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(From *Bencao Shiyi* / Supplement to Materia Medica)
[Odor and Flavor] Bitter, cool, toxic.
[Indications] Guiqi (ghost qi), shizhu (corpse infection), fulian (latent continuous disease) (Chen Zangqi). Chronic malaria, dysphagia (food sticking), traumatic wounds (Li Shizhen).
[Analysis] Li Shizhen stated: In the battlefields of the northern nomads, human gallbladder bile is often applied to traumatic wounds, claiming it to be extremely effective; however, no other medicines should be used subsequently, as this will inevitably cause the wound to rot. If other medicines are applied first, this method cannot be used. This is a method for emergency rescue on the battlefield; dried gallbladders can also be used without violating medical principles. Some cruel martial men kill people and immediately consume their gallbladders mixed with wine, claiming it makes one brave; although this is a fallacious practice in the military, gentlemen do not engage in such acts.
[Attached Prescriptions] Three new prescriptions. For chronic malaria lasting years and dysphagia where food cannot go down: Take one fresh human gallbladder, fill it with glutinous rice until full, add a small amount of Moschus (Musk), and dry it in the shade under the eaves. The half that turns green treats malaria, and the half that turns black treats dysphagia; both are ground into powder. Take fifteen pills each time; for malaria, administer with Chenpi Tang (Tangerine Peel Decoction); for dysphagia, administer with Tongcao Tang (Tetrapanax Decoction). (Both from *Puji Fang*). For ghost malaria with unpredictable progression: Use equal parts of human gallbladder, Cinnabar (Zhusha), Realgar (Xionghuang), and Moschus (Musk), grind into powder, and make pills using vinegar paste to the size of mung beans. Wrap one pill in cotton and insert it into the nostril for cure; for males, use the left nostril; for females, the right. One pill can treat two people. (*Shenghui Fang*)

(From *Bencao Shiyi* / Supplement to Materia Medica)
[Indications] Zhai ji (consumption/tuberculosis) (Chen Zangqi).
[Analysis] Li Shizhen stated: Zhang Gao's *Yi Shuo* records that during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Zangqi from Mingzhou wrote *Bencao Shiyi*, recording the use of human flesh to treat consumption. Since then, many commoners suffering from this disease imitated cutting their thigh flesh to heal their parents. Note: Before Chen, there were already those who cut their flesh or liver; blaming Chen is because he recorded it in writing, failing to speak out to dispel confusion. How can materia medica be spoken of lightly? Alas! The body, hair, and skin are received from parents and dare not be damaged. Even if parents are critically ill, how could they wish for their descendants to mutilate their limbs and eat their own flesh and bones? This is the view of ignorant people. Note: He Mengchun in *Yu Dong Xu Lu* stated: Jiang Bo'er's mother was ill, so he cut flesh from his ribs to feed her. When she did not recover, he prayed to the gods, wishing to sacrifice his son to appease them. After his mother recovered, he killed his three-year-old son. This matter reached Emperor Taizu, who was angered by its violation of ethics and reason, ordering him to be flogged and exiled. The Ministry of Rites discussed: Children serving parents should entrust good physicians when illness occurs. Praying to heaven and gods is an expression of sincere emotion that cannot be suppressed. However, lying on ice or cutting flesh are practices of later generations. It is the act of ignorant people, stimulated momentarily, seeking bizarre behavior to shock the world, hoping for imperial commendation or exemption from corvée labor. Cutting flesh does not stop at cutting flesh, but extends to cutting liver; cutting liver does not stop at cutting liver, but extends to killing children. Violating the Way and harming life, nothing is worse than this. From now on, such cases shall not be eligible for commendation. Alas! The sage's establishment of teaching surpasses all ages; how correct this is. Additionally, Tao Jiu Cheng's *Chuo Geng Lu* records that soldiers in ancient and modern wars ate human flesh, calling it "Xiang Rou" (Longing Meat) or "Liang Jiao Yang" (Two-legged Sheep). These are thieves devoid of humanity, unworthy even of being executed.