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Sweet and neutral, with slight toxicity. Among various chickens, those with five-colored feathers, black bodies with white heads, six toes, or stiff legs after death, should not be consumed.

Invention: The chicken belongs to the Xun (Wind) trigram in Bagua, its nature is active and generates Wind. Externally it corresponds to Wood, and internally connects to the Liver. It is the animal that receives Yang Qi earliest, hence it crows before the Yin hour. When crowing, it flaps its wings, which is a manifestation of Fire moving and generating Wind. Wind and Fire are prone to arising and dissipating easily. Therefore, individuals with insufficient Yang Qi and impotence should avoid eating chicken; thus, there was an ancient saying that "chicken benefits women but harms men." In the Southeast, people's Liver Qi tends to move excessively; when excessive, it generates Fire and Phlegm. If pathogenic factors are present, consuming chicken would aid the pathogens. In the North, Yang Qi is deeply concealed and best suited for dispersion. When afflicted by pathogens, consuming chicken can induce sweating because it assists the ascending and dispersing function of Liver Qi. Speaking generally of the normal and variable properties of substances, among all chickens, only the Silkie chicken with black bones and white silk-like feathers is superior. Its image transforms from Xun to Kan, obtaining the essence of Water and Wood, making it suitable for treating diseases of the Liver-Kidney blood level. Wuguji Wan (Black-Boned Chicken Pill) treats menstrual irregularities, postpartum deficiency-heat, and other conditions due to its ability to vigorously tonify Liver Blood. Currently, for treating Bi syndrome caused by thief-wind, specifically the five-toed black-boned rooster is selected, placed on the painful area to peck freely; shortly thereafter, the pain stops. This utilizes the toxicity of the five-toed chicken to guide internal toxins outwards. Danxiongji (Red-crested Rooster) treats metrorrhagia, leukorrhea (red and white discharge), clears the spirit, eliminates severe toxins, wards off misfortune, and treats demonic possession; pouring blood into the nostrils restores consciousness. For facial paralysis (deviation of mouth and eye) due to wind-stroke, applying the preparation while hot to the affected area corrects the condition. Chicken comb blood mixed with fermented rice wine and powder of Manis pentadactyla scales treats varicella where Liver heat and toxin are excessive, causing lesions to turn blue-black and sink inward. Huangjiji (Yellow Hen) treats postpartum emaciation; decocting it in water for herbal decoctions is most appropriate. Heijiji (Black Hen) treats fetal restlessness during pregnancy. Taihe Laoji (Aged Taihe Chicken) supports the expulsion of toxins in pediatric smallpox. Recently, it has also been used for postpartum deficiency with alternating chills and fever, as it aids the generation of vital Qi in the Liver meridian. The liver of a male chicken, selected if not contaminated by water, is ground into a paste, cooked with beeswax and fermented rice wine, taken daily without interruption to treat pediatric malnutrition (Gan accumulation) and eye diseases, until corneal opacity disappears completely. Jineijin (Chicken Gizzard Lining), commonly known as Jineijin, treats food stagnation with abdominal fullness, regurgitation, diarrhea, and visual obstructions. Jiwan (Chicken Egg) treats mania due to cold damage, cough, and loss of voice; it can be eaten raw. Alternatively, crack the egg slightly without leaking the albumen, soak it in urine for three days in winter or one day in summer, then boil and eat to treat asthma with wind-phlegm. Jizi Qing (Egg White) treats latent heat causing red eyes and sore throat. Jizi Huang (Egg Yolk) treats retained placenta postpartum; raw form is used. Boiled egg yolk mixed with tangled hair and sesame oil, applied topically, treats infantile toxic heat sores. The inner membrane of the eggshell, ground into fine powder, removes ocular opacities; charred and mixed with honey, it treats various sores on an infant's head and body. The inner membrane combined with Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) and Asteris Radix (Ziwan, 紫菀) treats chronic cough with qi stagnation. Jizi (Unfertilized Egg) applied with dog feces to abscesses stops pain immediately, as recorded in Qianjin Fang (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold). Jishi Bai (White part of chicken droppings) powdered and taken with clear wine (1 qianbi) treats gu distension and abdominal fullness, from the formula Jishi Li (Chicken Dropping Wine) in Neijing (The Inner Canon). Dilute chicken droppings mixed with calcined stone powder applied to carbuncles draws out pus within half a day.