【气味】
苦温无毒。
【主治】
明目轻身。咳逆肺痿诸风 疡。补肾。治腰痛泄精。虚损劳乏。古方补肾治风。皆
用白蒺藜。补肾益精。则用沙苑蒺藜。然究之其性宣通。久服不冷而无壅热。肾水自得其天
。功用俱同一也。（白者炒研去茨用。沙苑者酒蒸晒干。）
（造胆星法。以生南星研末。腊月取黄牯牛胆汁和剂纳入胆中。系悬风处干之。年久
者弥佳。）
【气味】
苦温有大毒。阴中之阳。可升可降。乃手足太阴脾肺之药。
【主治】
性辛而麻。故能治风散血。气温而燥。故能胜湿除涎。紧而毒。故能攻积拔肿。而
治口 舌縻。然得防风则不麻。得牛胆则不燥。得火炮则不毒。
（凡用须炙令黄色熟捣。口含少许。奔走不喘息者、乃为真也。可入丸散。其毒在眼。
须去眼及甲上尾上腹上肉毛。雄为蛤。雌为蚧。身长四五寸。尾与身等。药力在尾。尾不全
者不效。）
【气味】
咸平有小毒。
【主治】
积久咳嗽。肺痿咯血。肺痈急。通水道。昔人言补可去弱。人参羊肉之属。蛤蚧补
肺气。定喘止渴。功同人参。益阴血。助精扶羸。功同羊肉。
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, warm, non-toxic.
[Indications]
Improves vision and lightens the body. Treats cough with rebellious qi (Ke Ni), lung atrophy (Fei Wei), and various wind-pathogen-induced sores (Yang). Tonifies the Kidney, treats lower back pain, seminal emission (Xie Jing), deficiency exhaustion, and labor fatigue. In ancient formulas for tonifying the Kidney and treating wind conditions, white Tribulus (Bai Jili) is used; whereas for tonifying the Kidney and benefiting essence, Shaoyuan Tribulus (Shayuan Jili) is used. However, upon investigation, its nature is dispersing and unblocking; long-term use does not cause coldness nor stagnation-heat, allowing Kidney Water to naturally thrive. Their functions are essentially identical. (White variety should be stir-fried, ground, and thorns removed before use; Shaoyuan variety should be steamed with wine and sun-dried.)
(Method of preparing Dan Xing: Grind raw Arisaema Rhizome (Sheng Nanxing) into powder. In the twelfth lunar month, collect bile from a yellow ox, mix with the powder, place inside the gallbladder, hang in a ventilated place to dry. The older, the better.)
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, warm, highly toxic. Yang within Yin. Can ascend and descend. It is a herb acting on the Foot-Taiyin Spleen and Hand-Taiyin Lung meridians.
[Indications]
Its nature is acrid and numbing, thus it can dispel wind and dissipate blood stasis. Its temperature is warm and drying, thus it can overcome dampness and eliminate phlegm-saliva. It is dense and toxic, thus it can attack accumulations and draw out swelling, treating oral and lingual ulceration (Kou She Mi). However, when combined with Saposhnikovia Root (Fangfeng), it loses its numbing property; when combined with Ox Bile (Niudan Dan), it loses its dryness; when processed by fire (Huopao), its toxicity is reduced.
(When used, it must be roasted until yellow and thoroughly pounded. If held in the mouth slightly and one can run without panting, it is genuine. It can be made into pills or powders. Its toxicity lies in the eyes; one must remove the eyes and the hairs on the shell, tail, and abdomen. The male is called Ge, the female Jie. Body length 4-5 cun, tail equal to body length. The medicinal power resides in the tail; those with incomplete tails are ineffective.)
[Flavor and Nature]
Salty, neutral, slightly toxic.
[Indications]
Treats chronic cough, lung atrophy with hemoptysis, acute lung abscess (Fei Yong). Promotes water passage. Ancients stated "Tonification can remove weakness," such as Ginseng (Renshen) and mutton. Gecko (Gejie) tonifies Lung Qi, stabilizes asthma, and relieves thirst; its efficacy is comparable to Ginseng. It benefits Yin and Blood, assists Essence, and supports emaciated constitutions; its efficacy is comparable to mutton.
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications]
Treats lower back pain, infant back stiffness, and carbuncles/swellings. Treats uterine bleeding (Beng Zhong) and insufficiency in women. Calms the fetus and treats residual postpartum disorders. Promotes lactation. Strengthens sinews and bones. Benefits blood vessels.