined with other herbs in TCM formulas to enhance its effects. Here are some examples:
Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder): Combines Chan Tui with Honeysuckle, Forsythia, Platycodon, Mint, Bamboo Leaf, Licorice, Schizonepeta, Soybean, Arctium, and Phragmites to clear wind-heat and detoxify, used for wind-heat colds.
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang (Ephedra, Apricot, Gypsum, and Licorice Decoction): Includes Chan Tui with Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Gypsum, and Licorice to clear lung heat and relieve cough or asthma.
Xiao Feng San (Clear Wind Powder): Pairs Chan Tui with herbs to dispel wind, clear heat, and stop itching, used for skin conditions.
Bao Long Wan (Embrace Dragon Pill): Combines Chan Tui with herbs to calm seizures, clear phlegm, and open orifices, used for childhood convulsions.
Comparison with Similar Herbs
Chan Tui shares effects with other TCM herbs but has unique strengths:
Mint (Bo He): Stronger at dispersing wind-heat and clearing head and eye symptoms but weaker at promoting rash eruption and relieving itching.
Arctium (Niu Bang Zi): Excels at clearing lung heat, promoting rash eruption, and soothing the throat but is less effective for itching.
Schizonepeta (Jing Jie): Disperses wind and promotes rash eruption but is milder, better for wind-cold colds, and less effective for itching compared to Chan Tui.
Chan Tui stands out for its balanced ability to clear wind-heat, promote rashes, and relieve itching.
Modern Applications and Research
Modern research highlights Chan Tui’s benefits:
Anti-Inflammatory: Its extracts, containing chitin and amino acids, reduce inflammation and tissue damage.
Sedative: It promotes calmness and improves sleep.
Anti-Allergic: It suppresses allergic reactions, relieving skin itching.
Immune Support: It enhances immune function.
Anti-Spasmodic: It reduces muscle spasms.
Clinically, Chan Tui is used for urticaria, eczema, skin itching, childhood night crying, seizures, and neurological conditions, with promising results.
How to Use Chan Tui Safely
Precautions
Weak Constitution: Use cautiously, as its cold nature may weaken vitality in frail or elderly individuals.
Pregnancy: Avoid use due to insufficient safety research.
G6PD Deficiency (Favism): Prohibited, as it may trigger hemolytic reactions.
Usage Tips
Raw Chan Tui is stronger for wind-heat and itching; slightly roasted is gentler. Consult a TCM practitioner for proper dosage and suitability.
Conclusion
Chan Tui is a versatile TCM herb known for dispersing wind-heat, promoting rash eruption, relieving itching, and calming spasms. It effectively treats wind-heat colds, measles, skin conditions, and neurological issues, with modern research supporting its anti-inflammatory, sedative, and immune-boosting effects. To ensure safe and effective use, consult a TCM practitioner, especially for those with weak constitutions or specific medical conditions.
