Library

(Sourced from the Song Dynasty's *Jiayou Bencao*)

**[Names]** Bobo (from *Shiliao*, Food Therapy), Feinu (Flying Slave). Li Shizhen stated: The pigeon has a lustful nature and mates easily, hence the name. "Bobo" refers to its sound. Zhang Jiuling used pigeons to transmit letters, calling them "Feinu." It is also recorded in Buddhist scriptures (*Fan Shu*).

**[Collection and Explanation]** Su Song stated: Among birds, pigeons have the most varieties of feather colors, but only white pigeon meat is used for medicine. Generally, male birds mount females, but uniquely, female pigeons mount males, which is why their nature is considered most lustful. Li Shizhen stated: They are raised by households everywhere, and there are also wild pigeons. Although there are many names and varieties, the feather colors generally do not exceed green, white, black, dark green, and magpie-patterned types.

**White Pigeon Meat**

**[Flavor and Nature]** Salty, neutral, non-toxic. Meng Xian stated: Warm in nature.

**[Indications]** Resolves poisoning from various herbs, as well as chronic scabies in humans and horses; eating it leads to immediate cure (*Jiayou Bencao*). Nourishes essence and boosts qi; treats malignant sores, scabies, tinea, wind-induced pruritus, vitiligo, and leprosy-like conditions. Cook thoroughly and take with wine. Although beneficial to humans, excessive consumption may reduce medicinal efficacy (Meng Xian).

**[Attached Prescriptions]** One old prescription, one new prescription. For xiao-ke (wasting-thirst) syndrome where drinking water does not satisfy thirst: Use one white-flowered pigeon, cut into small pieces, decoct with Tusu (Earth Sulfur), hold in the mouth, and swallow slowly (*Xin Jing*). To preemptively resolve doudou (smallpox) toxin: On New Year's Eve, boil or roast a white pigeon to feed the child, and bathe the child with a decoction made from pigeon feathers, so that the eruption will be sparse.

**Pigeon Blood**

**[Indications]** Resolves poisoning from various herbs and hundred types of gu poison (Li Shizhen. From *Shilin Guangji*).

**Pigeon Eggs**

**[Indications]** Resolves sore toxins and smallpox toxins (Li Shizhen).

**[Attached Prescriptions]** One new prescription. To preemptively resolve smallpox toxin: If children eat this, they will never develop smallpox, or if they do, it will be sparse. Take a pair of white pigeon eggs, seal them in a bamboo tube, place them in a latrine for half a month, then take them out. Mix the egg white with three qian of Chen Sha (Cinnabar), and make pills the size of mung beans. Take thirty pills each time, washed down with Sandou Yin (Three Bean Decoction); the toxin will exit through urination and defecation (*Qianjiang Fang*).

**Pigeon Droppings**, named Zuo Panlong (Left-Coiling Dragon). Li Shizhen stated: Wild pigeon droppings are superior. Their droppings always coil to the left, hence called "Zuo Panlong" in *Xuanming Fanglun*.

**[Flavor and Nature]** Pungent, warm, slightly toxic.

**[Indications]** Treats scabies in humans and horses; apply externally after roasting and grinding. For donkeys and horses, mix with fodder and feed (*Jiayou Bencao*). Reduces swelling and abdominal masses (Wang Ying).

**[Attached Prescriptions]** Four old prescriptions, six new prescriptions. For leukorrhea with pus discharge: Su Song stated: Take one liang of wild pigeon droppings (roasted until slightly charred), Baizhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), and Shexiang (Musk) each 1 fen; Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra) and Qingmuxiang (Tasmanniæ Fructus) each 0.5 liang; Yanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizoma, roasted red) 1 liang; Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) 3 fen. Grind into powder. Take 1 qian mixed with unadulterated wine on an empty stomach. Stop when pus is exhausted, then administer medicines to tonify the uterus. For traumatic wind-stroke where pathogenic factors have penetrated inward: Use Zuo Panlong (wild pigeon droppings), Jiangtiao (Hydrophilus Carapax), and Baijiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus) each 0.5 qian (roasted), and Xionghuang (Realgar) 1 qian. Grind into powder. For yin-pattern abdominal pain with severe cyanosis of the face: Take a large spoonful of pigeon droppings, roast and grind into powder. Mix with a zhong (measure) of extremely hot wine, clarify, and take in one dose; cure immediately (Liu Shi). For gu-poison abdominal pain: Roast white pigeon droppings to charcoal, grind, and take mixed with water (*Waitai Mi Yao*). For cold qi heart pain: Roast pigeon droppings to preserve their nature, take 1 qian with wine; pain stops immediately. For cervical luoli (scrofula): Zuo Panlong, roast and grind into powder, mix with aged rice paste to make pills the size of wutong seeds. Take 30–50 pills each time, washed down with aged rice infusion (Zhang Zihe's Formula). For scalp pruritus with sores: Take five he of white pigeon droppings, boil three times in vinegar, pound, and apply topically, three times daily (*Shenghui Fang*). For scalp tinea capitis (white baldness): Apply pigeon droppings ground into powder. First wash with vinegar and rice water. Alternatively, roast to charcoal, grind, and sprinkle (Ibid.). For fanhua chuang (reverse-flow ulcer): Initially, malignant flesh grows like millet grains; upon breaking, blood flows, and flesh regenerates outward. Use three liang of bobo pigeon droppings, roast until yellow and grind into powder. First wash with warm starch water, then apply (*Shenghui Fang*). For e-zhang-feng (鹅掌风, a type of tinea manuum): Use pigeon droppings white part and male chicken droppings, roast and grind, decoct in water, and wash daily.