\r龙骨\pq143a1.bmp\r
性入东方。治肝脏魂无所附。功昭灵异。疗惊风螈痉难痊。敛疮口以止遗。甘平性涩
。固崩淋而辟魅。重镇能收。(龙骨。一云龙蜕骨。鹿蜕角。蛇蜕皮。蟹脱壳。则龙骨是所
蜕之骨。一云出山谷间。是死龙。又云山谷间所生嫩石。得龙交感之气而生。其形相似。有
角齿三说。未知孰是。味甘涩。性平质重。舐之粘舌不脱。入肝肾大肠。镇虚固脱。是其本
功。一切外内诸治。皆从四字脱化而来。龙为灵物。故又能安神辟魅耳。龙为东方之神。故
专入肝。肝藏魂。故魂不归肝者。治之以龙骨。)
\r牡蛎\pq143a.bmp\r
味属咸寒。退热潜阳生可贵。性多涩固。疗崩敛汗 相宜。兼之燥湿软坚。瘰 结痰
皆易散。且又益阴补水。骨蒸遗滑尽能瘳。(牡蛎。出海中。形如大螃。其壳只有一片。而
无对偶。故为之牡。咸寒入肾。能益阴潜阳。退虚热。软坚痰。 之则燥而兼涩。又能固下
焦。除湿浊。敛虚汗。具咸寒介类之功。有重镇摄下之意。外用内用。均可推想耳。)
\r龟板\pq143.bmp\r
补肾水。退骨蒸。咸寒之力。通任脉。潜虚阳。介类之功。胎产崩淋。能调能顺。症
瘕痔漏。可导可宣。(龟板。龟有数种。大抵以水龟为良。龟为北方之神。色黑味甘咸。性
寒。能入肾经。其首常藏在腹。故又通任脉。能导引胎息。故灵而多寿。以龟板为柔中之刚
。有解脱之义。故能破症瘕。治难产。至于崩淋痔漏阴蚀等证。皆任脉为病。肾阴不足所致
也。总之壮肾水。退骨蒸。通任脉。潜虚阳。其主治不离乎此。煎胶更良。)
Longgu (Fossilized Bones)
The medicinal property enters the East. It treats conditions where the Hun (Ethereal Soul) of the Liver has no attachment. Its efficacy is manifest and spiritual, treating convulsions and spasms due to wind-stroke that are difficult to cure. It astringes wound openings to stop leakage, with a sweet flavor, neutral nature, and astringent quality. It consolidates metrorrhagia and menorrhagia, as well as strangury, and repels malevolent influences. Its heavy weight enables it to gather and secure. (Regarding Longgu, one theory states it is the shed bone of a dragon, just as deer shed horns, snakes shed skin, and crabs shed shells; thus, Longgu is the bone shed by the dragon. Another theory claims it comes from valleys between mountains and is the bone of a dead dragon. Yet another theory suggests it is tender stone growing in valleys, generated by receiving the qi of dragon interaction, resembling the shape. Among these three theories, it is unknown which is correct. Longgu tastes sweet and astringent, is neutral in nature, and heavy in texture. When licked, it sticks to the tongue and does not fall off. It enters the Liver, Kidney, and Large Intestine meridians. Calming deficiency and securing collapse is its fundamental function. All internal and external treatments derive from these four characters: "securing collapse." The dragon is a spiritual creature, hence it can also calm the spirit and repel evil influences. The dragon is the deity of the East, hence it specifically enters the Liver meridian. The Liver stores the Hun; therefore, for those whose Hun does not return to the Liver, Longgu is used for treatment.)
Muli (Oyster Shell)
The taste is salty and cold. It reduces heat and submerges yang, preserving vital energy. Its nature is often astringent and consolidating, suitable for treating metrorrhagia and menorrhagia, and stopping sweating. Additionally, it dries dampness and softens hardness, making scrofula and phlegm nodules easy to dissipate. Furthermore, it benefits yin and supplements water, curing steaming bone disorder, seminal emission, and spermatorrhea. (Muli is produced in the sea, shaped like a large crab. Its shell consists of only one piece without a pair, hence it is called "Mu" (male). Salty and cold, it enters the Kidney meridian, benefiting yin and submerging yang, reducing deficient heat, and softening hard phlegm. When calcined, it becomes dry and astringent, further consolidating the Lower Jiao, eliminating damp turbidity, and arresting deficient sweating. It possesses the efficacy of salty-cold bivalve/mollusk substances, carrying the intention of heavy sedation and grasping the lower origin. Both external and internal uses can be inferred from this.)
Guiban (Tortoise Plastron)
It tonifies Kidney Water and reduces steaming bone disorder. Through its salty and cold power, it unblocks the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) and submerges deficient yang, exerting the efficacy of bivalve/mollusk substances. For gestation, childbirth, metrorrhagia, and menorrhagia, it can regulate and smooth. For masses and growths, hemorrhoids, and fistulas, it can guide and diffuse. (Guiban comes from turtles, which have several species, generally preferring water turtles. The turtle is the deity of the North, black in color, with a sweet and salty taste, and cold nature. It enters the Kidney meridian. Its head is often hidden in the abdomen, thus it also unblocks the Ren Mai. It can guide fetal breath, hence it is spiritual and long-lived. Guiban is regarded as rigid within flexibility, possessing the meaning of liberation, thus it can break down masses and treat dystocia. As for conditions such as metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, hemorrhoids, and genital erosion, they are all diseases of the Ren Mai caused by insufficiency of Kidney Yin. In summary, strengthening Kidney Water, reducing steaming bone disorder, unblocking the Ren Mai, and submerging deficient yang constitute its main indications. Preparing it into gelatin yields even better results.)