The source is from the honeycomb of Polistes otivaceous Degeer, Polistes japonicus Saussure or Parapolybia varia Fabricius, family Vespidae. The medicinal material is produced all over China, and the yield of it in the South is much larger. The honeycomb can be collected at any time; dried in the sun, or steamed briefly, dead pupae and wades being removed, it is cut into small pieces. The crude or stir-baked one is used.

Sweet in flavor, mild in nature, toxic and attributive to the stomach meridian.

Remove toxin, destroy parasites and dispel wind.

1. It can be used for carbuncle, scrofula, psoriasis, acne, neurodermatitis, toothache and tinea. In treating acute mastiffs at the early stage, it can be alone baked till it turns brown and ground into powder for oral use. In treating ulcerate carbuncle, the decoction is used to wash the local area. In treating scrofula with pus, it is made together with Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae) and Huangqi (Radix Astragali) into soft extract for external application, such as Fengfang Gao (Soft extract). In treating toothache due to wind and parasites, its decoction can be used to rinse the mouth. In treating head tinea, it can be used externally together with Wugong (Scolopendra) and Mingfan (Alumen).

2. For itching caused by urticaria, it is used together with Chantui (Periostracum Cicadae).

In addition, it is often used in combination with Quanxie ( Scorpio ), Baijiangcan ( Bombyx Batryticatus), and Shancigu (Bulbus Talipae) to treat various cancers.

For external application, its powder or decoction can be applied to or used to wash the local area. For oral administration, 3 -5 g is used in decoction, or 1.5 -3 g in powder.

It is not suitable for those with deficiency of qi and blood.