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Crabs completely inherit the supreme Yin Qi of heaven and earth, thus their taste is salty, nature is neutral, and they are non-toxic, which is as clear as water. However, the shell color is green corresponding to Wood, so it specifically enters the Liver meridian and benefits the Kidney. It is a key herb for softening hardness, clearing heat, tonifying deficiency, removing masses, treating warm malaria with alternating chills and fever, fixed masses (Zhen Jia),痞疾 polyps, genital erosion and hemorrhoids, malaria mother (Nan Mu) with consumptive fever, blood masses (Xue Jia) with bone-steaming consumption relapse, and postpartum confinement consumption.

Bie Jia (Turtle Shell), used for consumptive emaciation with bone-steaming fever, warm malaria, alternating chills and fever, fixed masses (Pi Jia), polyps, genital erosion and hemorrhoid abscesses, withdraws latent heat from the bones, nourishes Yin in the Liver and Kidney, treats hardness under the hypochondrium in children, postpartum consumption in women, removes痞 masses and resolves accumulations, treats blood masses and lower back pain, cures appendicitis (Chang Yong), reduces swelling and expels stasis, and induces abortion. Crab meat has a sweet taste and cold nature, primarily treating middle jiao injury, benefiting Qi, cooling blood heat, and tonifying Yin deficiency. It should not be consumed excessively due to its cold nature; pregnant women eating it may result in infants with short necks.

Note: Gui Jia (Tortoise Shell) is best when naturally decayed; Bie Jia is superior when not boiled in hot water. It is contraindicated if there is no heat in the Liver and Kidney.

Crabs are born from Water Qi, have a salty taste and decisive aroma. The Classic states they are toxic, yet nowadays people consume them frequently without harm. Those that are toxic generally have strange forms or textures, as recorded later. They have an external shell and internal flesh, representing Yin enveloping Yang. They enter the Foot-Yangming Stomach meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver meridian. The Classic says: "When heat dominates internally, treat with salty-cold substances." Therefore, they mainly treat evil qi and heat knots causing pain in the chest. Facial deviation (Kou Yan Pi Xie) is due to Jueyin wind-heat; facial swelling is due to Yangming heat obstruction. Resolving the heat in these two meridians allows the sinews to be nourished and Qi to benefit, curing facial deviation and swelling. Salty flavors enter Blood and soften hardness, thus resolving knots and dissipating blood stasis. Lacquer juice turns into water upon contact with crab; burning crabs can attract mice to the courtyard. This mutual induction and restraint of material natures cannot be fully explored. Treating lacquer dermatitis works because it resolves lacquer toxicity. Crab claws have a swift and sharp nature, thus breaking membranes and inducing abortion. For postpartum abdominal pain with stagnant lochia, consume crab meat with wine. For bone and joint fractures, crush fresh crabs and stir-fry them to treat severed bones. Remove the shell, mash with Huang Bo (Phellodendron Bark), lightly stir-fry, and apply to the wound to reconnect sinews. For pediatric fontanelle non-closure (Jie Lu), mix crab claws with Bai Ji (Bletilla Rhizome) powder, mash, and apply until healed. For dislocated joints, crush fresh crabs, pour hot wine over them, drink several bowls continuously, and apply the residue to the affected area; if bones and flesh make sounds within half a day, it heals. To antidote eel poisoning, eat crab. To treat pregnant women who fall stiffly with fetal Qi rushing to the heart, there is a miraculous Crab Claw Decoction for dead fetus retention, or twins where one dies and one lives; taking it expels the dead and protects the living. Use one sheng of crab claws, two chi of Gan Cao (Licorice Root), and ten dou of flowing water from the east. Boil with reed fire until reduced to two sheng, filter dregs, add three liang of genuine E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), melt, and take at once or divide into two doses. If the patient is too weak to swallow, force-feed to revive. Crab nature is cold and disperses blood heat pathologies, suitable for traumatic injuries with blood heat stasis. Contraindicated for those with cold coagulation of blood, spleen-stomach cold diarrhea, abdominal pain preferring warmth, and aversion to cold. Crabs with single pincers, single eyes facing each other, six legs with four feet having belly hair, bones in the abdomen, star spots on the back, spotted feet, and red eyes are all toxic and inedible. Their poison is resolved by winter melon juice, Zi Su (Perilla Leaf), garlic and fermented soybean paste, or reed root juice. Do not eat with persimmons or Jing Jie (Schizonepeta), as this triggers cholera and wind movement; Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Juice) resolves this.

Crab disperses blood, resolves knots, benefits Qi, nourishes sinews, clears chest heat and irritability, removes facial swelling and deviation, cures lacquer dermatitis, transforms phlegm, reconnects sinews and bones making sinews join. Patients with wind diseases relapse after ingestion. Pregnant women eating it causes transverse presentation. Crab shells close pediatric fontanelles; claws induce abortion in women. Crushed fresh crab applied externally treats erysipelas (Chi Bai You Zhong). As food, do not eat excessively as it triggers sores and moves Qi. Do not feed crab to children, chickens, or dogs. Seahorses belong to this category; males and females do not separate, heads resemble horses, bodies... spread nets on the water surface. Mainly induces delivery and facilitates birth, a holy medicine for dystocia. Promotes yang erection without flaccidity, assists sexual techniques and spring formulas. Shui Mu (Sea Cucumber/Jellyfish context implies specific marine organism, here likely referring to a jellyfish-like entity or sea cucumber depending on interpretation, but text says "Hai Chong" often meaning jellyfish or similar gelatinous marine life in ancient texts, literally "Sea Heavy/Weight") is also named Hai Chong, abundant in the East Sea, shaped like white foam, swimming relying on shrimp as eyes. Mainly treats postpartum consumption and blood coagulation in women, and pediatric wind diseases with fire-dan toxin.