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Taste and Nature: Acrid, Warm, Non-toxic.
Main Actions: Expels evil qi, kills ghostly essences and objects, eliminates three types of parasites and gu poison, treats warm malaria (Wen Nue), and jing xian (convulsions and epilepsy). Long-term use removes pathogenic factors and prevents nightmares or sleep paralysis.

(Note: The musk deer resembles a small roe deer with black fur, commonly eating cypress leaves and snakes/insects. Its fragrance is located at the navel, hence the name "Musk Umbilical Fragrance." Li Shizhen stated: "The fragrance of musk travels far, thus it is called Musk Xiang." It is produced inside the skin anterior to the penis, enclosed in a separate membrane sac. In winter, the scent fills the sac; by spring, it becomes even more intense. The animal scratches it out and hides it under the soil with its own claws; this type yields the best quality but is difficult to obtain. Musk from Qiangyi regions is mostly authentic and of the highest quality. That from Sui Commandery, Yiyang, and Jinxi barbarian areas is second best. Musk from Yizhou is flat-shaped and often counterfeit. Genuine musk pieces can be divided into three or four parts; the blood membrane is scraped off, mixed with other substances, wrapped in the skin of the four legs' knees, and sold. Sellers further forge it, so users must discern authenticity.)

All fragrances originate from trees and plants, but Musk Xiang uniquely originates from essence and blood. It is a miraculous fragrance with an acrid, dispersing, and warm-moving nature. The action of "expelling evil qi" is due to its pleasant aroma. The actions of "killing ghostly essences and eliminating parasites/gu poison" are due to its acrid, warm, and penetrating nature, which emanates from within, causing yin-type pathogens to dissipate. Warm malaria (Wen Nue) involves fever preceding chills, with the pathology rooted in the Kidney. Since Musk Xiang's fragrance arises from the Kidney, it treats warm malaria. Jing xian (convulsions/epilepsy) results from confusion of Heart Qi and obstruction by phlegm-saliva. Musk Xiang, being acrid, warm, and opening orifices, treats these conditions. Long-term use unblocks and facilitates the mechanisms of the zang-fu organs, thereby removing pathogens and preventing waking nightmares or sleep oppression.

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Taste and Nature: Sweet, Neutral, Non-toxic.
Main Actions: Treats leukorrhea with red and white discharge (Lou Xia Chi Bai), breaks up masses and nodules (Zheng Jia) and malaria, treats five types of hemorrhoids (Wu Zhi), genital erosion (Yin Shi), damp-bi syndrome, heaviness and weakness of the four limbs, and failure of the fontanelle to close in children. Long-term use lightens the body and suppresses hunger.

(Note: Turtles are found in rivers, lakes, and seas. Those from Huzhou, Jiangzhou, and Jiaozhou are considered superior. The shell should be white, thick, and clearly colored for the best medicinal quality. Some live in water, others on land; aquatic turtles are preferred for medicine. Ancient texts used both upper and lower shells, but Ri Hua Zi used only the plastron (lower plate), a practice followed by later generations. Tao Hongjing stated: Use raw turtle shell, roasted before use. Ri Hua Zi said: Plastrons that have been burned ten times on the underside are called "Bai Gui Ban" (Defeated Turtle Shell) and are excellent for medicine. Wu Qiu said: Ancients used defeated turtle shell to tonify Yin, borrowing its qi. Modern people use drilled or boiled shells, where the medicinal qi is lost. The best are those that fell naturally due to wind in the valleys of Lingshan. Those that shed naturally in fields/pools are next best. Those broken by humans are inferior. I argue: Turtles possess spiritual intelligence and longevity; if they die naturally, it indicates illness. Roasted shells have lost their spiritual efficacy. Only raw turtle shell, roasted before use, is optimal.)

Among the 360 species of shelled creatures (Jie Chong), the turtle is the leader. The turtle's form corresponds to the Li trigram, while its spirit resides in the Kan trigram. With the head retracting into the abdomen and the intestines connecting to the head, it represents Yang Qi descending into Yin and facilitating the ascent of Yin Qi. It treats leukorrhea by promoting the ascent of Yin Qi. It breaks up masses because shelled creatures belong to Metal, which has the ability to attack hardness. Malaria here refers to Yin malaria. When Yang Qi returns to Yin, Yin-cold pathogens are eliminated, treating Yin malaria. Five hemorrhoids and genital erosion involve ulceration and damage similar to erosion by Yin parasites. When Yang enters Yin, Yin parasites disperse. The connection of intestines to the head implies that sinking Qi can be lifted, curing hemorrhoids and erosion. Damp-bi causing limb heaviness and weakness is due to dampness forming bi syndrome. Turtles live in water and overcome dampness; their shells represent the Metal element (hardness/strength), curing damp-bi and limb weakness. Failure of the pediatric fontanelle to close is a congenital defect due to insufficient Kidney Qi. The turtle stores spirit in Yin and brings Yin out to Yang, thus closing the fontanelle. Long-term use harmonizes and secures Yin and Yang, resulting in a light body and reduced hunger. The *Shennong Ben Cao Jing* mentions only Turtle Shell; later generations boiled the shell into gelatin (Gui Ban Jiao). The functions are similar, but the texture is slightly more stagnant. Turtle shell is hard and firm; gelatin is soft and moist. Scholars should understand this distinction and use them accordingly.