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(Non-scaled fish) Unblocks liver stasis and purges intestinal filth.

Abalone (Specifically enters the Liver meridian, and additionally enters the Large Intestine). According to Zhang Lu from Changzhou: This fish has a fishy and foul odor; it can only be sun-dried without salt, but cannot be boiled with salt. When dried, its shape resembles chunks of meat. It is warm in nature and non-toxic. It specifically utilizes its fishy and foul nature to purge all kinds of accumulated stasis, based on the principle of "resonance of similar energies" (Tong Qi Xiang Gan). Entering the Liver to dissipate blood stasis, when taken with the decoction of Abalone to deliver Si Wu Ju Yi Ru Wan (Four Cuttlebone and One Asarum Pill), it treats amenorrhea due to blood exhaustion in women. The *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine) states that it benefits the Liver and intestines without damaging the Yuan Qi (Original Qi). Unfortunately, it is rarely used in the world today. Currently, cooks use it to boil meat, where grease and foam are completely dissolved, which verifies its efficacy in cleansing dirt and greasiness. In the past, when Qin Shi Huang died at Shaqiu during the hot summer season and his corpse began to rot, he ordered carts loaded with Abalone to mask the odor. Since Qin Shi Huang was originally the illegitimate son of Lü Buwei, mingling within the palace harem, did this not imply the meaning of purging residual stench?

(Non-scaled fish) Dispels wind-heat from the orifices of the Liver and Kidneys, and kills parasites.

Eel (Specifically enters the Liver and Kidney meridians, and additionally enters the orifices). Among the varieties, those with broad mouths are called Eel (Mian), and those with pointed mouths are called Loach-like Eel (Li). Both are born by inheriting the Yin Qi of the earth. They have a sweet taste and cold nature. Their shape resembles snakes, and they often share burrows with water snakes; therefore, their nature is slightly toxic, and their power is good at moving swiftly and drilling into holes. Thus, texts state that they can dispel wind and kill parasites. (Note: Parasites arise from wind, hence the character for "wind" contains the radical for "insect".) Such conditions as bone-steaming consumption (Gu Zheng Lao Zhai), hemorrhoids, erosive sores of the vaginal opening, damp-bi with wind-induced itching, and deficiency consumptive diseases, etc., are beneficial if one frequently consumes them. (Deficiency consumptive diseases are often caused by insect erosion. Those suffering from consumption may infect others, leading to several deaths. Consequently, patients were nailed into coffins and abandoned in flowing water to permanently cut off transmission. Fishermen found this strange; upon opening the coffin, they saw a woman still alive. They placed her in their fishing hut and had her eat much eel. Her illness was cured, and she eventually became his wife. The *Shenghui Fang* prescribes eating lightly roasted eel to treat various types of parasitic heart pain, excessive vomiting, and fullness/stuffiness caused by cold qi attacking upward.) Zhang Ding stated: Burning its bones to produce smoke can repel mosquitoes and midges; smoking bamboo and wood in houses can prevent woodworms; placing bones in clothing chests can prevent bookworms. However, for those with Spleen and Stomach deficiency with diarrhea, and pregnant women, consuming it is strictly contraindicated. (Because its nature is slippery and its qi is cold.) Any eel that walks in water with its head raised, and weighs three or four jin, having black spots under the abdomen and dots on the back, is toxic and must absolutely not be eaten.