Zoological substancesAstringentOotheca Mantidis

Sang Piao Xiao (Mantis Egg-case)

Q: What is Sang Piao Xiao? Are Hai Piao Xiao, Tuan Piao Xiao and Chao Sang Piao Xiao the same?

Official Sang Piao Xiao (桑螵蛸) is the dried ootheca of Tenodera sinensis, Statilia maculata or Hierodula patellifera . The pharmacopoeial name is Mantidis Ootheca , habitually called Tuan, Chang or Hei Piao Xiao by shape. Hai Piao Xiao is cuttlebone: salty-astringent-warm, astringes to stop bleeding, checks acid and stops pain—similar sound, wholly different source and action. Chao or Yan Sang Piao Xiao is stir-fried or salt-fried to warm astringency and enter the Kidney. It must be steamed through to kill the eggs, then dried and snipped at use . Write Sang Piao Xiao; do not confuse it with Hai Piao Xiao. It fears Inula.

Q: What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Sang Piao Xiao?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Sang Piao Xiao is sweet, salty and neutral , enters the Liver and Kidney channels, and acts to secure essence and reduce urination, and supplement the Kidney to assist Yang . It is used for seminal emission and slippage, enuresis and urinary frequency, and cloudy white urine. Sweet-salty-neutral, both supplementing and astringing—suited to insecure Kidney vacuity, not to Yin-deficiency fire or Bladder damp-heat with painful red urine.

Q: How do you choose raw versus fried or salt-processed? Should it be snipped?

The pharmacopoeia first steams it through and dries it ; snip it into the decoction at use. Frying lessens fishiness and strengthens astringency; salt-frying guides it into the Kidney. Enuresis and slippage more often use the salt-fried or roasted piece. Do not use an unsteamed ootheca raw. Do not write it with Hai Piao Xiao.

Q: What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as an enuresis tea?

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 5–10 g ; powder 3–5 g. It is not a children’s “stop-wetting tea.” Damp-heat strangury and Yin-deficiency fire only grow more painful when astringed. Kidney-vacuity enuresis needs a practitioner to name steamed or fried and a short course; do not use unsteamed raw material.

Q: What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?

Use caution in Yin-deficiency fire or Bladder damp-heat. Mistaken use in vacuity fire can cause penile pain and persistent erection with loss of essence. It fears Inula. Classical texts record a small powder dose for pregnancy urinary frequency from Kidney vacuity—only under pattern differentiation; damp-heat strangury must not be astringed. Do not use in insect-product allergy. Stop if burning painful urination appears.

Q: How do you choose and store Sang Piao Xiao?

Choose intact oothecae, light and tough, yellow-brown to gray-brown, steamed so no live eggs remain, faintly fishy and bland . Tuan, Chang or Hei forms are all acceptable if complete and dry. Moldy, wormy, unsteamed with live eggs, and putrid lots are discarded. Store airy and dry against moths. Buy pharmacopoeial Sang Piao Xiao; do not replace it with an equal weight of Hai Piao Xiao or unsteamed raw material.

A practical guide to Sang Piao Xiao: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.

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Last reviewed Oct 13, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Ootheca Mantidis
Chinese Name & Pinyin	桑螵蛸 · Sang Piao Xiao
Medicinal Part	Zoological substances
The herb	Sang Piao Xiao is the dried mantis egg-case. Sang Ji Sheng is a different official drug. Use legal prepared pieces. Do not collect nests yourself.
Nature and channels	Sweet, salty, neutral. Enters the Liver and Kidney. Sweetness tonifies. Saltiness enters the Kidney. Astringency secures essence and reduces urine.
Pharmacopoeia line	Secures essence and reduces urination. Tonifies the Kidney and assists yang. Used for seminal emission and slip, enuresis and frequent urination, and cloudy urine.
Pattern cues	Emissions. Bed-wetting or frequent urine. Cloudy urine. Sore low back. Weak pulse.
In this article	Sang Piao Xiao versus Qian Shi, Jin Ying Zi, and Yi Zhi Ren. Deficiency-cold slippage versus damp-heat strangury. Why yin-deficiency fire should not be astringed. Who should skip it.

What Is Sang Piao Xiao?

Sang Piao Xiao (桑螵蛸; Sāng Piāo Xiāo; Latin: Mantidis Ootheca; English: mantis egg-case) is the dried ootheca of Tenodera sinensis Saussure, or of Statilia maculata or Hierodula patellifera. In Chinese medicine it is an astringent herb. It is sweet, salty, and neutral, enters the Liver and Kidney channels, and its core actions are to secure essence and reduce urination, and to tonify the Kidney and assist yang. Grades include lump-shaped, long, and dark oothecae. It is not Sang Ji Sheng. That is a plant stem that tonifies Liver and Kidney and dispels wind-damp. Sang Piao Xiao is an egg-case used to secure essence and reduce urine. It is not a mantis nest picked from the garden. Use qualified pieces.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Seminal emission and slip — the Kidney gate will not hold
Enuresis and frequent urination — in children or adults
Cloudy urine — Kidney deficiency with turbidity; first rule out damp-heat strangury

It is usually used raw or lightly dry-fried. The usual decoction dose is 5–10 g. Yin-deficiency fire, damp-heat pouring down, and hesitant painful urine are contraindications. Sweet, salty, and astringent. Bind too early while the pathogen is still pouring, and the pathogen is trapped. It is not a daily “urine-holding nest.”

When the Kidney fails to secure, emissions, frequent urine, and cloudy urine are common. Sang Piao Xiao is sweet and salty and enters Liver and Kidney. It tonifies and binds, which is why it appears in Sang Piao Xiao San. It astringes more than it drains. Dark burning urine and a red tongue with greasy coating get worse if more binding is added.

Sang Piao Xiao is not a catch-all for emissions or frequent urine. In damp-heat painful strangury or yin-deficiency fire, using it alone can shut the door on the pathogen. Whether it belongs in a Sang Piao Xiao San–type formula should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Sang Piao Xiao: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Ootheca Mantidis

Botanical Origin

The dried egg and case of Tenodera sinensis Saussure, Statilia maculate (Thunberg) or Hierodula patellifera (Serville).(Mantidae). Also called ‘tuan piao xiao’, ‘chang piao xiao’, and ‘hei piao xiao’. Harvest from the late autumn to the following spring, removed foreign matter, boil to kill insect egg, and then dry.

Production Regions

Produced in most areas of China.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is intact, yellow, light and pliable texture, and the eggs have not hatched.

Macroscopic Features

Tuan piao xiao: Slightly cylindrical or half-spherical, formed from many layers of membranous thin flakes,2.5~4cm long. Wide 2~3cm. Externally pale yellowish-brown, upper side has indistinct belt-like bulge, bottom side is flat or has a slightly indented groove. Light, loose and pliable texture, sponge-like outer layer can be seen on the fractured surface, inner layer has many small chambers in a radial arrangement, each chamber has one tiny oval-shaped egg, deep brown and lustrous. Slightly fishy odor, tasteless or slightly salty taste. Chang piao xiao: Long strip-like, one end is relatively thin, 2.5~5cm long, 1~1.5cm wide. Externally grayish-yellow, upper side has obvious strip-like bulge, with one dark brown shallow groove and slope line on each side. Hard and brittle texture. Hei piao xiao: Slightly parallel quadrilateral, 2~4cm long, 1.5~2cm wide. Externally grayish-brown, upper side has obvious bulge, both sides has slope line, near-the-tail end is slightly up-raised. Hard and pliable texture.

Origin and Quality Identification

Traditionally, herbs from Hebei, Shandong, and Henan provinces are highly regarded.

Appearance: A high-quality piece is cylindrical or oval, about 2 to 4 centimeters long, and yellowish-brown. It feels light, crisp, and has a spongy, elastic interior.
Aroma: It has a mild, slightly "beany" or fishy scent.
Processed vs. Fake: The salt-baked version is slightly darker and saltier. Be careful to distinguish it from egg cases found on non-mulberry plants, which tend to have a rougher texture, harder shell, and a much weaker scent.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Sweet, Salty; NeutralLiverKidney

1. Historical Records

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: Noted its use for internal weaknesses, urinary discomfort, and supporting fertility and vitality.
Ming Yi Bie Lu: Highlighted its ability to treat male exhaustion, low energy, and bedwetting or frequent urination.
Ben Cao Gang Mu: Summarized its role in clearing the Liver meridian, treating profound weakness, and addressing postpartum issues.
Zhong Hua Ben Cao: Clearly defined its modern TCM core function: "Tonifying the kidneys, assisting Yang, and securing urine." (It is a specialized herb, not a cure-all).

2. Evolution of TCM Understanding

Throughout history, practitioners have valued this herb for slightly different reasons depending on the patient's needs:

Tonifying vs. Securing: Some focus on its ability to boost Kidney Yang (helping with low energy and nocturnal emissions), while others rely heavily on its astringent nature to physically "hold in" fluids (like treating a weak bladder).
Important Boundaries: Medical texts warn that people with "Yin Deficiency with Fire" (those who run hot, have dark/scanty urine, or active bladder heat) should not use it. Because it is a "securing" herb, using it when there is excess heat can trap the heat inside the body and make symptoms worse.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Supplements kidney, secures essence, reduces urine, stops turbidity. Apply to emissions, enuresis and frequent urination, turbid urination.

1. Primary Focus: Securing Essence and Stopping Emissions

In TCM, Sang Piao Xiao (Mantis Egg Case) is highly valued for tonifying the kidneys and "securing essence."

Target Symptoms: It is primarily used for uncontrolled seminal emissions caused by weak Kidney Qi. This is often accompanied by fatigue, a weak or sore lower back and knees, and clear, frequent urine.
Common Pairings: It is frequently combined with astringent herbs like Long Gu (Fossilized Bone) and Mu Li (Oyster Shell) to enhance its securing effects. If Kidney Yang is also weak, it can be paired with warming herbs like Tu Si Zi (Dodder Seed) and Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berry).
When to Avoid: Do not use if you have "Yin Deficiency with Fire" (characterized by night sweats, hot flashes, dry mouth, and dark urine), as this herb can trap the heat and worsen symptoms.

2. Secondary Focus: Reducing Urination and Stopping Bedwetting

Its secondary core function is to tonify the kidneys to regulate bladder control.

Target Symptoms: It effectively addresses frequent daytime urination or nocturnal bedwetting (enuresis) caused by weak Kidney Qi. This is a common pattern in young children with undeveloped Kidney Qi, the elderly, or those recovering from chronic illness.
Common Pairings: For bladder control, it is often paired with Yi Zhi Ren (Sharpleaf Galangal Fruit) and Wu Yao (Lindera Root). If digestion (Spleen Qi) is also weak, Shan Yao (Chinese Yam) and Fu Ling (Poria Mushroom) are added.
When to Avoid: Strictly avoid using this herb if your frequent urination is caused by "Damp-Heat" in the bladder (symptoms include painful, burning, or urgent urination).

3. Common Herb Pairings: The Synergistic Duo

Sang Piao Xiao and Long Gu (Fossilized Bone) form a classic TCM pairing.

Synergy: Sang Piao Xiao focuses on tonifying and securing the kidneys, while Long Gu helps astringe Heart Qi and calm the mind. Together, they are highly effective for seminal emissions accompanied by palpitations, insomnia, and lower back weakness.
Caution: This combination requires professional diagnosis to adjust dosages properly and should not be mixed blindly at home.

Modern Research

Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.

1. Main Chemical Components

Modern chemical analysis shows that Sang Piao Xiao (Mantis Egg Case) contains proteins, amino acids, phospholipids, polysaccharides, and fatty acids. However, simply knowing an herb contains these compounds does not mean consuming the raw herb will perfectly deliver all their individual benefits.

2. Modern Pharmacological Focus

Scientific research is still exploring how this traditional medicine works on a cellular level:

Reproductive Health: Studies suggest its proteins and phospholipids may play a role in supporting the reproductive system.
Lab Observations: In vitro (test tube) studies have noted some antioxidant activities.
Animal Testing: Animal models have shown that water extracts of the herb might help regulate urination frequency.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

While modern science provides interesting clues, it is important to keep these limitations in mind:

Animals Aren't Humans: Regulating a mouse's bladder function in a lab does not automatically guarantee the same results in a human, especially since TCM relies on matching the herb to a specific body constitution.
Extracts vs. Whole Herbs: Lab researchers often use highly purified extracts or single compounds. These are vastly different in dose and function compared to a traditional home-brewed tea or decoction.
Holistic Synergy: In TCM, the healing power comes from the complex interaction of the whole herb (and often how it pairs with other herbs), rather than a single isolated chemical. No large-scale human clinical trials have yet confirmed the isolated effects of its individual compounds.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Shared Traits

Both herbs are "astringent" in nature, meaning they help stop "leakage" in the body (like emissions or unusual discharges). Both are used for conditions related to weakness and deficiency, and both require proper dosage to avoid side effects.

2. Core Differences

Feature	Sang Piao Xiao (Mantis Egg Case)	Hai Piao Xiao (Cuttlefish Bone)
Nature & Flavor	Neutral, sweet, and salty.	Warm, salty, and astringent.
Core Strength	Tonifies the kidneys, secures urine and essence.	Stops bleeding, neutralizes stomach acid.
Target Symptoms	Urinary frequency, bedwetting, seminal emissions.	Spitting blood, stomach pain, acid reflux, heavy bleeding.
TCM Action	Astringent with a nourishing (tonifying) effect.	Purely astringent (holds things in, doesn't nourish).
Contraindications	Avoid in Yin deficiency with heat, or bladder Damp-Heat.	Avoid in internal heat, or stomach heat (dry mouth, bad breath).
Classic Formula	Sang Piao Xiao San (Mantis Egg Case Powder)	Wu Zei Gu Wan (Cuttlefish Bone Pill)

3. A One-Sentence Summary

Sang Piao Xiao (Mantis Egg Case) tonifies the kidneys to fix urinary and reproductive leaks, while Hai Piao Xiao (Cuttlefish Bone) stops bleeding and neutralizes stomach acid; they cannot be used interchangeably.

Classical Formulas Containing Sang Piao Xiao

Sang Piao Xiao San

桑螵蛸散Sovereign

Formula CategoryAstringent FormulasPrimary PatternKidney Yang DeficiencyPrimary FunctionTonify Kidney, astringe Essence, stop leakageRelated ConditionsFrequent Nocturia·Insomnia

View Formula Profile Read Complete Guide

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

Synergy is Key: A formula is a balanced team. The healing power comes from how the herbs interact, so a single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effects.
Holistic Balance: The exact dosage and combination in a formula affect the entire body. Never try to mix or alter these formulas at home based on internet articles.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Herbal Teas and Porridge

Mantis Egg Case and Galangal Tea:
- Ingredients: 3g Sang Piao Xiao (Mantis Egg Case), 3g Yi Zhi Ren (Sharpleaf Galangal Fruit), 2g Fu Ling (Poria Mushroom).
- Method: Rinse herbs, steep in boiling water for 15 minutes. Can be refilled until flavorless.
- Best For: Frequent urination, waking up multiple times at night, and general fatigue due to weak Kidney Qi.
- Not For: Anyone with hot flashes, night sweats, or burning/painful urination. Use 2–3 times a week max.
Mantis Egg Case and Yam Porridge:
- Ingredients: 5g Sang Piao Xiao (ground into fine powder), 15g fresh yam (peeled and diced), 50g rice.
- Method: Boil the yam and rice in water until it becomes a soft porridge, mixing in the herb powder.
- Best For: Weak kidneys and digestion leading to bedwetting or poor appetite. Eat 1–2 times a week.

2. Processing Differences and Brewing

Raw vs. Salt-Baked: The raw form is better for securing reproductive essence, while the salt-baked version (Yan Zhi Sang Piao Xiao) is better for tonifying the kidneys to stop frequent urination.
Brewing Rule: It does not require special bagging or cooking times. Boil it with other herbs for about 20–30 minutes.

3. Dosage and Usage Cycle

Dosage: Clinical prescriptions range from 5–10g. For home tea or food, keep doses low (around 3–5g).
Cycle: Do not use continuously for more than 2 weeks. If symptoms persist, seek professional medical advice. Vulnerable groups must consult a doctor before use.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

Heat Constitutions: Anyone with "Yin Deficiency Fire" (night sweats, dry mouth, red tongue) or "Bladder Heat" (painful, urgent, dark urination) must avoid it.
Allergies: Do not use if you are allergic to insects or mantis products.
Vulnerable Groups: Pregnant or nursing women, children, the elderly, and those with liver or kidney impairment should only use it under strict medical supervision.

2. Drug Interactions and Dietary Notes

Medication Risks: Consult a doctor before combining this herb with blood thinners, blood pressure meds, diabetes drugs, or sedatives.
Herb Interactions: Mixing it with heavily warming herbs like Fu Zi (Aconite Root) or Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) can cause severe internal heat if not professionally prescribed. Do not mix herbs and dietary supplements blindly.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risks

Side Effects: Overuse or using it with the wrong body type can cause "Heat" symptoms like a dry mouth, sore throat, and constipation. Allergic reactions (rash, itching) are rare but possible.
When to Seek Help: If you experience shortness of breath, persistent vomiting, severe rash, or rapid worsening of symptoms, stop immediately and seek emergency medical care. Stick to recommended home doses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sang Piao Xiao

What is Sang Piao Xiao? Are Hai Piao Xiao, Tuan Piao Xiao and Chao Sang Piao Xiao the same?

Official Sang Piao Xiao (桑螵蛸) is the dried ootheca of Tenodera sinensis, Statilia maculata or Hierodula patellifera. The pharmacopoeial name is Mantidis Ootheca, habitually called Tuan, Chang or Hei Piao Xiao by shape. Hai Piao Xiao is cuttlebone: salty-astringent-warm, astringes to stop bleeding, checks acid and stops pain—similar sound, wholly different source and action. Chao or Yan Sang Piao Xiao is stir-fried or salt-fried to warm astringency and enter the Kidney. It must be steamed through to kill the eggs, then dried and snipped at use. Write Sang Piao Xiao; do not confuse it with Hai Piao Xiao. It fears Inula.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Sang Piao Xiao?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Sang Piao Xiao is sweet, salty and neutral, enters the Liver and Kidney channels, and acts to secure essence and reduce urination, and supplement the Kidney to assist Yang. It is used for seminal emission and slippage, enuresis and urinary frequency, and cloudy white urine. Sweet-salty-neutral, both supplementing and astringing—suited to insecure Kidney vacuity, not to Yin-deficiency fire or Bladder damp-heat with painful red urine.

How do you choose raw versus fried or salt-processed? Should it be snipped?

The pharmacopoeia first steams it through and dries it; snip it into the decoction at use. Frying lessens fishiness and strengthens astringency; salt-frying guides it into the Kidney. Enuresis and slippage more often use the salt-fried or roasted piece. Do not use an unsteamed ootheca raw. Do not write it with Hai Piao Xiao.

What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as an enuresis tea?

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 5–10 g; powder 3–5 g. It is not a children’s “stop-wetting tea.” Damp-heat strangury and Yin-deficiency fire only grow more painful when astringed. Kidney-vacuity enuresis needs a practitioner to name steamed or fried and a short course; do not use unsteamed raw material.

What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?

Use caution in Yin-deficiency fire or Bladder damp-heat. Mistaken use in vacuity fire can cause penile pain and persistent erection with loss of essence. It fears Inula. Classical texts record a small powder dose for pregnancy urinary frequency from Kidney vacuity—only under pattern differentiation; damp-heat strangury must not be astringed. Do not use in insect-product allergy. Stop if burning painful urination appears.

Can Sang Piao Xiao stop emission and enuresis and supplement Kidney Yang?

It can help insecure Kidney vacuity. Dual Heart-Kidney vacuity with frequent urine and emission joins dragon bone, Polygala, Acorus, Poria spirit, ginseng, Angelica and tortoise plastron in Sang Piao Xiao San. Pediatric enuresis may join Alpinia oxyphylla and Lindera. It secures essence and reduces urination while assisting Kidney Yang—not a specific for every bedwetting, every prostate complaint or every impotence. Acute urinary infection and hematuria are emergencies.

Can Sang Piao Xiao be taken daily as a virility or pediatric bedwetting tea?

Kidney-vacuity slippage may enter a short formula; Yin deficiency and damp-heat only suffer more when astringed. “Mantis egg case strengthens yang” does not replace urology and pediatrics. Securing essence and reducing urination should name steamed, snipped material and a 5–10 g dose, and distinguish it from Hai Piao Xiao.

How do you choose among Sang Piao Xiao, Hai Piao Xiao, Yi Zhi Ren, Jin Ying Zi and Fu Pen Zi?

Mantis ootheca is sweet-salty-neutral: secures essence, reduces urination and supplements Kidney to assist Yang—suited to Kidney-vacuity enuresis, frequency and cloudy urine. Cuttlebone is salty-astringent-warm: astringes to stop bleeding, checks acid and stops pain, and dries damp to restrain sores—for stomach pain with acid and bleeding, not a specialist to reduce urine. Alpinia oxyphylla is acrid-warm: warms the Kidney, secures essence, reduces urination, warms the Spleen, stops diarrhea and contains saliva—leaning to Spleen-Kidney deficient cold. Cherokee rose fruit is sour-astringent-neutral: secures essence, reduces urination and astringes the intestine—pure astringency. Raspberry is sweet-sour and slightly warm: benefits the Kidney, secures essence, reduces urination and nourishes the Liver to brighten the eyes. Enuresis and slippage favor Sang Piao Xiao, Yi Zhi Ren and Fu Pen Zi; acid reflux and bleeding favor Hai Piao Xiao. They may be paired; all are wrong as pure astringency in damp-heat strangury, and Sang Piao Xiao fears Inula.

Which herbs is Sang Piao Xiao combined with? What are the representative formulas?

Heart-Kidney non-interaction with frequent urine and emission joins dragon bone, Polygala, Acorus, Poria spirit, ginseng, Angelica and tortoise plastron in Sang Piao Xiao San. Emission joins calcined dragon bone. Pediatric enuresis joins Alpinia oxyphylla and Lindera. Write Sang Piao Xiao, steam through and snip; do not dispense Hai Piao Xiao, and do not combine with Inula.

How do you choose and store Sang Piao Xiao?

Choose intact oothecae, light and tough, yellow-brown to gray-brown, steamed so no live eggs remain, faintly fishy and bland. Tuan, Chang or Hei forms are all acceptable if complete and dry. Moldy, wormy, unsteamed with live eggs, and putrid lots are discarded. Store airy and dry against moths. Buy pharmacopoeial Sang Piao Xiao; do not replace it with an equal weight of Hai Piao Xiao or unsteamed raw material.

Related Products

Nong's Sang Piao Xiao San Extract Granules

Nong's Sang Piao Xiao San (Mantis Egg-Case Powder) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $109.03

Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.