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Deer antler velvet (Lurong) possesses the nature of pure Yang and contains the Qi of growth and development. Its taste is sweet, and its temperature is warm. It enters the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin, Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin, Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin, and Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin. It is a crucial herb for warming and tonifying the Liver and Kidney, acting on the Mingmen (Gate of Vitality) and Pericardium (Xinbaoluo), and is essential for filling essence and blood and supplementing true Yang. Deer antler velvet that is plump, smooth, and glossy like an eggplant is considered superior. Deer antler velvet tonifies Yang, while Elk antler velvet tonifies Yin; the same applies to their horns. When the horn is newly grown, soft, and tender, it is called "rong" (velvet). Because it embodies a robust and healthy nature, it can vigorously tonify the true Yang Qi of the Kidney. When boiled down into white gelatin, its taste becomes sweet and sour, capable of unblocking the blood vessels throughout the body. If used as a raw, hard horn, it tastes salty and is warm in temperature, with properties that drain heat, dissipate Qi, promote blood circulation, reduce swelling, and ward off evil Qi. Salty flavors enter the blood level to soften hardness, and warm properties promote circulation and dispel pathogens; thus, it treats malignant sores and carbuncles, expels evil Qi and retained blood within the Yin aspects, and addresses conditions such as acute abdominal pain due to blood stasis and traumatic injury with evil blood. Before use, remove the hair and bone, then calcine until brittle.

Deer antler velvet replenishes Yuan Yang (Original Yang), essence, and blood more rapidly. It primarily treats frequent and profuse urination. For symptoms such as seminal emission, hematuria, coldness and deficiency-cold of the lower back and kidneys, weakness in the legs and knees, nocturnal emissions during dreams (dream intercourse), and spontaneous leakage of essence, it fills essence and blood, strengthens Yuan Yang, benefits Qi, nourishes Yin, greatly tonifies emaciation, strengthens willpower, consolidates teeth, and treats soreness and pain in the waist and knees, as well as deficiency exhaustion manifesting as chills resembling malaria. For women with metrorrhagia (irregular bleeding) and metrorrhagia exuberans (profuse bleeding), given that deer have a strong sexual nature, it is specifically used to strengthen Yang and tonify Kidney insufficiency. Elk antler velvet is sometimes said to be a larger variety of deer with even greater efficacy, but its nature is hot and specializes more in tonifying Yang. It can soften bones to make them strong and support penile flaccidity. As a Yang-strengthening agent, it is also used for wind-cold-damp bi syndrome and tendon spasms. Both deer meat and elk meat have tonic effects. Some classify elk and deer as one species, distinguished only by size. The theory that deer are warm and tonify Yin, while elk are hot and tonify Yang, implying elk velvet is hotter than deer velvet, is incorrect. Elk and deer are indeed two distinct species. Deer are mountain animals, fond of herding and associating, belonging to the category of Yang; therefore, they shed their antlers at the Summer Solstice when Yin Qi arises, symbolizing the generation of Yin and retreat of Yang. Elk are wetland animals, lustful and swift runners, belonging to the category of Yin; therefore, they shed their antlers at the Winter Solstice when Yang Qi arises, symbolizing the generation of Yang and retreat of Yin. Their Yin and Yang natures are opposites in this manner. Deer antler velvet embodies pure Yang and contains the Qi of generation. A single male often mates with many females, indicating surplus Kidney Qi and abundant essence. Thus, it has the subtle effect of assisting Yang and supporting Yin. Deer tonifies Yang, addressing insufficiency of Jing-Qi in the Right Kidney; Elk tonifies Yin, addressing insufficiency of Blood in the Left Kidney. Although their Yin-Yang functions differ, they all essentially fill marrow and essence, strengthen sinews and bones, and augment Jing-Qi, making them key herbs for tonifying the Kidney and Liver. Deer horn treats malignant sores and carbuncles, expels evil Qi and retained blood in the Yin, eliminates acute abdominal pain from blood stasis, cold pain in the lower back and spine, postpartum blood dizziness, blood stasis, and traumatic evil blood. Raw use promotes blood circulation; cooked use tonifies deficiency.

Tortoise and deer are both spiritual creatures prone to hemorrhoids. The tortoise head is often concealed within its shell, connecting with the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel); its brilliance manifests in its shell. It is used to tonify the Heart, Kidney, and Blood, all for nourishing Yin. The deer nose often points backward toward its tail, connecting with the Du Mai (Governing Vessel); its brilliance manifests in its antlers. It is used to tonify the Mingmen (Gate of Vitality), benefiting essence and Qi, all for nourishing Yang. Guilu Erxian Gao (Tortoise-Deer Two Immortals Paste) embodies the principle of one Yin and one Yang. However, raw deer horn disperses heat, promotes blood circulation, reduces swelling, and wards off evil; cooked deer horn is suitable for tonifying the Kidney, reducing deficiency, strengthening essence, and invigorating blood. Refined into frost or paste, it specializes in warming and tonifying. The paste can be taken with wine or combined with other herbs. Deer horn frost is only used in pills as an assistant drug. Deer marrow is the purest form of essence and blood, internally solidifying the bones. Deer embodies pure Yang; thus, deer marrow is sweet in taste and warm in temperature. Its nature benefits blood and moistens dryness, treating all disorders of blood vessel harmony, internal injuries requiring repair, tendon spasms and pain, and cough with reversed Qi. Boiled with honey and taken, it strengthens the Yang pathway and aids fertility. Decocted with Rehmannia juice into a paste and taken, it fills marrow, strengthens bones, and treats vomiting. Deer kidney strengthens the Yang pathway and greatly tonifies Kidney insufficiency, as its Kidney Qi is abundant and essence is sufficient. Deer meat is sweet in taste and warm in temperature, promoting blood circulation and tonifying the Middle Jiao. It benefits the Spleen and Stomach, strengthens the Five Zang Organs, and boosts Qi and strength. Fresh deer meat sliced thinly and applied to facial deviation caused by Wind-Stroke can correct the condition, utilizing its blood-circulating power.

Commentary: The deer's nature is lustful and inexhaustible. Its antlers grow remarkably fast, gaining ten to twenty jin in less than two months. Nothing surpasses this miraculous growth. This is likely because its nature is hot, generating life continuously with dense Qi transformation, thereby possessing tremendous power to tonify the Kidney!