犀角，味苦、酸、咸，气寒，无毒。人身怀之，为末。入阳明。杀钩吻、鸩、蛇毒、山
瘴溪
毒，百毒皆除。尸疰、鬼疰恶邪，狐魅、精神诸邪尽遣。伤寒温疫，能解热烦。疮肿、痈疽
，专破脓血。镇肝明目，定神安心。孕妇忌服，恐消胎气。此物乃佐使之神药，不可不用，
而又不可多用者也。盖犀角属阳，其性喜走而不喜守，守者气存，走者气散。用犀角者，不
过欲其走达阳明之经也。然而，犀角不特走阳明也，如有引经之药，各经皆能通达。倘无邪
气，孟浪多用，耗散各脏之气，势所不免。气散则血耗，血耗则火起，未有不变生他病者矣
，故无邪热之症，断不可多用。
或疑犀角入阳明而散热，岂入阳明而散气乎？曰∶犀角入阳明，原该散热，而不该散气，
然
有热则散热，无热必散真气矣。今真气既散，反生内热矣，故犀角善用则解热，不善用又安
能解热哉。
或问犀角有通天之功，信乎？曰∶谓犀角通天者，通人之巅顶也。犀角，阳明经之药，
由鼻
而升于头，而下环于唇口之间，故凡有头面之火，不得不藉之为使，令其自下而上也。
羚羊角，味咸、苦，气寒，无毒。专走肝经。解伤寒寒热在肌肤，散温风注毒伏于骨内，
安
心气，除魇寐惊梦狂越，辟邪气，祛恶鬼。小儿惊痫，产妇败血，皆能治之。此物亦备用，
以待变者也。
羚羊角，不可轻用之药，宜于治实症，而不宜于治虚症。
或问羚羊角，别本载久服强筋骨，轻身，起阴益气，利丈夫，似乎为强阳助气之品。缪仲醇
谓∶火热则阴反不能起，而筋骨软。咸寒入下焦，除邪热，则阴自起，气自益，筋骨强，身
轻也。仲醇之言，未尝非是，然而羚羊角实不能补虚。仲醇亦
因《本草》载有利益之语，故曲为解之云，久服强筋骨轻身，起阳益气，入下焦除热，则阴
自起，气自益，筋骨强。实治邪而不补正气，不可误也。终不可据之，以望其滋补也。
Rhinoceros Horn (Xijiao), tastes bitter, sour, and salty; nature is cold; non-toxic. Carrying it on the person and grinding it into powder. Enters the Yangming channel (Yangming meridian). Kills the poison of Gouwen (Gelsemium elegans), Zhen (poisonous bird), snake venom, mountain miasma, and stream toxins; eliminates all kinds of poisons. Expels Shizhu (corpse infection, a contagious chronic wasting disease), Guizhu (ghost infection) evil pathogens, as well as various evils related to fox spirits and mental disturbances. For Shanghan (Cold Damage) and Wenyi (Warm Epidemic), it can relieve heat and irritability. For sores, swelling, carbuncles, and ulcers, it specifically breaks down pus and blood. Calms the Liver, brightens the eyes, stabilizes the Spirit, and soothes the Heart. Contraindicated for pregnant women, as it may dissipate fetal Qi. This substance is a divine assistant and guide drug; it must be used but should not be overused. Rhinoceros Horn belongs to Yang; its nature prefers to move/disperse rather than retain/consolidate. Retention preserves Qi, while movement disperses Qi. Those who use Rhinoceros Horn merely desire its ability to reach the Yangming channel. However, Rhinoceros Horn does not only enter the Yangming channel; with guiding herbs, it can penetrate all channels. If there are no pathogenic factors, reckless and excessive use will inevitably dissipate the Qi of the Zang organs. Dispersed Qi leads to consumed Blood; consumed Blood leads to arising Fire; without exception, other diseases will arise. Therefore, in cases without pathogenic heat, it must absolutely not be used in large doses.
One might doubt: Does Rhinoceros Horn enter the Yangming channel to dissipate heat, or does it dissipate Qi? The answer is: Rhinoceros Horn entering the Yangming channel ought to dissipate heat, not Qi. However, if there is heat, it dissipates heat; if there is no heat, it will necessarily dissipate True Qi. Once True Qi is dissipated, internal heat arises instead. Thus, when used skillfully, Rhinoceros Horn resolves heat; when used unskillfully, how can it resolve heat?
One asks: Is it true that Rhinoceros Horn has the power to "penetrate heaven"? The answer is: Saying Rhinoceros Horn penetrates heaven refers to penetrating the vertex of the head. Rhinoceros Horn is a herb of the Yangming channel; it ascends from the nose to the head and descends to circle around the lips and mouth. Therefore, for any fire in the head and face, one must rely on it as a guide to lead the action upward from below.
Antelope Horn (Lingyangjiao), tastes salty and bitter; nature is cold; non-toxic. Specifically enters the Liver channel. Resolves chills and fever in the skin and muscles caused by Shanghan; disperses Wenfeng (warm wind) and Zhu Du (infected toxin) latent within the bones; calms the Heart Qi; eliminates nightmares, startle dreams, mania, and behavioral excesses; repels evil Qi; dispels evil ghosts. Treats pediatric Jingxian (pediatric convulsion); treats Chanfu Baixue (postpartum retained blood/stasis). This substance is also kept in reserve to handle changes in condition.
Antelope Horn is a herb that should not be used lightly; it is suitable for treating Excess patterns (Shi Zheng) but unsuitable for treating Deficiency patterns (Xu Zheng).
One asks: Other materia medica texts record that long-term consumption strengthens sinews and bones, lightens the body, raises Yin, benefits Qi, and aids men, seemingly indicating it is a substance that strengthens Yang and boosts Qi. Miao Zhongchun stated: When there is fire-heat, Yin cannot rise, resulting in soft sinews and bones. Salty and cold substances enter the Lower Jiao; by eliminating pathogenic heat, Yin naturally rises, Qi naturally benefits, sinews and bones become strong, and the body feels light. Miao Zhongchun's words are not incorrect, yet Antelope Horn actually cannot tonify deficiency. Miao Zhongchun, seeing the beneficial statements in the Bencao, interpreted them curiously: long-term consumption strengthens sinews and bones, lightens the body, raises Yang, benefits Qi, and clears heat in the Lower Jiao, causing Yin to rise and Qi to benefit. In reality, it treats pathogenic factors rather than tonifying Righteous Qi; this must not be misunderstood. One must ultimately not rely on it expecting tonic nourishment.