Chinese Materia medica, C17: Birds, red-rumped swallow

Bencao yuanshi (Origins of Materia Medica) by Li Zhongli is a herbal in 12 volumes, containing 379 illustrations. It was first published in 1612. This illustration of the red-rumped swallow (huyan, hirundo daurica) is taken from the revised edition of Ge Ding, engraved in 1638 (11th year of the Chongwen reign period of the Ming dynasty, Wu Yi year). Li Zhongli writes: The red-rumped swallow is similar in shape to the sparrow, but with a longer body. It has a black body, a broad face, and a bifurcated tail. It flies back to the north in spring, having spent the winter in the south. It feeds mainly on small flying insects. The flesh and eggs of the swallow are used in medicine. Swallow meat is acid in sapor, neutral in thermostatic character, and poisonous. It has the medicinal properties of killing parasites/insects and promoting the healing of wounds and lesions. It is used to treat sores, scabies and poison from insects. Swallow eggs are sweet in sapor, neutral in thermostatic character, and non-poisonous. They have the medicinal properties of promoting diuresis and reducing swelling. They are used to treat dropsy and oedema (fuzhong).

Appearance of the red-rumped swallow (huyan, hirundo daurica), used in medicine. The red-rumped swallow is the size of a sparrow. It has a long body, a pointed beak, a full face, a broad wingspan and a forked tail. They arrive in a flock in spring, and depart in a flock in autumn.They feed on small flying insects.