(水禽)腻滞壅发之品
鹅(专入脾。兼入肝肺)。肉按书有言味甘性平。有言味辛性凉。有言气味俱浓而毒。
有言服
则解热解毒。有言服则发风发疮发毒。持论不同。臆见各一。究之味甘不补。味辛不散。体
润而滞。性平而凉。人服之则可以解五脏之热。及于服丹之人最宜者。因其病属体实气燥。
得此甘平以解之也。煮汁能止渴者。以其肉多肥腻而壅不渴之意也!发风发疮发毒。因其病
多湿热。得此湿胜气壅外发热出者意也。是以鹅体之润。在膏与 。( 即鹅尾之肉。)可以
润皮肤而合面脂。灌孔耳而治卒聋。涂皱裂而消痈毒。在涎可以入喉而治谷芒。一皆体润和
燥之力。即卵气味甘温。可以补中益气。而犹有多食发疾之戒。非性属腻滞。曷为其有是乎
?血兼热饮。可治血膈吐逆不食病根。非是以血引血之意乎?血与毛可治射工之毒。(异物
志云。邕州蛮人选鹅腹毳毛为衣被絮。柔暖而性冷。婴儿尤宜之。能辟惊痫。)非鹅能食此
蛊以物制物之意乎?(弘景曰。东川多溪毒。养鹅以辟之。又曰。鹅未必食射工。盖以威相
制耳。禽经云。鹅飞则蜮沉。蜮即射工也。)屎可以治小儿鹅口疮。(自内生出可治。自外生
入不可治。治用食草白鹅下清粪滤汁。入沙糖少许搽之。或用雄鸡粪眠倒者烧灰。入麝香少
许搽之。并效。)及敷蛇咬之毒。非藉秽以入秽解毒之意乎?胆可以解热毒痔疮。(白鹅胆二
三枚取汁。入熊胆二分。片脑半分。研匀。磁器密封。勿令泄气。用则手指涂之。立效。)
非其鹅性不温而胆亦能润燥之意乎?凡此所见治略。皆有义存。不可仅执是温是冷之说。
以致忘其主脑也。(藏器曰。苍鹅食虫。主射工毒为良。白鹅不食虫。止渴为胜。)
(As a waterfowl, goose is a substance that is greasy and cloying, prone to obstructing qi mechanism and inducing diseases.)
Goose (primarily enters the Spleen meridian, and also enters the Liver and Lung meridians). Regarding goose meat, books record varying descriptions: some state it has a sweet taste and neutral nature; others claim it has a pungent taste and cool nature; still others assert its aroma and flavor are intense and toxic.
Some say consuming it can clear heat and resolve toxicity; others say consuming it induces wind, sores, and toxic conditions. These arguments differ, each holding its own opinion. Upon investigation, goose meat's sweet taste does not tonify, nor does its pungency disperse. Its texture is moist yet cloying, and its nature is neutral yet cool. Human consumption of it can resolve heat in the five zang organs. It is particularly suitable for those who have taken Dan Shi (cinnabar/stone elixirs), because their condition belongs to excess constitution and dryness-heat, which this sweet-neutral substance resolves.
Goose meat decoction can relieve thirst, implying that due to its fatty and greasy flesh, consumption leads to obstruction and subsequent thirst! The assertion that it induces wind, sores, and toxins implies that many patients' conditions involve damp-heat; consuming this substance causes dampness to prevail and qi to stagnate, leading to external release of heat.
Therefore, the moistening property of goose lies in its fat and goose tail meat (i.e., the flesh of the goose tail), which can moisturize the skin when combined with facial cosmetics; instilling into the ear canal treats sudden deafness; applying to wrinkles and cracks eliminates carbuncles and toxins. Goose saliva can enter the throat to treat fish bone impaction. All these rely on the power of its moistening nature to harmonize dryness.
Goose egg has a sweet and warm aroma/flavor, capable of tonifying the middle and benefiting qi, yet there remains a warning against excessive consumption causing disease. If not for its nature being greasy and cloying, how could such warnings exist? Goose blood, when drunk hot, can treat the root cause of blood stagnation in the diaphragm, vomiting, and inability to eat. Is this not the principle of "using blood to guide blood"? Goose blood and feathers can treat poisoning from the She Gong (a type of venomous aquatic insect). (*Yiwu Zhi* records: In Yongzhou, ethnic minorities select fine down from goose bellies to stuff clothing and bedding. It is soft, warm, but has a cool nature, especially suitable for infants, as it can ward off fright and convulsions.) Is this not the principle that goose consumes this gu poison, thereby using one thing to control another? (Tao Hongjing stated: Eastern Sichuan has many stream poisons; raising geese wards them off. He also said: Geese may not necessarily eat She Gong insects; rather, they likely subdue them through aura/authority. *Qin Jing* states: When geese fly, the Bi [She Gong] sinks. The Bi is the She Gong.)
Goose manure can treat infant thrush (oral candidiasis). (If arising internally, it can be treated; if entering externally, it cannot be treated. Treatment involves filtering juice from clear manure of grass-eating white geese, adding a little rock sugar, and applying. Alternatively, burn rooster manure to ash, add a little musk, and apply. Both are effective.) It can also be applied to treat snakebite toxicity. Is this not the principle of using filth to enter filth and resolve toxicity?
Goose gallbladder can resolve heat-toxic hemorrhoids. (Extract juice from two or three white goose gallbladders, mix with 2 fen of bear gallbladder and 0.5 fen of borneol, grind uniformly, seal tightly in porcelain to prevent leakage. Apply with finger upon use for immediate effect.) Is this not reflecting that goose nature is not warm, yet its gallbladder can also moisten dryness?
All aforementioned treatments contain underlying principles. One must not merely cling to whether it is warm or cold, thereby forgetting its primary essence. (Chen Cangqi stated: Grey geese eat insects and are excellent for treating She Gong poison; white geese do not eat insects and excel at relieving thirst.)