味甘、辛，性平，有毒。
口眼不正，疮毒肿浮。头风香港脚，瘰疠丹瘤。胞衣不下，子肠不收。
如前诸症，皆从外治，不经内服，以其长于吸收，能拔病气出外。凡服蓖麻，一生不得
食豆，犯之甚者能胀死。
味辛，性温，无毒。入脾、胃二经。
破症积，辛散温行，内外同施。除邪气，杀虫化蛊。实者投之。
臭烈殊常，故杀蛊辟恶，辛则能散，温则能行，故消积化蛊。
人之血气，闻香则顺，闻臭则逆；故凡虚人，虽有痞积，不可轻用。当先养胃气，
胃强则坚积渐磨而消矣。经
曰∶“大积大聚，其可犯也。衰其大半而止”，盖重视于根本者乎。
制成膏药，外贴化痞积，平稳可取。
味辛，性温，无毒。入心经。忌大蒜。微研。
作外治，用途甚广；若内服，多入丸丹。开窍通经，穿筋透骨。理客忤，治惊痫。杀虫
蛊，
去风痰。搜秽辟邪，催生堕胎。救卒中之内闭，消僵肿之疽瘿。
走窜飞扬，内透骨髓，外彻皮毛。东垣云∶“搜骨髓之风，风在肌肉者，误用之，反引
风入
骨。证属虚者，概勿施用，必不得已亦宜少用”。李时珍谓其通诸窍。王好古谓其疗鼻窒不
闻香臭。痨怯人及孕妇，不宜佩带。
味咸，性温，无毒。
合金疮之要药，长肌肉之神丹。
以钩刺插入大象皮中，顷刻创收，故主用如上。
[Background Information]
Book: Bencao Zhengyao (Essentials of Materia Medica)
Author: Li Zhongzi
Dynasty: Ming
Chapter: (1) Plant Medicines / ... / (2) Animal Medicines (Total 4 sections)
Category: Materia Medica
[Original Text to Process]
Taste: Sweet, Pungent. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Toxic.
Indications: Facial paralysis (deviation of mouth and eyes), toxic sores with swelling and edema. Head wind (headache due to wind pathogen), podagra (Hong Kong foot/athlete's foot-like conditions), scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis), and carbuncles/nodules. Retained placenta, prolapse of the rectum or uterus.
For all the aforementioned conditions, treatment is exclusively external; internal administration is contraindicated. This is because it excels in absorption and can draw pathological factors outwards. Anyone who takes Ricinus communis (Castor Bean) internally must never consume beans for life; severe violation can lead to death by distension.
Taste: Pungent. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Spleen, Stomach.
Action: Breaks up masses and accumulations (Zheng Ji). Its pungency disperses and warmth promotes circulation, effective both internally and externally. Eliminates pathogenic factors, kills parasites, and resolves gu-poison (parasitic diseases caused by decay/toxins). Suitable for excess patterns.
Its odor is exceptionally strong and foul, thus killing parasites and repelling evil influences. Pungency allows dispersion, and warmth allows movement, thereby resolving accumulations and dissolving gu-poison.
Human blood and qi flow smoothly upon smelling fragrant odors but become turbulent upon smelling foul odors; therefore, for patients with deficiency patterns, even if they have stagnation and accumulation, this herb should not be used lightly. One must first nourish Stomach Qi; when the Stomach is strong, solid accumulations will gradually be ground down and resolved. The Classics state: "In cases of massive accumulation, one may intervene, but stop when more than half has been reduced." This emphasizes the importance of preserving the root (healthy Qi).
Prepared as a plaster for external application to resolve stagnation and accumulation; it is stable and effective.
Taste: Pungent. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Heart. Contraindications: Garlic. Preparation: Finely ground.
Used externally, its applications are extensive; if taken internally, it is mostly incorporated into pills and elixirs. Opens orifices and unblocks meridians, penetrates tendons and bones. Treats ke-wu (sudden illness due to encountering strange spirits/enviroments), treats convulsions and epilepsy. Kills parasites and gu-poison, expels wind-phlegm. Searches out filth and repels evil, induces labor, and causes abortion. Rescues from sudden stroke with internal blockage, reduces hard swelling from carbuncles and goiters.
It moves rapidly and vigorously, penetrating internally to the bone marrow and externally through the skin and hair. Dongyuan said: "If wind in the bone marrow or muscles is treated incorrectly with this, it may instead draw wind into the bones." For patterns belonging to deficiency, it should generally not be used; if absolutely necessary, use sparingly. Li Shizhen stated that it opens all orifices. Wang Haogu stated that it treats nasal obstruction where one cannot smell fragrance or stench. Patients with consumption and weakness, as well as pregnant women, should not wear it.
Taste: Salty. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic.
It is an essential medicine for healing metal wounds and a miraculous pill for promoting flesh growth.
Because its hooks penetrate into elephant skin, causing wounds to close instantly, its main uses are as described above.