(鱼)
鲩鱼(专入脾胃)。食品味长。江湖与池皆有。以草为饲。常与青鲢混杂。故名曰鲩。
又名曰
鲲。(时珍曰。鲩因其性舒缓而名。)第在池中。则味甘温无毒。时珍言其暖中和胃。即是此
物。若在江湖所蓄。则饲非尽青草。常有秽恶混食。故书又言食能发疮。但鱼性多温。无论
在池在湖。施于阳脏之人。则自发热动燥。施于阴脏之人。不惟其燥全无。且更鲜有温和之
力矣。食物之宜。当先视人脏气以为转移。非独鲩鱼然也。胆味苦寒。能治一切竹木刺在喉
中。以酒化二三枚。温服取吐。即出。
(鱼)温胃止泄
鲦鱼(专入肠胃心)。江湖小鱼耳。时珍曰。长仅数寸。形狭如扁。状似柳叶。鳞细而
整。洁
白可爱。性爱群游。洵小鱼中之最善者也。味甘性温无毒。据书言其主治。有曰暖胃止泻。
是其性温之力。又曰煮食已忧。得非性爱群游而能使人之忧自已乎?于此可见食物之助矣
。
(鱼)治痨瘵血蛊
鳜鱼(专入脾胃)。即俗所云桂鱼者是也。味甘性平小毒。按书言此性最疏利。凡腹内
聚有恶
血水蛊。服此最属有效。故于痨瘵最宜。昔有邵氏年十八病瘵。累年不愈。偶服鳜鱼而痊。
非其性最疏利。能治恶血虫蛊之意乎。但此有 刺十二。以应十二月之数。若人误受鲠害。
则惟取榄核磨水以解。以鱼最畏橄榄故也。尾贴小儿软疖佳。胆治骨鲠竹木刺入咽喉。不拘
大人小儿。或入腹刺痛。服之皆出。(腊月收大鳜鱼胆。悬北檐下阴干。遇鲠者。用皂子大
。酒碎温服。得吐则鲠随涎出。未出再服。以出为度。酒随量饮。无不出者。)如无鳜鱼胆
。鲩鱼青鱼胆鲫鱼胆亦用。
(Fish)
Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) [specifically enters the Spleen and Stomach]. As food, its flavor is rich. It is found in both rivers/lakes and ponds. It is fed with grass. It often mixes with bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), hence the name "Huan".
Also known as Kun. (Li Shizhen said: Grass carp is named so because of its mild and gentle nature.) If raised in a pond, its taste is sweet and warm, non-toxic. Li Shizhen stated that it warms and harmonizes the Stomach Qi, referring to this specific type. If raised in rivers or lakes, its feed is not entirely green grass; it often consumes filth and foul substances mixed in. Therefore, medical texts also state that eating it can trigger sores/ulcers. However, fish generally have a warm nature. Regardless of whether they are from ponds or lakes, when consumed by individuals with a Yang-dominant constitution, it naturally causes heat and agitation; when consumed by individuals with a Yin-dominant constitution, not only is there no risk of dryness/heat, but the warming and tonifying power is even less pronounced. The suitability of food should be adjusted based on the person's organ constitution first, which applies not only to grass carp.
Gallbladder (of the fish): Taste bitter, cold. Can treat any bamboo or wood splinters stuck in the throat. Dissolve two or three pieces in wine, take warm to induce vomiting, and the splinter will come out.
(Fish) Warms the Stomach and stops diarrhea
Tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) [specifically enters the Intestines, Stomach, Heart]. It is merely a small fish in rivers and lakes. Li Shizhen said: It is only a few inches long, narrow and flat in shape, resembling a willow leaf. Its scales are fine and neat, clean and white, lovely. Its nature loves to swim in schools, truly the most virtuous among small fish. Taste sweet, nature warm, non-toxic. According to texts, its main indications include warming the Stomach and stopping diarrhea, which demonstrates its warming power. Others say cooking and eating it can alleviate sorrow/worry; does this not imply that its habit of swimming in schools helps relieve human sorrow? From this, we can see the auxiliary role of food.
(Fish) Treats consumptive disease (Laozai) and blood ascites (Xugǔ)
Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) [specifically enters the Spleen and Stomach]. This is what is commonly known as Guiyu. Taste sweet, nature neutral, slightly toxic. According to texts, its nature is highly dispersing and promoting free flow. It is most effective for treating accumulated evil blood and water ascites in the abdomen. Therefore, it is most suitable for consumptive diseases. In the past, a person surnamed Shao suffered from consumption at age eighteen, unhealed for years. He accidentally ate Mandarin fish and recovered. Does this not reflect its nature of being highly dispersing and promoting free flow, capable of treating evil blood and parasitic ascites? However, it has twelve bones, corresponding to the number of months in a year. If one is accidentally choked by a bone, grinding olive pit (Canarium album) into water can resolve the issue, as fish fear olives the most. Placing the tail on soft carbuncles in children is beneficial. The gallbladder treats bone or wood splinters entering the throat, regardless of adult or child. If swallowed causing abdominal stabbing pain, taking it will expel them. (Collect large Mandarin fish gallbladders in the twelfth lunar month, hang them under the north eaves to dry in the shade. For choking incidents, use an amount the size of a soap bean, crush with wine, take warm. Vomiting will cause the splinter to exit with saliva. If not expelled, take again until expelled. Drink wine according to tolerance; none fail to expel.) If Mandarin fish gallbladder is unavailable, gallbladders from grass carp, black carp, or crucian carp can also be used.