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[Shangpin of the Classic of Materia Medica]
Moschus (She Xiang) is the post-natal body that still preserves the central yellow and eight extremes, serving as the unassigned primordial spirit.

[Flavor and Properties] Acrid, warm, non-toxic.

[Indications] Primarily expels evil qi, kills ghostly essences and entities, eliminates three parasites and gu poison, treats warm malaria, fright, and epilepsy. Long-term use dispels pathogenic factors and prevents nightmares or sleep paralysis.

[Verification] It is said: In character dictionaries, musk is referred to as KT; in "Shi Shou" (Explanation of Beasts), it is called "She Fu". It is mostly produced in Shaanxi, Hedong, Yizhou, Qinzhou, Wenzhou, etc., and is particularly abundant among various barbarian tribes. Its shape resembles a muntjac or sika deer but is smaller, with blackish-brown color. It often eats cypress leaves, consumes snakes and insects in summer, and becomes full of fragrance in winter, which intensifies in spring before it naturally sheds. The fragrance originates from inside the skin anterior to the penis, contained in a separate membranous sac. Its nature is highly cautious; its excrement is always deposited in one place. Even when traveling far for food, it must return to that spot, daring not leave traces elsewhere, fearing capture by humans. Humans exploit this habit to find them, requiring the capture of the whole herd. This likely reflects the meaning of suspicion and caution. "Shi Shou" states: "The patterns of tigers and leopards come from their nature; the fragrance of cats and musk comes from being hunted." Thus, its skin and umbilical region become a burden. Wu Yun's "Xuan Yuan Fu" suggests that musk harbors fragrance and thereby invites disaster, just as macaques invite shooting due to their cleverness. When used medicinally, authenticity must be verified. Raw musk and heart-knot musk are hard to obtain, but one should select the "Dangmenzi" (door-closing pellet) from the musk pod. When rubbed, it resembles blood threads; when spread, it looks like peach blossom petals. Strong odor indicates genuineness. Even if the membranous sac is intact, forgery is common. It is divided into three types: First is raw musk, i.e., self-shed fragrance, which is rare. Where fragrance accumulates, plants do not grow; if brought into gardens, fruits fail to set, which serves as verification. Second is umbilical musk, obtained from captured and slaughtered animals. Third is heart-knot musk, found when musk is chased by dogs or beasts, panics, loses its mind, runs wildly, and dies from falling. Humans find it, cut open the heart to see blood flowing from the spleen, forming dry blood clots; this is unsuitable for medicine. Another type is water musk, where the pod contains only water. A drop of this water added to a bucket of water can scent clothes for a year without fading. It loves its pod so much that when pursued, it throws itself off cliffs, scratches itself, ruptures its pod, and dies while bound, still arching its four legs to protect its pod. In the early Tianbao era of Tang Dynasty, they were kept in parks, recognized as the most fragrant beast. Hence, other fragrant things are compared to it, such as musk bird and musk wood. There is also a civet cat resembling musk, living in southern sea valleys, cat-sized, also called Lingli. "Yi Wu Zhi" says: Civet has scent like musk, and its hair can make brushes. Zheng Qian said: One tube of musk brush writes forty sheets vertically; one tube of civet brush writes eight hundred sheets horizontally, making it precious. Processing: Open towards the sun, grind slightly, no need for extreme fineness; if finer grinding is desired, add a little pure wine, which does not impair fragrance. Mr. Miu Zhongchun said: When pathogenic qi attaches to the body, it lingers and causes stagnation. Musk's aromatic and penetrating nature borrows its qi to reach the disease site, opening joint mechanisms, orifices, and acupoints.

My predecessor said: Shooting has alchemical mechanisms; all living things are killed; the umbilicus is the body's root, connecting form and viscera.

[Commentary] It is said: Shooting aims at the target; the target is the central yellow. Fragrance knots here, entering the Spleen Visus. Central yellow is indeed the palace position governed by the Spleen. Flavor is acrid and warm; nature is specifically dispersing and ascending, representing pure yang energy, fully deriving power from Jia (Wood). It is a herb for the Spleen. Thus, it expels evil qi, kills ghostly entities, removes parasites and gu poison, and addresses nightmares. If it opens orifices and penetrates muscles and bones, establishing the central yellow, then the eight extremes become clear. However, since its penetrating nature is fully exposed, it can only be applied to the Yang of Spleen Earth, not to those who are dense, heavy, and tranquil.

[Supplement to Five-Color Stone Grease]

[Reference] It is said: Grease within stone is like marrow within bone. Therefore, it is extracted between two stones, and the best kind adheres to lips and tongue. Why? Bone and muscle are originally connected. Marrow within bone is formed by condensing the essence of water and grain, originating from Earth, filling the bone cavities, moving from outside to inside. From outside to inside, it further moves from inside to outside. When marrow overflows, it scatters essence to the Kidney, flooding Qi into bone; scatters essence to the Liver, flooding Qi into sinews; scatters essence to the Spleen, flooding Qi into flesh; scatters essence to the Heart, flooding Qi into vessels; scatters essence to the Lung, flooding Qi into skin and hair. Skin, hair, blood vessels, muscles, bones, and tendons are the combinations of the five Zang organs, all shaped and molded from essence and marrow. Thus, the five greases first return to marrow, circulating and overflowing with essence and Qi, transferring to each viscus. Therefore, the Classic of Materia Medica and Separate Records prioritize tonifying marrow. Conditions like jaundice, intestinal dysentery, abscesses, and ulcers all belong to turbid fluids and blood qi. Stone grease allows essence and Qi to circulate freely, removing dregs and purifying marrow, causing various diseases to subside quietly.