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Bovis Calculus (Niuhuang)
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Slightly toxic. Oxen are utilized for plowing in all regions; yellow bulls are considered the finest. When yellow matter congeals internally, accompanied by blood-red eyes, it is caused by the steaming of internal heat, leading to frequent bellowing and drinking. (It also likes to look at its reflection in water.) Quickly place a basin outside the pen with water to lure it, making it want to drink but unable to do so. Thirsty to the extreme, it will inevitably vomit up the substance itself; attendants forcing it will cause it to drop. This naturally shed form is called "Sheng Huang" (Raw Gallstone). *Bencao Yanyi* states: That which is obtained through coercion is named Sheng Huang. Its price rivals gold. It should be dried in the shade in a dark room (avoiding sunlight and moonlight), taking one hundred days to complete. It is light, void, and layered, capable of being peeled apart; smelling faintly fragrant. (In contrast, gallstones from oxen used for plowing are hard and not fragrant.) Its shape resembles egg yolk, and when rubbed on fingernails, it penetrates through. To verify authenticity when purchasing, use this method. Additionally, there are Horn Gallstones, Heart Gallstones, and Liver/Gallbladder Gallstones, each named after their source. During slaughter and dissection, these may occasionally appear. (Those obtained nowadays are mostly of this type. Initially like juice, they become hard as broken Tribulus or Gleditsia sinensis seeds upon contact with water.) Although their efficacy is inferior, they can serve as substitutes. They are incompatible with Ostreae Concha (Longgu), Gentianae Radix (Longdan), and Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang); they fear Blatta orientalis (Feilian), Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niuxi), and Dried Lacquer (Ganqi). Changshan (Dichroa Radix) should not be used with them, while Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) is suitable for combination. It enters only the Liver Meridian, specifically treating tendon diseases. It treats various pediatric epileptic convulsions, sudden fright, and locked jaws; it manages adult mania, stroke with phlegm obstruction causing aphasia. It expels evil spirits, stabilizes the soul, and calms the mind. Combined with Paeonia suffruticosa Bark (Mudanpi) and Acorus tatarinowii Rhizome (Changpu), it enhances hearing and vision. Pregnant women should avoid it as it induces abortion.

Bovis Cornu (Niujiao)
Refers to the tips of the horns, processed by burning to charcoal while retaining properties. Ground into an extremely fine powder in a porcelain mortar, taken down with warm wine. It treats blood stasis causing pain and metrorrhagia; suitable for pain relief. Applied via moxibustion to correct facial paralysis (deviation of mouth and eyes); apply to the healthy side to pull the affected side straight (if deviated left, apply right; if right, apply left). Made into a soup to regulate scanty lactation; taken at dawn to moisten and unblock. It tonifies Kidney Qi and essence, assists Liver Blood to brighten the eyes. Treats Lung cough and rebellion, Heart deficiency forgetfulness. Benefits the Gallbladder and eyes, moistens dry lips and mouth. Meat nourishes muscles and generates Middle Jiao Qi. Small intestine, large intestine, and other intestinal parts treat intestinal wind and hemorrhoids. Blood, spleen, tripe, and rumen strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, preventing food stagnation injury. Bull penis treats leakage and retained placenta; bull brain dispels wind epilepsy and stops thirst. Marrow tonifies Qi to stop dysentery; combined with Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang) and white honey (equal parts, boiled into paste), it harmonizes the Three Jiao and calms the Five Zang organs, treats emaciation, and tonifies the center. Milk nourishes Blood and tonifies deficiency; it is processed into curd, butter, and ghee. (Milk becomes curd, curd becomes butter, butter becomes ghee. Yellow-white, sweet, crisp, and refreshing. *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: Bovine butter surpasses ovine butter.) It treats lung abscess, stops hematemesis and epistaxis, moistens hair, and stops cough. Fermented milk curd (Rubing) benefits the Twelve Meridians and relieves constipation. Suspended hoof dispels wind-heat and stops leukorrhea. Blood tonifies depleted body blood. Teeth treat pediatric bovine epilepsy. Earwax applied externally treats snake bites. Saliva specifically treats vomiting/regurgitation. For infants unable to walk, umbilical cord hair decocted and tasted helps. Burned ash of nasal hair (grass burned) is excellent for ulcers under the nose. Juice squeezed from oral grass is good for throat obstruction. Urine drunk eliminates edema miraculously, draining through the urethra; burned urine applied to rat bites is effective, and healing moxibustion wounds is remarkable. Feces from the umbilicus of a yellow calf, ground into fine powder after burning, taken with water, immediately stops bleeding from nine orifices due to sudden fright. Rotten drum skin (bovine hide) should be stored generously; it is a miraculous pill for dispelling gu poison and treating gu distension. (The prescription uses drum skin 5 cun wide and 1 chi long, Rosa multiflora root 5 cun thick as a thumb. Or said to be Datura stramonium root, chopped, boiled with one sheng of water and three sheng of wine until two sheng remain. Taking it causes the expulsion of gu worms and cure.)

(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: Zhu Danxi stated: The ox belongs to Kun Earth. Yellow is the color of Earth. Its nature is submissive, modeling itself after Qian Heaven. In terms of function, it represents the utility of the male ox. Therefore, Zhu Danxi believed that for acute diseases with excess pathogenic factors, all meats are taboo, except beef, because its ability to tonify the Spleen and Stomach is superior. Essentially, the human body regards the Spleen and Stomach as the root; since the Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth, beef's tonifying effect aligns with this similarity. However, the liver alone, if consumed, can be fatal; this must be recognized.