南粤蛊毒有数种。曰蛇毒。蜥蜴毒。虾蟆毒。蜣螂草毒。金蚕等毒。皆是变乱元气。人有过
造作之者。即谓之蛊也。多于饮食内行之。与人祸患。祸患于他。则蛊主吉利。所以人蓄事之。
中其毒者。心腹绞痛。如有物啮。或吐下血。皆如烂肉。或好卧暗室。不欲光明。或心性反常。
乍嗔乍喜。或四肢沉重。百节酸疼。或乍寒乍热。身体习习而痹。胸中满闷。或头目痛。或吐
逆不定。或面目青黄。甚者十指俱黑。诊其脉。缓大而散。皆其候也。然其毒有缓有急。急者仓
卒。或数日便死。缓者延引岁月。游走肠内。蚀五脏尽则死。其死时皆从九孔中。或于胁下肉中
出。所以出门。须带雄黄、麝香、丹砂辟恶之药。即百蛊狐狸老物精魅不敢着人。彼处之人。亦
有灸法。国中虫毒。即于心下捺定。便大炷艾灸百壮。又于足小指尖上灸三壮。当有物出。即愈。
欲验之法。当令病患唾水。沉者是蛊。不沉者非蛊也。初觉中蛊。急服玉枢丹。或吐或利。随服
便痊。南方有毒蛊之乡。于他人家饮食。即以犀角搅之。白沫起。即为有毒。无沫者。即无毒也。
凡岭南蛊毒之乡。卒患血痢。或赤或黑。无问多少。皆是蛊毒。或偏身肿满。四肢如故。小便不
甚涩滞。粗医不察。误作痢治水治。日复增加。奄至殒殁。以败鼓皮烧作末。饮服方寸匙。令其
解散自愈。又有以蛇涎合作蛊药。饮食中使人得此瘕疾。生大豆末。酒渍绞汁服半斤。凡国中毒。
在膈者。归魂散吐之。以下膈者。雄朱丸下之。一切蛊毒心腹胀满。不得喘息。或下利脓血。太
乙追命丹、耆婆万病丸救之。吐利后。惟觉后心刺痛拘急。咽中如矛刺者。此是取利后气乏故
也。更不须再服吐利药。但用一味苦梗为散。每服三钱。米饮调下。日三服。多服自然平复。
使毒日渐消散。不致再发。
丹方。用 皮烧灰。桃根皮煎汤。服方寸匙。蛊便出。又方。用苦瓠一枚。苦酒二升。或水煮一
升。服之当下蛊毒。及一切虾蟆蝌斗之状。一月后乃尽。
射工溪毒 孙真人曰。南方有射工毒虫。一名短狐溪毒。一名蜮。形如甲虫。无目利耳。有
一长角在口前如弩。以气为矢。因水势以射人。人或闻其水中铋铋作声。要须得水没其口。便以
口中毒射人。此虫畏鹅。鹅能食之。其初见证。有似伤寒。先恶寒。寒热筋急。亦如中风。便口
噤不能语。朝苏暮剧。寒热闷乱。是其证也。如得三四日。急以五香散治之。稍迟者七日死。射
着人影者。不即作疮。先病寒热。自非其地之人。不知其证。便谓伤寒。每多误治。中人头面尤
急。腰以上去人心近多死。腰以下稍缓。不治亦死。
孙真人云。凡山水有毒虫。人涉水之时中人。似射工而无物。其初得之。恶寒微头痛。目眶
疼。心中烦懊。四肢振 。腰背百节皆强。两膝痛。或翕翕而热。但欲眠睡。旦醒暮剧。手足逆
冷至肘膝。二三日腹中生虫。蚀人下部。肛中有疮。不痛不痒。令人不觉。不急治之。过六七日。
下部出脓。虫上蚀人五脏。热盛毒烦。下痢不禁。八九日。良医不能治矣。其毒有阴阳之异。觉
得之。急视其下部。若有疮正赤如截肉者。为阳毒最急。疮如鲤鱼齿者。为阴毒稍缓。要皆杀人。
不过二十日也。欲知是水毒与非者。当以小蒜五升。投汤中浴之。是水毒。身体必发赤斑。急服
解水毒饮子。多磨生犀汁调服。东南郡县。山谷溪源。有水毒病。亦名溪瘟。亦有阴阳之辨。脉
洪大而数者为阳。先宜发汗及浴。脉沉细而迟者为阴。急当攻里。凡解涧水毒。生犀角磨水。调
雄黄末二三钱。频以麻油灌之。稍久则用牵牛、大黄、雄黄、蜈蚣、蝎梢末。宰生羯羊血调灌之。
欲审是中水毒者。手足指必冷。若不冷者非也。
诸中毒 一切毒中。虽各因气味而归诸脏腑。然必胃先受之。而后流及其脏也。金匮云。凡
煮药饮汁以解毒者。虽云救急。不可热饮。诸毒病得热更甚。宜冷冻饮料之。食自死六畜肉中毒。烧
大屎。酒服力寸匕。或大豆煮汁饮数升。或水浸豆豉绞汁旋饮之。食马肝中毒。以雄鼠屎二七粒
为末。水和日再服。食马肉中毒。血洞下欲死。以香豉、杏仁为散服之。或煮芦根汁饮之。食牛
肉中毒。野狼牙烧灰取方寸匕水服之。食犬肉不消。坚满腹胀。大渴如狂。以杏仁一升。合皮研煮。
分温三服。利下肉片大验。食漏脯中毒。捣生韭汁服之。生大豆汁亦得。凡肉在器中。密盖不泄
气者。谓之郁肉。食之伤人。烧狗屎末方寸匕。水调服之。食毒箭射死鸟兽中毒。以大豆煮汁及
盐服之。食鱼中毒。面肿。烦乱。橘皮煮汁。停冷服之。食 多不消。结为 病。浓朴、大黄煮
汁服之。或马鞭草一味捣汁饮之。或姜捣汁饮之。食 中毒。以芦根煮汁服之。食蟹中毒。以
冬瓜汁服之。或紫苏煮饮之。食诸果中毒。以猪骨烧灰服之。食诸菌中毒。及食枫树上菌而笑不
止。人粪汁饮之。土浆亦可。或嚼生大豆吐之。钩吻与芹菜相似。误食杀人。以荠 煮汁服之。
又甘草煮汁饮之。通除诸毒药。中石药毒。白鸭屎、人乳解之。中雄黄毒。防己解之。中砒毒者。
烦躁如狂。心腹搅痛。欲吐不吐。羊血不拘多少灌之。或清油、粪清亦可。切戒与酒。火酒尤忌。
中巴豆毒者。其人大泻。或吐烦渴。急以黄连煎汤。或甘草汤冷冻饮料。仓卒权饮冷水亦好。忌食热
物。并热性药物。中斑蝥、芫青毒者。吐逆不止。急煎绿豆汤。或黑豆汤温服。猪膏、地浆、葵
子汁并解之。中大黄毒者。泄泻不止。腹中寒痛。先用姜汤热饮。次以理中汤理胃祛寒。中大戟
毒。菖蒲解之。中甘遂毒。大豆煮汁服之。中半夏、南星毒者。其人喉间麻痹。急用姜汁细呷。
并饮甘草汤。中踯躅毒。栀子煮汁服之。中野芋毒。地浆、人粪汁解之。中杏仁毒。蓝汁解之。
中芫花毒。防己、防风、甘草、桂汁
解之。中野葛毒。地浆解之。中藜芦毒。葱汤下咽便愈。中射罔毒。蓝汁、大小豆汁、生羊血并
解之。中蜀椒毒。人尿、地浆、冷水并解之。中莨菪毒。甘草、蓝汁解之。中川乌、附子毒者。
必烦闷。唇裂血流。头重如斗。急与生莱菔汁解之。童便亦可。次煎绿豆、黑豆汤。二三沸即与
冷服。然不若甘草汤入腹即定。误服伏火丹砂中毒。则毒归心脏。其舌灰黑胀大。急宜童子小便
饮之。次以金汁及人中黄解之。或浓煮黑豆汁解之。或捣生绿豆汁解之。或生羊血。或磨犀角水
并解之。服风药多汗。闷乱不醒。先以醋汤灌之。次煎甘草汤。同姜汁顿服。夏秋间误食停宿之
物。中有蜈蚣、蛇虫等毒。则心腹膨闷。雄黄磨水细饮。玉枢丹磨服亦效。蜀椒闭口者有毒。误
食戟人咽喉。气欲绝。急以地浆水解之。六畜肝藏常有毒。驴马更甚。自死者尤毒。用豆豉以水
浸。绞取汁旋饮之。马啮人。及 人。毒肿热痛作疮。马鞭梢、鼠屎烧灰。猪膏涂之。马啮人阴。
卯脱出。急令推入。桑皮线缝。研生乌鸡肝涂上。欲小便忍之。牛马啮人。及马骨刺伤人。灶灰
淋汁热渍。数易汁勿令疮烂。马血入疮中。妇人月水。或人粪涂之。剥死马骨伤人。毒攻欲死。
便取马肠中屎涂之。中河豚鱼毒。急取芦根捣汁服之。轻则清油多灌。使毒物尽吐出。亦须遇时
而愈。或橄榄捣自然汁。甚则粪清灌之。食鳖中毒。干姜、山楂煮汁饮之。误食蛇穴中蟹鳖。令
人头旋目眩。腹痛而死。急磨玉枢丹救之。凡蟹重一斤外者大毒。食之杀人。误吞蜈蚣。胸腹绞
痛。先饮生鸡血。须臾以清油灌吐。其蜈蚣滚在血中同出。继以雄黄细研。水调服。误吞水蛭。
生鸡血调黄土丸服自下。或以盐梅水灌之则化。中漆毒。生蟹捣汁涂之。治诸食中毒。磨犀角汁
饮之。无不治也。或苦参酒煮服之。解一切药毒。不问草石。始觉便以葱、豉、生麦门冬。煮取汁服之。
Guzhu (Gu Poison) in the Lingnan region has several types. These include She Du (Snake Poison), Xi Yi Du (Lizard Poison), Xia Ma Du (Toad Poison), Qiang Lang Cao Du (Dung Beetle Grass Poison), Jin Can (Golden Silkworm) and other poisons. All these toxins disrupt Yuan Qi (Original Vital Energy). Those who commit evil deeds create Gu, often administering it through food and drink to harm others. If it harms others, the creator gains fortune; thus, some people keep and use it.
Those poisoned experience severe colic pain in the heart and abdomen, as if being gnawed by something. They may vomit or defecate blood resembling rotten flesh. They may prefer lying in dark rooms, avoiding light. Their temperament may become abnormal, alternating between anger and joy. Limbs may feel heavy, with soreness and pain in all joints. They may experience alternating chills and fever, numbness of the body, chest fullness, headache, eye pain, or irregular vomiting. The face and eyes may appear blue-yellow; in severe cases, all ten fingers turn black. Pulse diagnosis reveals a slow, large, and scattered pulse, which are signs of Gu poisoning.
The poison can be acute or chronic. Acute cases develop suddenly and may cause death within days. Chronic cases drag on for years, with the Gu worm wandering in the intestines, eroding the Zang-Fu organs until death. Death often occurs with the toxin exiting through the Nine Orifices (eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, urethra, and anus) or bursting from the muscles under the ribs. Therefore, when traveling, one must carry Xiong Huang (Realgar), She Xiang (Musk), and Dan Sha (Cinnabar) to ward off evil spirits, preventing Gu worms and demons from approaching. Locals also use moxibustion. For insect poison, press firmly at the epigastrium, then apply large moxa cones (100 moxa cones) to this area. Also apply three moxa cones to the tip of the little toe. If an object is expelled, the patient recovers. To verify Gu poisoning, have the patient spit into water; if it sinks, it is Gu; if it floats, it is not. Upon suspecting Gu poisoning, immediately administer Yu Shu Dan (Jade Pivot Pill). Vomiting or purging will follow, leading to recovery. In regions with Gu poison, stir food with Xi Jiao (Rhinoceros Horn); white foam indicates poison, while no foam indicates safety.
In Lingnan, sudden bloody dysentery (red or black), regardless of quantity, is considered Gu poisoning. Alternatively, general edema with normal limbs and non-obstructed urination may occur. Unskilled doctors may misdiagnose this as dysentery or fluid retention, worsening the condition until death. Burning broken drum skin to powder and taking one Cun Chi (approx. 2-3 cm) dose with water allows the poison to dissolve and heal itself. Another Gu medicine uses snake saliva mixed into food, causing Phlegm-Stasis accumulation. Taking half a Jin (approx. 500g) of juice squeezed from raw soybeans soaked in wine treats this.
For upper Jiao (Diaphragm above) insect poison, Gui Hun San (Returning Soul Powder) induces vomiting. For lower Jiao (below diaphragm), Xiong Zhu Wan (Realgar and Cinnabar Pill) induces purging. For Gu poisoning causing abdominal distension, difficulty breathing, or bloody diarrhea, Tai Yi Zhui Ming Dan (Great One Life-Chasing Pill) or Qi Po Wan Bing Wan (Chi Po's Ten Thousand Disease Pill) are used for rescue. After vomiting/purging, if there is stabbing pain in the back heart area and throat sensation like a spear, it is due to Qi deficiency post-purging. Do not use more emetics or cathartics. Instead, use Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) powder, 3 Qian (approx. 9g) per dose, taken with rice water, three times daily. This dissipates the poison gradually.
Prescription: Burn certain bark to ash, decoct Tao Gen Pi (Peach Root Bark), take one Cun Chi dose to expel Gu. Another prescription: Use one Ku Hu (Bitter Bottle Gourd) and two Sheng (approx. 600ml) of Ku Jiu (Sour Wine/Vinegar), boiled down to one Sheng. This expels Gu poison and parasites resembling tadpoles over a month.
She Gong Xi Du (Shooting Worker Stream Poison): Sun Simiao stated that in the South, there is a toxic insect called She Gong, also known as Duan Hu or Yu. It resembles a beetle, lacks eyes but has sensitive ears, and has a long horn-like structure in front of its mouth like a crossbow, shooting "arrows" of breath via water currents. People hear a "bi bi" sound in the water; the insect must submerge its mouth to shoot poison. It fears geese, which eat it. Initial symptoms resemble Tai Yang disease (Exterior Syndrome): aversion to cold, chills, stiff tendons, similar to Wind-Stroke, with locked jaw and inability to speak. Symptoms worsen at night. If untreated for 3-4 days, Wu Xiang San (Five Fragrances Powder) should be used; delay leads to death within 7 days. Shooting the shadow causes no immediate ulcer but starts with chills/fever. Non-locals often misdiagnose this as Tai Yang disease, leading to errors. Head/facial involvement is critical; lesions above the waist near the Heart often result in death, while below the waist are slower but still fatal without treatment.
Sun Simiao added: Aquatic toxic insects bite during wading. Initial symptoms include mild aversion to cold, headache, orbital pain, mental restlessness, limb tremors, stiffness in back/joints, knee pain, low-grade fever, drowsiness (worse at night), and cold extremities up to elbows/knees. After 2-3 days, worms form in the abdomen, eroding the lower body. Ulcers appear in the anus, painless and unnoticed. Untreated, pus flows after 6-7 days, and worms ascend to erode Zang-Fu organs, causing high fever, toxicity, and uncontrollable diarrhea. By day 8-9, even good doctors cannot cure it.
Poison has Yin/Yang distinctions. Check the lower body: bright red ulcers like cut meat indicate Yang Du (Acute Poison), most urgent. Ulcers resembling carp teeth indicate Yin Du (Chronic Poison), slightly slower. Both are fatal within 20 days. To test for Water Poison, bathe in water with 5 Sheng (approx. 1.5L) of Xiao Suan (Small Garlic). Red spots indicate Water Poison; immediately drink Jie Shui Du Yin Zi (Water Poison Resolving Drink) mixed with fresh Xi Jiao (Rhinoceros Horn) juice. In Southeastern counties, this is called Xi Wen (Stream Plague). Large/rapid pulse indicates Yang; treat with sweating/bathing. Deep/slow pulse indicates Yin; treat with interior purging. For stream poison, grind Xi Jiao in water, mix with 2-3 Qian of Xiong Huang powder, and frequently administer Sesame Oil. Later, use Qian Niu (Pharbitis Seed), Da Huang (Rhubarb), Xiong Huang, Wu Gong (Centipede), and Xie Shao (Scorpion Tip) powders, mixed with ram blood. Confirm Water Poison by checking for cold fingertips.
General Poisoning: All poisons enter via the Stomach first, then affect other Zang-Fu. *Jin Gui Yao Lue* states: Decoctions for detoxification should be drunk cold, as heat exacerbates poisoning.
- Self-deceased livestock meat poison: Take burned dog feces with wine, or boil raw soybeans and drink the juice. Soaked fermented soybean juice is also effective.
- Horse liver poison: Take 14 male rat feces pellets with water.
- Horse meat poison (bloody diarrhea): Take fragrant fermented soybean and apricot seed powder. Or decoct Lu Gen (Reed Rhizome).
- Beef poison: Take burned wild wolf tooth powder with water.
- Dog meat indigestion (abdominal fullness/thirst): Boil apricot seeds with skin, divide into three doses. Expulsion of meat pieces confirms efficacy.
- Moldy bread (Lou Fu) poison: Drink raw leek juice or raw soybean juice.
- Stale meat (Yu Rou) poison: Take burned dog feces powder with water.
- Poisoned bird/beast (arrow-wounded): Drink soybean decoction with salt.
- Fish poison (facial swelling/restlessness): Drink cooled orange peel decoction.
- Indigestible food (Pi syndrome): Decoct Hou Po (Magnolia Bark) and Da Huang. Or use Ma Bian Cao (Whip Plant) or Ginger juice.
- Specific food poison: Reed rhizome juice.
- Crab poison: Winter melon juice or Perilla decoction.
- Fruit poison: Burned pig bone powder.
- Mushroom poison (including Feng tree mushrooms causing laughter): Human fecal juice, soil slurry, or induce vomiting with raw soybeans.
- Gelsemium (Gou Wen) mistaken for celery: Shepherd's purse decoction or Licorice decoction.
- Mineral drug poison: White duck feces or human milk.
- Realgar poison: Fang Ji (Aristolochia).
- Arsenic poison (restlessness, abdominal pain, inability to vomit): Sheep blood, clear oil, or fecal supernatant. Avoid alcohol.
- Croton seed poison (profuse diarrhea/vomiting/thirst): Cold Licorice decoction or cold water. Avoid hot foods/drugs.
- Mylabris/Wilsonia poison (uncontrollable vomiting): Mung bean or black soybean decoction. Pig fat, earth slurry, or Abelmoschus juice also work.
- Rhubarb overdose (diarrhea/cold pain): Hot Ginger tea followed by Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction).
- Euphorbia poison: Shi Chang Pu (Acorus).
- Kansui poison: Soybean decoction.
- Pinellia/Arisaema poison (throat numbness): Sip Ginger juice and Licorice tea.
- Daphne poison: Gardenia decoction.
- Wild taro poison: Earth slurry or human fecal juice.
- Apricot seed poison: Indigo juice.
- Genkwa poison: Fang Ji, Fang Feng, Licorice, Cinnamon juice.
- Aristolochia poison: Earth slurry.
- Veratrum poison: Scallion soup.
- Aconite poison: Indigo juice, soybean juices, or raw sheep blood.
- Sichuan pepper poison: Urine, earth slurry, or cold water.
- Datura poison: Licorice and Indigo juice.
- Chuan Wu/Fu Zi poison (distress, cracked lips, heavy head): Radish juice, child's urine, or cold mung/black bean decoction. Licorice tea is best.
- Cinnabar poison (gray/black swollen tongue): Child's urine, Jin Zhi (Gold Juice), Ren Zhong Huang, black soybean decoction, green bean juice, sheep blood, or rhino horn water.
- Excessive sweating from wind-dispelling drugs: Vinegar soup, then Licorice-Ginger decoction.
- Stale food with centipede/snake poison (summer/autumn): Realgar water or Yu Shu Dan.
- Closed-mouth Sichuan pepper poison (throat injury/asphyxia): Earth slurry.
- Livestock liver poison (especially dead animals): Fermented soybean juice.
- Horse bite/kick (swelling/pain): Horse whip tip, burned rat feces, applied with pig fat.
- Horse bite to genitals (prolapse): Reposition, suture with mulberry root fiber, apply raw black chicken liver paste. Retain urine.
- Cow/Horse bite or bone puncture: Hot lye water from stove ash, change frequently. Apply horse blood, menstrual blood, or human feces.
- Dead horse bone injury: Apply horse intestinal feces.
- Pufferfish poison: Reed rhizome juice. Mild cases: copious sesame oil to induce vomiting. Olive juice or fecal supernatant for severe cases.
- Turtle poison: Dried ginger and hawthorn decoction.
- Crab/turtle from snake holes (dizziness/abdominal pain): Yu Shu Dan. Crabs over 1 jin are highly toxic.
- Centipede ingestion: Raw chicken blood, then sesame oil to induce vomiting (centipede comes out with blood). Follow with Realgar powder in water.
- Leech ingestion: Raw chicken blood with yellow earth pills, or salt plum water.
- Lacquer poison: Raw crab juice applied topically.
- General food/medication poison: Rhino horn juice or Sophora root wine. Preventive measure: Scallion, fermented soybean, and Ophiopogon decoction upon first suspicion.