一名鹿角胶,鹿乃仙兽纯阳之物也。其治劳伤羸瘦。益肾添精、暖腰膝、养血脉、
强筋骨、助阳道之至药。其华在角,取角熬胶,味甘,气温,无毒。入足厥阴、少阴、
手少阴、厥阴经。《经》曰∶劳则喘且汗出、内外皆越,中气耗矣。故作劳之人,中气伤
经,四肢作病,多汗或吐血下血。皆肝心受病。此药味甘,气温,入二经而能补益中
气,则经伤和,四肢利,血自止,汗自敛也。折跌伤损,则血瘀而成病。甘温入血通
行,又兼补益,故折跌伤损自愈。妇人血闭无子,及崩中淋露,胎痛不安,腰痛羸瘦
者,皆血虚肝肾不足之候,温肝补肾益血,则诸症自退,胎自得所养也。血气生,真阳
足,故久服轻身延年耳。更治尿血、尿精,疮红肿毒,漏下赤白,妇人久服能令有子,
皆味浓补益之力也。
白胶,主伤中劳绝,腰痛羸瘦,补中益气,妇人血闭无子,止痛安胎,疗吐血下
血,崩中不止,四肢酸疼,多汗淋露,折跌伤损,久服轻身延年。
犀,亦神兽也。故其角之精者。名通天,夜视有光,能开木辟邪,禽兽见之,则
惊骇辟易。味苦、咸,大寒,入足阳明、手少阴经。阳明为水谷之海,无物不受,其口
鼻为阳明之窍,诸毒邪气多从口鼻而入,神灵苦寒之性,专入阳明,以除诸热百毒也。
邪热即去,则心经清明,所以狂言妄语,热毒痈肿,除烦止惊,镇肝明目,衄血吐下,
伤寒蓄血,发黄发斑,痘疮黑陷,皆取其入胃、入心,散邪清热,凉血解毒之功也。欲
作细末,先锯屑置入怀中,一宿,捣之,应手成粉。人为万物之灵,故能胜之。且阴寒
之质,得阳和而冰解矣。犀取尖,鹿取茸者,以其精气尽在是也。作器物者,多被蒸
者,不堪入药。
犀角,百毒皆除,能解烦热,伤寒温疫,一切痈肿,镇肝明目,安心定神。然至
寒至灵之品,入心凉血,入胃散邪则是矣。但以治血热痘症初起者非也,盖痘假火性之
呈形,若大寒则冰伏不出矣。有以为功能升散,恐未当也。丹溪云∶犀角属阳,性善走
散,比诸角为甚,痘疹后用以走散余毒,殊不知血虚燥热,有用之其祸立至。
主治(痘疹合参) 除心火,安心神,止烦乱,镇肝明目,解热毒,清血热,磨服
尤妙。丹溪谓属阳,能散痘后余毒。若血虚者忌用。然诸痛痒疮疡,皆属心火,在初用
之,不无冰伏在内之虞,在后之用,不无引毒入心之患,张每以羚羊角代之而神效。盖
能清肺肝,而非若犀角苦寒,直入心经凉血也。
按∶犀角,食百草之毒,故能解百毒。然大寒之性,胃必受伤,妊妇多服,能消胎气。
Baijiao (Deer Antler Glue), also known as Lujiaojiao, is derived from the deer, a mythical beast belonging to pure Yang substances. It treats emaciation and weakness caused by consumptive injuries. It is an excellent medicine for tonifying the Kidney, replenishing essence, warming the waist and knees, nourishing the blood vessels, strengthening sinews and bones, and assisting the functioning of Yang Qi. Its essence concentrates in the horns; glue is made by boiling the horns. It has a sweet taste and warm nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, and Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. The *Classic* states: "Excessive labor leads to panting and sweating, with essence and Qi dissipating internally and externally, thereby depleting Middle Qi (Spleen/Stomach Qi)." Therefore, those engaged in heavy labor suffer damage to their Middle Qi and meridians, resulting in limb disorders, excessive sweating, hematemesis (vomiting blood), or hematochezia (blood in stool). These are all conditions where the Liver and Heart are affected. This medicine, being sweet and warm, enters these two meridians and can tonify Middle Qi; thus, meridian damage harmonizes, limbs move freely, bleeding stops naturally, and sweating ceases. Fractures and traumatic injuries cause blood stasis leading to disease. The sweet and warm nature enters the Blood level to promote circulation while simultaneously providing tonification, so fractures and traumatic injuries heal spontaneously. For women with amenorrhea and infertility, as well as metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, restless fetus, lower back pain, and emaciation, these are signs of Blood deficiency and insufficiency of the Liver and Kidney. Warming the Liver, tonifying the Kidney, and benefiting Blood will cause these symptoms to recede, allowing the fetus to be nourished properly. As Blood and Qi generate and True Yang becomes sufficient, long-term consumption leads to a light body and longevity. It additionally treats hematuria, spermatorrhea, red swelling and toxicity of sores, and chronic leukorrhea. Long-term use by women enables conception, all due to its rich flavor and powerful tonifying strength.
Baijiao primarily treats internal injury and consumptive exhaustion, lower back pain with emaciation, tonifies Middle Qi, treats female amenorrhea and infertility, relieves pain and calms the fetus, treats hematemesis and hematochezia, continuous metrorrhagia, soreness and pain in the four limbs, excessive sweating and discharge, fractures and traumatic injuries. Long-term use results in a light body and longevity.
The rhinoceros is also a divine beast. The finest part of its horn is named "Tongtian" (Reaching Heaven); it glows at night, can open wooden doors to dispel evil, and causes birds and beasts to flee in terror upon seeing it. It has a bitter and salty taste, and a great cold nature. It enters the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian and the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. The Yangming Meridian is the Sea of Water and Grain, accepting all things; its mouth and nose are the orifices of Yangming. Most toxic pathogens enter through the mouth and nose. The spiritual property of rhinoceros horn, being bitter and cold, specifically enters the Yangming Meridian to eliminate various heat toxins. Once the pathogenic heat is removed, the Heart Meridian becomes clear. Thus, it treats delirious speech, heat-toxic carbuncles, irritability, and fright; it settles the Liver, brightens the eyes, and treats epistaxis, hematemesis, and bloody stools. In cases of Cold Damage with blood retention, jaundice, macules, and blackened/indented smallpox lesions, it is used for its ability to enter the Stomach and Heart, disperse pathogens, clear heat, cool Blood, and detoxify. To make fine powder, sawdust should be placed in one's bosom overnight, then pounded; it turns to powder instantly. Humans, being the spirit of all things, can subdue it. Moreover, the yin-cold quality melts like ice when warmed by Yang harmony. When harvesting, the tip of the rhino horn and the velvet of the deer antler are taken because their essence and Qi concentrate there. Horns used for crafting are often steamed and are unsuitable for medicinal use.
Rhinoceros horn eliminates all toxins, relieves irritability and heat, treats Cold Damage and warm epidemics, all carbuncles and swellings, settles the Liver, brightens the eyes, and calms the Spirit. However, as an extremely cold and spiritual substance, entering the Heart to cool Blood and entering the Stomach to disperse pathogens is correct. But using it for early-stage blood-heat smallpox is incorrect, because smallpox relies on Fire properties to manifest; extreme cold would cause it to remain trapped and unemerged. Some claim it has ascending and dispersing functions, which is likely inaccurate. Danxi stated: "Rhinoceros horn belongs to Yang, and its nature is good at moving and dispersing, more so than other horns." It is used after smallpox to disperse residual toxins. However, one must not ignore that in cases of Blood deficiency with dry-heat, its use brings immediate disaster.
Main indications (integrated with smallpox discussion): Clears Heart Fire, calms the Spirit, stops irritability, settles the Liver, brightens the eyes, resolves heat toxins, clears Blood Heat. Grinding and taking it is particularly effective. Danxi claimed it belongs to Yang and can disperse residual toxins after smallpox. It is contraindicated for Blood deficiency. However, since all pain, itching, sores, and ulcers belong to Heart Fire, using it initially risks trapping cold inside, while using it later risks drawing toxins into the Heart. Zhang Jingyue often substitutes Lingyangjiao (Antelope Horn) with miraculous effect. This is because Lingyangjiao clears the Lung and Liver, unlike Rhinoceros horn which is bitter-cold and directly enters the Heart Meridian to cool Blood.
Note: Rhinoceros horn consumes the toxins of hundreds of herbs, thus it can resolve hundred toxins. However, its great cold nature inevitably damages Stomach Qi. Pregnant women consuming it in excess may abort the fetus.