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[Shennong Bencao Jing, Middle Category]
【Flavor and Nature】 Salty, cold, toxic.
【Indications】 Primarily treats coldness and heat sensations in the heart and abdomen (shivering as if washed by cold water), blood stasis accumulation forming masses (zheng jia), breaks down hard accumulations, and promotes the discharge of amenorrhea.
【Verification】 It is stated: The earth beetle (Tubiechong) grows in river marshes and sandy areas, also found under house walls and in damp places in soil. Large specimens are over one cun long, lacking a shell but having scales. For processing, harvest in the tenth lunar month.
【Commentary】 It is said: The earth beetle, also known as Dibie, resembles a turtle in form. Also known as Guojie ("Street Crosser"), it crosses streets on Shen days because the Li Jian day corresponds to the Chong Po day. Generally, there are many such insects; they manage the removal of venomous gu poison, and their names are derived from their functions. They treat chills and fever causing blood stasis and zheng jia masses because they attack and break down these pathological deposits, hence the name.

[Shennong Bencao Jing, Middle Category]
【Flavor and Nature】 Salty, warm, non-toxic.
【Indications】 Primarily treats Qingmang (blindness or dim vision), brightens the eyes, kills scabies mites, stops cold-type diarrhea, repels evil spirits, drives away tigers and wild wolves, and stops palpitations. Long-term use calms the mind, tonifies Qi, and lightens the body.
【Verification】 It is stated: The Yuan sheep (Yuanyang) was originally a breed from the Xia dynasty, produced in the Hexi region. It has blackish-green fur, a small head, a large body, and long, soft hair, which can be used for making furs. It is also called Mianyang (Sheep), with its horns being the most medicinally valuable part. The *Classic of Poetry* states: "From drunken words, one sees [the behavior], sending children to herd." Essentially, the beauty of the Yuan sheep lies in its horns. The character Yuan resonates with the sound of "Quan" (authority/balance) and ancient sounds; in the *Poetry*, "Gu" and "Yu" rhyme, which is correct. Furthermore, Yuan resonates with Gu (bull/male cattle), so in the *Bencao* entry for Yuan sheep, the annotation calls it the male sheep, just as Si resonates with Xi (rhinoceros), calling it the rhino. Yuan refers to the Yuan sheep. Black-furred ones are called Heidi (Black Ram) and Heiyuan; white-furred ones are called Baidi and Baiyuan. Both have males and females, but should be distinguished by color. The presence of Yuan sheep among sheep is like the presence of Elm trees among woods. Yuan is also white, whereas Elms cannot turn white. White implies distinction, hence the radical "Fen" (divide); black implies indistinction, hence the radical "Yu". Additionally, modern Elms exist in the North, hence the ancient term "Yusei" (Elm Pass), while the Jiangnan region has thorny Elms but no large Elms. Thus, in the South regarding sheep, there is Yuan but no Yu; regarding trees, there is no Yu but there is Yuan. Colors and meanings are similar. Di means to butt. Yuan sheep have a nature of butting, hence the character Di. The shape is simplified to take "Di", and the pronunciation simplified to "Di" (low), because the ram lowers its horn first before it can butt. Sheep is the general term. Lamb is the offspring. Nursing begins at four months; they reproduce rapidly—mother bears child, child bears grandchild, grandchild bears great-grandchild. No animal reproduces faster than sheep. There are four distinctions: "Du" refers to lambs born in the fifth month; "Te" refers to those in the sixth month; "Mu" refers to those in the seventh month; "Weicheng" refers to those not yet a year old. *Erya · Shichu* only records immature sheep as "Weicheng". Mr. Guo says: Commonly, lambs born in the fifth month are called "Du", implying lambs that have lived five months. However, *Shuowen Jiezi* says lambs born in the fifth month, seemingly referring to mid-summer births. Checking *Qimin Yaoshu*: Lambs born in the first month are superior; November and December births are secondary. If the ewe's womb is full and her body robust, she remains strong even on dry grass; once milk dries up, spring grass appears, yielding excellent quality. August, September, October births are good due to autumn fat, but by winter end, milk is gone and spring grass hasn't grown, so quality is poor. March, April births: grass is lush, but lambs are too small to eat, drinking hot milk, so quality is poor. May, June, July births: two hot seasons follow, worst of the bad. Yet, May-born are considered inferior, hence the ancient phrase "Fei Yuan" (Fat Yuan) offered to elders, likely referring to lambs reaching five months old. *Chunqiu Fanlu* states: When ministers meet, they use lambs. Lambs have horns but do not use them. Like benevolent people, they do not cry when caught, nor howl when killed, resembling those who understand righteous death. They kneel to nurse, resembling those who know propriety, thus used as gifts. *Book of Rites* states: Decorating lambs and geese is for offering and expressing intent; their virtue covers all, and they have patterns. *Zishuo* states: Lamb consists of Sheep and Fire. Sheep is a Fire animal. Fire below the lamb signifies fire just starting, capable of growing; thus, a grown lamb is called Sheep, three years old is called Yuan. Yuan means slight ferocity. A horse that rides without following is Zang; a horse that rides without resisting is Gang. Oxen are gentle; even male Yuan sheep retain gentleness, hence riding without resistance. Sheep are fierce; even female Yuan sheep retain fierceness, hence riding without compliance. Sheep face forward against the flow, oxen with it; thus sheep are driven, oxen led. Sheep flock well, obeying a leader, called "Ya Qun" (Suppressing the Flock). Sheep fight well, fighting to the death. Though small creatures, their will cannot be broken. Mimicking the spirit of the Lingyou park, wrestling in the heavenly field, beating drums to raise morale, hesitating then striking, falling like colliding clouds, shattering like rolling stones, breaking bones for victory, splashing blood for heroism, courage raises caps, fierceness beats time, hoping to slightly assist the wise ruler, buying horse bones, saluting the angry frog. If sheep could speak, they would say: If the fight doesn't stop, death is imminent. Relying on supreme benevolence without cruelty, taking measures according to strength. Sheep fear dew; herders should let them out late and bring them back early. Sheep dislike dampness and prefer dryness. Eating Gouwen makes them fat; eating Xianmao increases fat; eating Xianlingpi increases libido; eating Yangzhizhu causes death. Sheep suit Millet (Shu), a Fire grain. Sheep are Fire animals, so they suit Millet. Their eyes lack spirit, intestines coil nine times, strength lies in the tail, hooves under horns. Uneven horns are called Gui (sound gui). Horns with three curls are called Lian (sound lian). Those with vigorous power are called Fen. Many species; for medicine, green Yuan sheep are best, followed by black sheep. Other Yuan sheep and hornless sheep from barbarian lands are only suitable for meat and marrow, making them fat. Yuan sheep also come in brown, black, and white, with hair over one chi long, also called Sheep. Northerners lead large sheep with this type as the head, named Yangtou. Hedong also has Yuan sheep, especially fierce and strong, with thick long hair, good for medicine. If driven south, their sinews and muscles weaken, unable to benefit humans. Southern sheep eat wild/toxic herbs, taste bland, and easily cause disease. Only Huainan prefectures have good ones, second only to Northern sheep. Northern sheep in the South lose edibility due to water and soil. Jiangnan sheep are Wu sheep, head and body equal, short hair, lean meat, prone to disease when eaten, ineffective for medicine. Yuan sheep horns are used for divination (burning), called Yangbu by Khitan. Skin is thin, used by southern tribes for writing, by Wu people for lantern painting. Hair makes brushes, horns make glass-like items. Hooves, bones, whiskers, and saliva are all medicinal. The excellence lies in the horn. The most potent are female Yuan sheep horns. Dui trigram represents Sheep; Dui is Young Girl, wrapping hardness with softness...
【Commentary】 It is said: Sheep have a nature of butting, strength in the tail. This intersects Ren Mai at the perineum and converges with Du Mai at the vertex. Thus, butting uses horns, and the essence lies in the horns. Li trigram is Fire, Sheep, Eyes; in Heaven it is Heat, in Organs it is Heart. It is the Qi of Heart blood vessels. Thus, Sheep is a Fire animal, treating Qingmang. All meridians connect to the eyes; eyes see when nourished by blood. Cold diarrhea is a contrasting syndrome, palpitations indicate deficiency. Pain, itching, sores, and ulcers all belong to Heart Fire. Repelling evil spirits generates Yang and destroys Yin. Driving away tigers and wolves relates to Fire melting Metal beasts. Long-term use ensures both substance and function are complete, achieving immense vigor.