Library

[Background Information]
Book: Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)
Author: Li Shizhen
Dynasty: Ming Dynasty, Wanli 6th Year
Chapter: Elaphurus (Musk Deer)
Category: Materia Medica

(Recorded in the Lower Grade of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

**[Etymology]**
Li Shizhen states: Lu Dian said, "The Musk deer likes sounds." Ban Gu said, "The Musk deer has a lustful and confusing nature." Thus, the name 'Mi' is derived from this. *Erya* states: The male is called "Jiu" (pronounced jiù), the female is called "Chen" (pronounced chén), and the young one is called "Yao" (pronounced yāo).

**[Collection and Explanation]**
*Youming Bie Lu* states: The Musk deer inhabits the valleys of Mount Nan and the banks of the Huai River. It is captured in the tenth month.
Tao Hongjing states: Currently, it is most abundant in Hailing. They gather in herds of hundreds or thousands, with more females than males.
Li Shizhen states: The Musk deer belongs to the Cervidae family. Males have antlers. Deer prefer mountains and belong to Yang; therefore, they shed their antlers at the Summer Solstice. Musk deer prefer marshes and belong to Yin; therefore, they shed their antlers at the Winter Solstice. The Musk deer resembles a deer but has a bluish-black color, is as large as a calf, has cloven hooves, and has two openings under the eyes for night vision. Thus, *Huainanzi* states: If a pregnant woman sees a Musk deer, her child will be born like a deer. The place where the Musk deer rests is called a "Deer Field." Modern hunters often fail to distinguish them, frequently mistaking Musk deer for deer. Males can still be distinguished by shedding antlers, while females are generally referred to as does.

**Elaphurus Fat (Gong Zhi)**
Also known as Gong Zhi (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Li Shizhen states: *Youming Bie Lu* mentions taking the fat in the tenth month, refining it, and storing it for use. However, *Rites of Zhou* records offering wild wolf fat in winter and Musk deer fat in summer. The commentary notes: Wild wolf fat is concentrated, while Musk deer fat is dispersed. Concentrated fat is warm, and dispersed fat is cool, which aligns with the seasons.

**[Properties and Flavor]**
Acrid, Warm, Non-toxic. Avoid peaches and plums; wary of Rhubarb (*Da Huang*).

**[Indications]**
Abscesses and swellings, malignant sores, necrotic tissue, cold-damp bi-syndrome, limb spasms and inability to extend, swelling and qi stagnation in the head, unblocking the interstices (*Cou Li*) (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Softens the skin. Should not be applied near the genitals, as it may cause impotence (*Youming Bie Lu*). Treats excessive Qi in youth causing facial acne; apply fat topically (Li Shizhen).

**[Correction of Errors]**
Tao Hongjing states: People say that one male copulates with over ten females and dies immediately after mating. Its fat falls to the ground and, after a year, people obtain it and call it "Dun Zhi," taking it with wine yields excellent results. Given the Musk deer's lustful nature, it should not cause human impotence. One theory says avoiding application near the genitals prevents impotence, which makes sense.
Su Gong states: The claim that they die after mating is a false rumor. I asked people in the mountains and marshes, and no one confirmed this.

**Meat**
**[Properties and Flavor]**
Sweet, Warm, Non-toxic.
Meng Shen states: Excessive consumption weakens sexual function and triggers gout/jiaojixing (foot disease). Pregnant women consuming it may cause eye diseases in the child.
Tao Hongjing states: Do not consume with pork or pheasant meat, as it may induce chronic diseases. Consuming with shrimp, raw vegetables, plums, or peaches damages men's essence and Qi.

**[Indications]**
Tonifies Qi and supplements the Middle Jiao; treats lower back and leg weakness (Meng Shen). Supplements insufficient Qi in the Five Viscera (Yu Xi).

**[Innovation/Explanation]**
Li Shizhen states: According to Lu Nongshi: Deer have a Yang constitution, and their meat is warming; Musk deer have a Yin constitution, and their meat is cooling. Observing this, the statement in *Youming Bie Lu* that Musk deer fat causes impotence, Meng Shen's statement that eating too much meat weakens sexual function, and the differing effects of antlers versus meat all stem from this principle.

**Antler Velvet (Rong)**
**[Preparation]**
Same as Deer Antler Velvet (*Lurong*).

**[Properties and Flavor]**
Sweet, Warm, Non-toxic.

**[Indications]**
Yin deficiency with consumptive disease, all blood disorders, soreness and pain in bones, tendons, lower back, and knees; nourishes Yin and benefits the Kidney (Li Shizhen).

**Elaphurus Antler (Mijiao)**
**[Preparation]**
Chen Cangqi states: For Musk deer antlers, those with yellow hairs resembling gold threads at the root of the crown, along with small side spikes, and having a pale white color, are superior.
Meng Shen states: When using Musk deer antler, cut it into five-cun pieces, split it in the middle, roast until yellow, powder it, and add to medicine.
Li Shizhen states: People today rarely distinguish between Musk deer and Deer antler velvet/antlers. Chen Ziming claimed smaller ones are Deer and larger ones are Musk deer, which is also subjective speculation. It is better to verify during collection. The methods for making Musk deer antler glue and Musk deer antler frost are the same as for Deer antler glue and frost. Additionally, *Ji Ling Fang* states: Take one pair of Musk deer antlers, soak in water for seven days, scrape off the skin, and chop into flakes. Soak in a silver vessel filled with cow's milk for one day; if the milk level drops, replenish it until it no longer drops. Seal the vessel mouth tightly with oil paper. Place three cun of barley at the bottom of a pot, set the vessel on top, and fill the surroundings with barley. Immerse in water for one shichen (two hours); replenish water as needed. When the flakes become soft like flour, remove, dry, and grind into frost.

**[Properties and Flavor]**
Sweet, Hot, Non-toxic.

**[Indications]**
Wind-bi syndrome, hemostasis, tonifying Qi and strength (*Youming Bie Lu*). Scrape flakes, roast until fragrant, take with wine; greatly beneficial to humans (Tao Hongjing, from *Peng Zu Zhuan*). Taking with wine tonifies deficiency-consumption, enriches marrow, benefits blood vessels, and warms the lower back and knees (Meng Shen). Powder taken regularly treats cold Qi and wind in men, bone and tendon pain. For sudden heart pain, one dose brings immediate recovery. Grinding into mud with fermented grain water and applying to the face gives a lustrous appearance, red and white like jade, lovely to behold (Meng Shen). Nourishes Yin and tonifies blood; efficacy is the same as antler velvet (*Rihua Zi Bencao*).

**[Innovation/Explanation]**
Meng Shen states: Regular consumption of Musk deer antler greatly benefits Yang Dao (sexual function/male vitality). It is unknown why its effect differs from the meat. Glue made from it has the same efficacy as Deer antler glue; velvet is superior to Deer velvet, and immortal formulas value it highly.
Su Gong states: Musk deer velvet efficacy surpasses Deer velvet; antler glue surpasses white glue. See details under Deer Antler Velvet and Deer Antler.
*Rihua Zi Bencao* states: Musk deer antler belongs to Yin, thus treating numbness in lower back and knees and supplementing all blood disorders.
Li Shizhen states: Deer antler and velvet tonify Yang, suitable for insufficiency of Essence and Qi in the Right Kidney; Musk deer antler and velvet tonify Yin, suitable for insufficiency of Blood in the Left Kidney. This is an ancient secret. Although predecessors had methods, the principle was not elucidated, leading to diverse opinions. *Yang Shi Jia Cang Fang* uses Er Zhi Wan for deficiency-consumption, combining both antlers. However, its properties are too warm, suitable only for Yang deficiency with cold-damp and blood bi, not for the Left Kidney. Sun Simiao's *Qian Jin Fang* lists 110 Musk deer antler pills; only those taken by Rong Chengzi's disciple Gao stood out, allowing him to achieve transcendence. Reviewing his formula, it seems suitable for regular use compared to Er Zhi Wan, and is collected below.

**[Attached Prescriptions]**
Five new prescriptions.

**Elaphurus Antler Pill:** Tonifies Heart Spirit, calms viscera, fills marrow, regulates lower back and legs, enables long standing, sharpens hearing and vision, turns white hair black, reverses aging appearance. Use fresh antlers of the current year connected to the brain crown as superior; antlers with cut marks at the root are also usable. Antlers with flat roots after shedding are unusable. Use 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 pair per dose. Remove 1 cun from the tip, leaving 7-8 cun. Cut according to shape. Soften in flowing water, remove, peel wrinkled skin, shave to expose white interior, stopping at the core. Soak in clear millet wash water for two nights. Dry, squeeze out old water, place on new silk, and sun-dry. Remove coarse bones, skin, and uneven shavings. Soak in pure wine (without sediment) in a large ceramic vessel for two nights. Transfer medicine and wine to a clean cauldron. Boil vigorously for one meal time, then simmer gently until bubbling like crab eyes. Stir constantly with a willow spatula, adding wine as needed, until reduced to a paste. Start preparation at dawn; do not overnight. When shavings resemble thin glue, add 5 sheng of cow milk and 1 jin of butter sequentially. Roast one Musk deer antler until yellow, powder it, and mix with other medicines. Areca nut, Tong Cao, Qin Jiao, Cistanche, Ginseng, Dodder seed (soaked in wine for two nights, dried, pounded separately), Licorice each 1 liang. Pound into powder. Re-boil the glue for one meal time until thick like porridge, then stop fire. Mix in powders when slightly cooled. Form pills like wu-tou seeds. If sticky, grease hands with butter. Dosage: Take on empty stomach with wine. Start with 30 pills, increase by 1 daily up to 50 pills, twice daily. Abstain from intercourse for the first 100 days. After one month, internal diseases will be expelled, possibly causing mild diarrhea; do not worry. Gradually, gas passes, appetite increases. For Qi stagnation, add Zhi Shi and Qing Mu Xiang each 1 liang. After 200 days, wrinkles smooth. After one year, lost teeth regrow, memory strengthens, body feels light as wind, walking hundreds of li daily. After two years, body becomes full and requires less food; those over 70 appear younger. After three years, intestines transform into sinews and marrow, foreseeing future events. After four years, feeling full without eating, seeing immortals. Continuous use for thirty months stabilizes complexion. Preparation must be in a clean room, away from women, chickens, dogs, and mourners. Especially good for women. If drinking alcohol or eating noodles causes dry mouth, bitter taste, or internal heat, take San Huang Wan to induce mild diarrhea. Only after this initial activation is regulation achieved (*Qian Jin Fang*).

**Er Zhi Wan:** Tonifies deficiency, generates essence and blood, dispels wind-damp, strengthens bones and tendons. Deer antler (shaved fine, stir-fried dry with 1 liang true butter and 1 sheng pure wine) 4 liang; Musk deer antler (shaved fine, boiled dry with 2 liang true butter and 1 sheng rice vinegar, then stir-fried dry) 0.5 liang; Cocklebur fruit (soaked in wine overnight, roasted) 0.5 jin; Yam, Poria, Astragalus (honey-roasted) each 4 liang; Angelica sinensis (soaked in wine, roasted) 5 liang; Cistanche (soaked in wine, roasted), Polygala root (decored), Ginseng, Agarwood each 2 liang; Prepared Aconite 1 liang. Pound into powder, make pills with glutinous rice paste brewed in wine, size of wu-tou seeds. Take 50 pills with warm wine.

**Elaphurus Antler Pill:** *San Yin Fang*: Treats five types of flaccidity syndromes, loose skin and brittle hair, withered blood vessels, thin flesh adhering to bones, weak bones and tendons, poor appetite, limb weakness, withered nails and falling hair, blurry vision, and dry lips. Musk deer antler flakes 1 jin (soaked in wine overnight), Large Aconite (raw, peeled and de-navel) 1.5 liang, Prepared Rehmannia 4 liang. Barley grains 2 sheng: half line the bottom, half on top, covered with two cloth towels, steamed for one day. Remove medicine and barley, roast and powder separately. Use the wine used to soak the medicine plus clear wine to cook barley flour into paste, knead 3000 times, form pills like wu-tou seeds. Take 50 pills before meals with warm wine or rice soup, three times daily. Another prescription uses only Musk deer antler (shaved, butter-roasted yellow) 5 liang, Prepared Aconite (powder) 0.5 liang, wine-paste pills.

**Elaphurus Antler Frost Pill:** Tonifies Yuan Zang, preserves complexion. Musk deer antler 1 pair (soaked in water 7 days, scraped, shaved, placed in silver vessel, soaked in cow milk 1 day, keep milk 2 cun high, replenish until stable, seal tightly with oil paper, place in steamer with 3 cun barley at bottom, surround with barley, steam continuously for one fu shi [approx 4 hours], replenish hot water as needed, check until flakes rot like flour, remove, sieve out milk, dry, 8 liang per batch), Prepared Aconite (cracked, peeled), Dried Yam each 3 liang. Pound into powder, mix with steamed jujube pulp, form pills like wu-tou seeds. Take 15-20 pills on empty stomach with warm salted wine. Honey pills are also acceptable (*Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang*).

**Elaphurus Antler Pill:** Peng Zu said: Nothing surpasses Musk deer antler for maintaining vigor, preventing sexual exhaustion, and preserving strength and complexion. Method: Grind 10 liang into powder, mix with 1 raw Aconite, form pills with quail eggs, take 20 pills daily with warm wine. Great effect in 20 days. Can also be taken alone as powder with wine to prevent aging, though slower acting than with Aconite (*Peng Zu Fu Shi Jing*).

**Bone**
**[Indications]**
Consumptive disease, very effective. Brew into wine and drink, promotes fatness and whiteness, beautifies complexion (Yu Xi).

**Skin**
**[Indications]**
Make boots and socks, treat gout/jiaojixing (Meng Shen).