Hongniangzi is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It consists of the entire bodies of the following insects from the genus Huechys in the family Cicadidae: the black-winged cicada (Huechys sanguinea De Greer), the short-winged cicada (H. thoracica Distant), and the brown-winged cicada (H. philaemata Fabricius). It is effective in breaking up blood stasis, dispersing nodules, and eliminating toxins.It is primarily used to treat amenorrhea due to blood stasis, low back pain, infertility, scrofula, tinea, and rabies bites.
Red Ladybug
Hongniangzi is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It consists of the entire bodies of the following insects from the genus Huechys in the family Cicadidae: the black-winged cicada (Huechys sanguinea De Greer), the short-winged cicada (H. thoracica Distant), and the brown-winged cicada (H. philaemata Fabricius). It is effective in breaking up blood stasis, dispersing nodules, and eliminating toxins.It is primarily used to treat amenorrhea due to blood stasis, low back pain, infertility, scrofula, tinea, and rabies bites.
Chinese Name : 红娘子
Aliases : Red Ladybug, Little Aunt Bug, Red Girl, Red Maiden, Red Cicada
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Taste: bitter, pungent; Nature: neutral
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Dispels blood stasis, disperses nodules, and counteracts toxins.
Indications
Amenorrhea due to blood stasis, low back pain, infertility, scrofula, tinea, and rabies bites.
Usage and Dosage
1. Internal use: Grind into powder and incorporate into pills or powders; 1–3 g. 2. External use: Grind into powder and apply as a poultice.
Chemical Constituents
Red Lady contains cantharidin, as well as wax, fatty oil, and two types of pigments: red and black. The Chinese Mantis contains acidic mucopolysaccharides, mucoproteins, and lipoproteins.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Compendium of Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine* (1960 edition): “Promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis; dissipates scrofula and disperses nodules. Treats scrofula and tuberculosis; promotes urination and relieves dysuria; treats rabies bites.”
2. *Compendium of Shanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine*: “Breaks up blood stasis and expels toxins. Used externally to treat sores and tinea.”
Applications
Related Compatibility
1. For lower back pain: Grind one Red Lady chicken into powder and take it with rice wine. (*Ken Island Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine*)
2. For infertility: 2.5 g of Red Lady chicken, 6 g each of Chinese soft-shelled turtle, whole centipede, and scorpion.Wrap in paper, carry on the body, and let it dry naturally (never dry over a fire); grind into a fine powder, divide into 30 packets, and take one packet each morning and evening with boiling water. This formula is suitable for both men and women; it is generally most appropriate for those with a deficiency-cold constitution. For those with a excess-heat constitution, the powder may be taken with a decoction of raw Rehmannia root. (*Medicinal Herbs of Wanxian*)
3. For treating tooth decay: Red Lady, calcined alum, whole scorpion, and quicklime, each in equal parts. First, place the medicated paste in a bowl and simmer over heat; as soon as it begins to simmer slightly, add the quicklime, then add the powdered herbs to form pills, allowing them to dry slightly. Wrap the pills in cotton and apply them to the affected area. (*Wei Family’s Treasure Trove of Prescriptions*)
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Collect from July to October; sun-dry or oven-dry.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
Raw Hongniangzi refers to the dried body of the insect with the head, legs, and wings removed. It resembles a cicada but is smaller. The dorsal plate of the pronotum is narrow at the front and wide at the rear, and the mesothoracic dorsal plate is black. There are two large vermilion-red patches on either side, and traces of the elytra are visible.Males have stridulatory organs on both sides of the metathoracic ventral plate. The abdomen is blood-red with a black base. Females have a blackish-brown ovipositor. The body is light and brittle, with a distinctive odor. Roasted Red Lady resembles the raw form but has a deeper color, appearing yellow or burnt yellow, with a faint burnt odor.
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
1. Black-winged Red Lady: Larger in size, with a body length of 15–25 mm and a width of 5–7 mm. The head is black; the compound eyes are brown, protruding, and hemispherical; there are three simple eyes, which are pale red and entirely covered with long black hairs at the base.The thorax is black, with two large vermilion patches on either side of the mesothorax; the forewings are black with blackish-brown veins; the hindwings are pale brown and translucent with blackish-brown veins; the abdomen is vermilion. 2. Short-winged Red Lady: This species resembles the Black-winged Red Lady.It is characterized by a convex protrusion in the center of the pronotum, with vermilion markings in the center and on both sides of the mesothorax. The forewings are dark brown and opaque, while the hindwings are slightly paler with dark gray-brown veins. Adults first appear as early as the first week of March. 3. Brown-winged Ladybug: Its shape and habits are identical to those of the Black-winged Ladybug, but it is distinguished by brown forewings and pale brown, translucent hindwings.
Distribution Area
1. Black-winged Ladybug: Found throughout southern China. 2. Short-winged Ladybug: Found in southern Yunnan. 3. Brown-winged Ladybug: Found in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, and Taiwan.
