附子如芋,子附母生,故名附子。旁之小子曰侧子,土人欲重其斤两,用木坯将侧子敲平于上,然母
子之体不相合,故须拣子之少者,又当估去小子,有一两余方可用,若连子而重一两五六钱,更为有力。
近时俗人,咸谓一两外者为天雄。不知天雄长三寸以上,旁不生子,故名曰雄。土人尤忌生此,以为不
利,即禳祷之,谓其不能子母之相生也。今人多取重一两者,若侧子多而去其二三钱,则母身止重七八钱
之川乌矣。此缘失于考究,故沿袭时俗之讹。又如附子之尖,乃下行之根,其性趋下,有欲治上而用其尖
者,颠倒物性,尤为可笑。
羽虫三百六十,秉火运而生,故飞翔于上下。鸡在卦属巽,冠羽皆丹,感木火之气者也;在支属酉,
又得金之制化,故鸣于寅酉二时。鸣则先鼓其翼,风之象也;鸣者,金之声也。(玉师曰∶木击金则鸣。)其性好斗,
秉肃杀之气也。故主女子崩中,漏下赤白。盖崩中、漏下,肝主之血也。夫凡物各有自物之性,得其物性,
施于治道,若合符节,故举一以推之。
猪属亥,水之畜也,故气味咸平。豕性甚躁,(玉师曰,故躁属阴证。)行不举足而惟奔,故无病之人食之,补
肾生精,如感于风寒者食之,生痰发喘,以其善奔水
气于上也。按毛虫三百六十,感木气而生,而牛、羊、犬、马,又秉火土之化。豕属水而性寒,羽虫感
火气之化,而生长于水中者,又居其半。(鹅、鸭,凫、骛类,生长于水中。)盖五类之虫,虽感五行之气而生,而五
行之中有变有化,明乎变化之道,可与参天地之生物矣。
Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Lateral Root) resembles taro; the lateral root grows attached to the mother root, hence the name "Fuzi" (Attached Child). The smaller roots growing on the side are called "Cizi" (Side Child). Local people wish to increase their weight by flattening the Cizi with wooden blocks. However, since the mother-child forms do not match, one must select the smaller children and remove the tiny side roots; only when the net weight exceeds 1 liang (approx. 37g) is it suitable for use. If the weight including the side roots reaches 1.5 or 1.6 liang, the medicinal power is even more potent.
In recent times, laypeople generally refer to those weighing over 1 liang as "Tianxiong" (Heavenly Male). They do not know that Tianxiong grows longer than 3 cun (approx. 10cm) and has no side roots, which is why it is named "Xiong" (Male). Locals particularly avoid cultivating this type, considering it inauspicious, and even perform prayers to ward off bad luck, claiming it fails to achieve the mutual generation of mother and child. Currently, people often take Fuzi weighing around 1 liang; if 2-3 qian (approx. 7-11g) of Cizi are removed, the remaining mother body (Chuanwu, Sichuan Aconite Root) weighs only 7-8 qian. This error arises from a lack of investigation, leading to the perpetuation of vulgar misconceptions. Furthermore, the tip of the Fuzi is the root growing downward, and its nature tends downward. Those who use the tip to treat diseases in the upper part of the body are reversing the nature of the herb, which is particularly absurd.
There are 360 species of feathered creatures, born bearing the Qi of Fire, thus flying up and down. In the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), the chicken belongs to Xun (Wind); its comb and feathers are red, indicating it senses the Qi of Wood and Fire. In the Earthly Branches, it corresponds to You (Rooster), and is further controlled and transformed by Metal, hence it crows at the Yin and You hours. Before crowing, it flaps its wings, representing the image of Wind; the sound of crowing is the sound of Metal. (Master Yu said: Striking Wood against Metal produces sound.) Its nature favors fighting, bearing the Qi of Severity and Killing. Therefore, it treats metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding) and leukorrhea with red and white discharge in women. Metrorrhagia and leukorrhea involve blood governed by the Liver. All things have their own inherent nature; applying these natures to therapeutic methods fits perfectly like a tally, so understanding one allows inference of others.
The pig corresponds to Hai (Pig), an animal of Water, thus its flavor is salty and neutral. Pigs are very restless (Master Yu said: Restlessness belongs to Yin syndromes); they run without lifting their feet high. For healthy individuals, eating pork tonifies the Kidney and generates essence; however, for those suffering from wind-cold invasion, eating it generates phlegm and induces asthma, because it promotes the upward surge of Water Qi. Among the 360 species of hairy creatures, they are born sensing Wood Qi, while cattle, sheep, dogs, and horses bear the transformation of Fire and Earth. Pigs belong to Water and are cold in nature. Feathered creatures sense Fire Qi, and those growing in water (such as geese, ducks, wild ducks, and wild geese) constitute half of them. Although the five categories of creatures are born sensing the Five Elements' Qi, there are variations and transformations within the Five Elements. Understanding the way of change allows one to participate in comprehending Heaven and Earth's generation of living things.