一名乌贼骨
宣,通血脉
咸走血、温和血。入肝、肾血分。通血脉,祛寒湿,治血枯(《内经》∶血枯,治之以
乌骨),血瘕,血崩血闭,腹痛环脐,阴蚀肿痛(烧末,酒服),疟痢疳虫,目翳泪出,
耳出脓(性能燥脓收水。为末,加麝少许掺入),厥阴、少阴(肝、肾)经病。出东海,亦
名墨鱼(腹中有墨,书字逾年乃灭。常吐黑水,自罩其身,人即于黑水处取之)。取鱼骨,
卤浸、炙黄用。恶附子、白芨、白蔹。能淡盐。
补阴,益血
甘平至阴,属金与水。补心益肾,滋阴资智(性灵,故资智、通心、益肾以滋阴)。治
阴血不足,劳热骨蒸,腰脚酸痛,久泻久痢(能益大肠),久嗽 疟(老疟也。或经数年,
中有痞块,名疟母),症瘕崩漏,五痔产难(为末酒服,或加芎、归、 发),阴虚血弱之症
(益阴清热,故治之。时珍曰∶龟、鹿皆灵而寿。龟首常藏向腹,能通任脉,故取其甲,以
补精、补肾、补血,以养阴也。鹿首常还向尾,能通督脉。故取其角,以补命、补精、补气,
以养阳也。昂按∶《本草》有鹿胶而不及龟胶,然板不如胶,诚良药也。合鹿胶,一阴一阳,
名龟鹿二仙膏)。大者良。上、下甲皆可用。酥炙或酒炙、猪脂炙, 灰用。洗净槌碎,水
浸三日用。桑柴熬膏良(自死败龟尤良,得阴气更全也)。恶人参。
龟尿走窍透骨,染须发,治哑聋(以镜照之,龟见其影,则淫发而尿出。或以猪鬃松毛
刺其鼻,尿亦出)。
Haipiaoxiao (Cuttlefish Bone), also known as Wuzeigu (Octopus Bone).
Its nature is dispersing and unblocking, capable of promoting blood circulation in the vessels.
The salty flavor enters the blood level; its nature is warm and mild to nourish blood.
It enters the blood levels of the Liver and Kidney meridians.
It promotes blood circulation, dispels cold-dampness, and treats Blood Depletion (as recorded in *Huangdi Neijing*: for Blood Depletion, treat with Octopus Bone), Blood Masses (abdominal masses), Metrorrhagia (profuse non-menstrual bleeding) and Amenorrhea, abdominal pain surrounding the umbilicus, genital ulceration and swelling/pain (calcined to powder, taken with wine), Malaria, Dysentery, and Phthisis parasites, corneal opacity with tearing, and otorrhea (the drug's property can dry dampness and absorb fluid. Powdered, mixed with a small amount of Moschus, applied locally).
It treats diseases of the Jueyin and Shaoyin (Liver and Kidney) meridians.
It originates from the East Sea; it is also called Moyu (Ink Fish) (it has ink in its abdomen; writing made with it fades after a year. It often spits out black water to cover itself, and people catch it where this black water appears).
Take the fish bone, soak in brine, roast until yellow, and use.
It is incompatible with Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root), Baiji (Bletilla Rhizome), and Bailian (Puerariae Radix).
It can neutralize saltiness.
Guiban (Tortoise Shell) tonifies Yin and benefits Blood.
Its flavor is sweet and nature is neutral; it belongs to extreme Yin, corresponding to Metal and Water elements.
It tonifies the Heart and Kidney, nourishes Yin to support wisdom (due to its spiritual nature, it supports wisdom, unblocks the Heart, benefits the Kidney to nourish Yin).
It treats insufficiency of Yin-blood, steaming bone sensation due to deficiency heat, soreness and pain of the waist and legs, chronic diarrhea and dysentery (it benefits the Large Intestine), chronic cough, Malaria (chronic malaria; if present for years with an epigastric mass, it is called Malaria Mother), Zheng-Jia (abdominal masses), Metrorrhagia and Metrostaxis, five types of hemorrhoids, and difficult labor (powdered, taken with wine, or added with Chuanxiong, Danggui, and Xuemaitan).
It is suitable for symptoms of Yin deficiency and blood weakness (because it benefits Yin and clears heat, thus treating these conditions. Li Shizhen said: Tortoises and deer are both spiritual and long-lived. The tortoise head is usually hidden under the belly, connecting the Ren Mai, so its shell is used to essence, benefit the Kidney, and nourish blood to sustain Yin. The deer head turns back towards the tail, connecting the Du Mai, so its horn is used to benefit Mingmen, essence, and Qi to sustain Yang. Wang Ang notes: *Bencao* mentions Deer Glue but not Tortoise Glue; however, the shell is inferior to the glue, which is indeed a good medicine. Combined with Deer Glue, one Yin and one Yang, they form Guilu Erxian Gao).
Those that are large are superior. Both the upper and lower shells can be used.
Roast with butter, or roast with wine, or roast with lard, then calcine to ash for use.
Wash clean, crush, and soak in water for three days before use.
Boiling into paste using mulberry wood fire is excellent (naturally dead and deteriorated tortoise shells are especially good, as they possess more complete Yin Qi).
It is incompatible with Renshen (Ginseng Root).
Tortoise urine travels through orifices and penetrates bones, dyes hair black, and treats aphonia and deafness (shine a mirror on it; seeing its reflection triggers mating behavior and urination. Or prick its nose with pig bristles and pine hairs, causing urine to flow).