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(Animal-derived drugs) Enter the Liver channel to nourish blood, and unblock and moisten the Heart, Lungs, and Kidneys.

Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin) (Specifically enters the Liver channel, and concurrently enters the Lung, Kidney, and Heart channels). It has a sweet taste and neutral nature, with a moist texture. It specifically enters the Liver channel to nourish blood. Why do some texts state that it dispels wind and transforms phlegm? This is because when blood becomes dry due to heat, wind arises spontaneously. Ejiao absorbs the pure yin Ji River water from A Well, combined with the donkey skin, which is purely black and nourishes yin. (Zong Shuo: Donkey skin is decocted into gelatin to leverage its ability to disperse pathogens on the exterior of the skin. The use of black donkey skin is based on the principle that black corresponds to Water, thereby controlling the concept that "extreme heat generates wind." Similar principles apply to black eggs and black chickens.) Its flavor and qi are both yin. Having entered the Liver channel to nourish blood, it further enters the Kidney channel to nourish kidney water. When kidney water is replenished, internal heat is naturally controlled, and thus wind does not arise. (Cang Qi said: All gels primarily treat wind, stop diarrhea, and tonify deficiency, but donkey-hide gelatin is the most effective for dispelling wind.) Furthermore, gelatin is moistening and not drying. Its nature can moisten the Lungs and descend turbidity, preventing phlegm from counterflowing upward. Regarding hemorrhoids, fistulas, intestinal wind bleeding, epistaxis, hematuria, and dysentery (dysentery caused by heat), as well as amenorrhea, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, fetal restlessness, and carbuncles and swellings, treatment yields significant effects. These conditions also arise from blood dryness and latent heat; therefore, they are resolved through nourishing and moistening. This is a crucial agent for nourishing blood, moistening dryness in the Blood level, nourishing the Lungs, and clearing heat. It differs from He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), whose efficacy specializes in entering the Liver channel to nourish blood, dispel wind, darken hair, and blacken beard, yet falls short in moistening dryness and calming asthma in the Lung channel; Lu Jiao Jiao (Deer Antler Gelatin) specializes in warming and tonifying the Du and Chong vessels to benefit blood, but lacks efficacy in clearing heat and stopping cough in the Lung channel; Gui Ban Jiao (Tortoise Shell Gelatin) excels in tonifying extreme yin and unblocking the Ren vessel, clearing heat and steaming bone disorder, yet cannot tonify yang within yin. The ancients said, "Ejiao nourishes the spirit, Renshen (Ginseng) benefits qi," precisely referring to this. The best quality is characterized by a black luster with a green tint and does not soften in summer. It can be sliced and stir-fried into beads, or stir-fried with flour, clam shell powder (to resolve phlegm), or Puhuang (Typha pollen) (to stop bleeding), or dissolved in wine and water for use. Yam (Shan Yao) serves as a guiding herb. It is incompatible with Dahuang (Rhubarb). Niu Jiao (Ox-hide Gelatin) has effects similar to Ejiao. (Chen Ziming stated: Use ox-hide gelatin for tonifying deficiency, and donkey-hide gelatin for dispelling wind. Li Shizhen stated: Ejiao is difficult to obtain; authentic ox-hide gelatin can be used as a substitute. Their properties and flavors are both mildly tonic, suitable for deficiency-heat patterns. In contrast, Lu Jiao Jiao (Deer Antler Gelatin) has a hot and tonic nature and is not suitable for those with deficiency-heat. Careful distinction is necessary.) Niu Jiao can nourish blood and dispel wind, but overall, it is not as superior as Ejiao in nourishing blood and treating wind.