獭为水兽,性寒而肝独温,味咸有小毒,入肝入肾之药也。专益阴气补虚损,保
劳极令五脏神安,则鬼疰外邪,自能除辟也。甘咸善于解毒,且咸能润下,故主久嗷
蛊毒也。《经》曰∶邪之所凑,其正必虚,獭肝长于益阴补虚,复能祛蛊逐疰,所以为
传尸骨蒸,邪恶 疾瘵病之要药。仲景崔氏治诸痨,并有獭肝,凡丈此为君也。至于善
却鱼鲠,乃獭性嗜鱼之小技耳。
山獭阴茎,味甘,热,无毒。主阳虚阴痿精寒,此物出广之宜州,溪峒及南丹州,
土人号为插翘其性淫毒,山中有此物,凡牝兽皆避去,獭无偶,则抱木而枯,瑶女春时
成群,入山以采物为事,獭闻妇人气必跃来抱之,刺骨入入牢,不可脱,因扼杀之,负
归取其阴,一枚值金一两,若得抱木死者,尤贵,峒獠甚珍之,私货出界者罪至死,伪
者试之之法,但令妇人摩手极热,取置掌心,以气呵之,跃然而动者,为真。
獭肝,獭味性寒,惟肝独温,其肝与诸畜相殊,逐月生出一叶,十二数满,渐落复
生,或烧末酒调,或炙热可啖,主疰病传尸,一门相染者,悉效,产劳发热,三时虚
汗者殊功,主气咳嗽堪饵。鬼毒瘟 能遣,崔氏方疗蛊疫,仲景用治冷劳,却鱼鲠喉
中,消水胀腹内。
按葛洪云∶尸疰鬼疰,使人寒热,沉沉嘿嘿,不知所苦,无处不恶,积月累年,
至死,死后传染,乃至灭门,惟用獭肝阴干为末,水服二钱,每日三服,有虫渐渐泻
出,以瘥为度。其爪亦能搜逐痨虫。
Fox Penis (Huli Jing) is indicated for women with infertility and pruritus vulvae, as well as pediatric testicular swelling and hydrocele.
The otter is an aquatic animal; its nature is cold, but its liver alone is warm. It has a salty taste and slight toxicity, entering the Liver and Kidney meridians. It specifically tonifies Yin Qi and treats deficiency injuries, ensuring that the Five Zang organs' spirits are tranquil in cases of extreme exhaustion, thereby naturally repelling Gui Zhu (Ghost Transmission, a contagious chronic wasting disease). The sweet and salty flavors are good at resolving toxicity, and saltiness can moisten and direct downwards, thus treating long-term abdominal pain due to parasites and Gu poison (Gu toxin). As stated in the *Classic* (*Huangdi Neijing*): "Where pathogenic factors gather, Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) must be deficient." Since Otter Liver excels at tonifying Yin and treating deficiency, and can also dispel Gu and drive out Zhu pathogens, it is a crucial herb for treating Chuan Shi Gu Zheng (Transmitted Corpse Bone Steaming, e.g., tuberculosis), evil Zhai diseases (Lao Zhai/Tuberculosis). Zhang Zhongjing and Cui Shi both used Otter Liver in treating various Lao diseases, often employing it as the Jun (Emperor) herb. Its ability to remove fish bones is merely a minor skill derived from the otter's fondness for fish.
Mountain Otter Penis has a sweet flavor and hot nature, with no toxicity. It treats Yang deficiency leading to impotence and cold sperm. This substance originates from Yizhou, Xidong, and Nandanzhou in Guangdong. Locals call it "Cha Qiao". Its nature is sexually toxic; if present in the mountains, all female beasts flee. If an otter lacks a mate, it embraces a tree until it dies. Yao women gather in groups during spring to collect this material. Upon smelling a woman's qi, an otter will leap and embrace her, inserting its penis deeply into the vagina where it becomes firmly stuck. People then strangle it, carry it back, and extract the penis. One piece is worth one tael of gold. If obtained from an otter that died embracing a tree, it is even more precious. Local Dong people treasure it highly; those who secretly trade it across borders face the death penalty. The method to test authenticity is: have a woman rub her hands until extremely hot, place the specimen in her palm, and breathe upon it. If it jumps or moves, it is genuine.
Otter Liver: While the otter's overall nature is cold, its liver alone is warm. Its liver differs from other livestock; it grows one leaf-like lobe each month, completing twelve lobes over a year, then gradually falls off and regenerates. It can be burned to powder and taken with wine, or roasted hot for consumption. It treats Zhu diseases and Chuan Shi (transmissible tuberculosis within a family), showing efficacy. It demonstrates special merit for postpartum labor fever and spontaneous sweating in all three seasons. It treats Qi-reversal coughing and is suitable for ingestion. It can dispatch Gui Du (Ghost Toxins) and plague. Cui Shi's formulas use it for Gu epidemics; Zhang Zhongjing uses it for Cold Lao (Cold Consumption); it removes fish bones stuck in the throat and reduces abdominal water distension.
According to Ge Hong: Shi Zhu (Corpse Transmission) and Gui Zhu (Ghost Transmission) cause alternating chills and fever, deep depression and silence, unknown suffering, and general malaise. Accumulating over months and years, it leads to death, and after death, it can infect others, potentially wiping out a household. Only by using Otter Liver dried in the shade and powdered, taken with water (2 qian per dose, three times daily), can worms be gradually expelled, with recovery as the goal. Its claws can also search out and eliminate Lao worms.