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Elephant Skin (Xiangpi), sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It is specifically capable of generating flesh and promoting tissue regeneration, and its efficacy in calming mania and stopping vomiting is miraculous, yet this is unknown to the general public. Its hide is extremely difficult to crush; if carried on one's person for three days, it can then be ground into a powder. The public only uses it as a miraculous remedy for external surgical applications, unaware that its use in internal medicine is even more extraordinary.

One might ask: Elephant skin has a strong astringent property and excels at promoting flesh growth, making it an essential herb for metallic wounds (Jinchuang). Its use in external treatment is appropriate, but its use in internal treatment seems unsuitable. Yet you claim it calms mania and stops vomiting. Why? I reply: The flavor and nature of elephant skin are harmonious; it harmonizes the five Zang organs and indeed does not cause any adverse deviation from the condition. Therefore, utilizing its strong astringency and ability to promote flesh growth, it is not limited to external treatment; it effectively calms mania and stops vomiting internally.

Horse Penis (Baima Jing), sweet and salty in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It should be hung against a wall to dry in the shade, ensuring the process lasts over one hundred days. It is then boiled in wine until dry, and sun-dried before use. It specifically tonifies sexual function, enhancing the size and stature of the genitalia, replenishing essence and marrow, restoring potency in cases of impotence, and promoting growth in cases of underdevelopment. However, it must be combined with herbs such as Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), Corni Fructus (Shanzhuyu), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Eucommiae Cortex (Duzhong), Prepared Rehmanniae Radix (Shudi), Lycii Fructus (Gouqi), Platycladi Semen (Baiziren), Epimedii Herba (Yinyanghuo), Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (Zaoren), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Astragali Radix (Huangqi), Brassicae Semenis Albus (Baijiezi), Poria (Fushen), and Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niuxi) to achieve superior efficacy; otherwise, its effect is mediocre. Used for procreation, it causes no harm; used merely for pleasure, it invites disaster.

Some doubt that horse penis can enhance yang function, considering it a strange tale; furthermore, claiming it promotes growth seems even more bizarre. I answer: Alas! What is strange about this? Heaven and Earth produce every thing for human use. Whenever humans have a deficiency, Nature produces a corresponding remedy to fill that gap. The ability of horse penis to enhance penile growth is precisely Nature’s provision to compensate for human physical deficiencies. Among men worldwide who are infertile, it is not solely due to coldness of the Gate of Life (Mingmen), nor solely due to insufficiency of Kidney Water. Often, the penis is too small to arouse women, and the ejaculated semen falls far short of the uterine entrance, unable to penetrate directly, resulting in failure to conceive and lack of heirs—a situation seen everywhere. People do not understand this cause; they blindly use yang-tonifying herbs when yang is not actually deficient, and yin-tonifying herbs when yin is not actually depleted. They take medicine for a lifetime, sighing in despair, which is truly pitiable. I, Chen Shiduo, personally received transmission from an extraordinary master. If I do not widely disseminate these secret instructions, would I not betray Heaven’s profound intention to create all things and humanity? Therefore, I exhaustively elaborate and promote this knowledge, so that childless people throughout the world and future generations may have children, bringing great comfort to my heart. However, this theory of enhancing penile growth is intended to cure infertility. For those who already have children, if they heed my words to prepare aphrodisiacs, relying solely on penile enhancement to display novelty and aid lustful desires, they will suffer heavenly punishment. This blame lies not with me. [Commentary: Predecessors dared not lightly discuss the growth-enhancing properties of horse penis, fearing heavenly retribution. Yuan Gong’s letters stated there should be no concealment, originally for the sake of procreation. Using it for procreation incurs no fault; using it for pleasure inevitably brings disaster.]