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Donkey Dung

Donkeys are found everywhere, with a high production in Henan. They resemble horses but have longer ears, and bray at the fifth watch (around 3-5 AM). Because they are bulky but not swift steeds, they are called "Jian" (clumsy or lame horse); their coat color is not required to be uniform, only black ones are selected. Their backs can bear heavy loads for long journeys, and their dung can be used as medicine to save lives. Whether dry or wet, it should be used appropriately. It can be applied hot for compressing wind-induced swelling and sores, primarily treating fixed masses (Zheng Jia) and regurgitation. It stops toothache immediately and specifically treats edema. Female donkey dung has special efficacy in treating dry water retention, while male donkey dung has miraculous effects in treating wet water retention. (If one draws characters on the patient's body with a finger and the marks remain, it indicates internal dry water retention; if the marks do not remain, it indicates internal wet water retention.) Take five he per dose, remember not to err. Donkey dung juice regulates sudden pain in the heart and abdomen, and should be sought for Zhu Wu (infectious disease caused by evil qi). Spider bites poisoned by donkey urine soaking, and dysphagia (Yi Ge) are suitable for seeking donkey urine treatment. Boiling the donkey head into juice and tasting it gradually can resolve lingering Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome); boiling donkey bones into soup and bathing frequently can remove Li Jie Feng Tong (painful obstruction syndrome similar to gout). Donkey hair, stir-fried until yellow and soaked in wine, drives away various Tou Feng (head wind diseases); donkey skin boiled into gelatin and drunk with wine, expels all Feng Du (wind toxins). (It also treats Bi Hong [epistaxis], Tu Xue [hematemesis], Beng Zhong [metrorrhagia], Dai Xia [leukorrhea], Xue Li [dysentery with blood], Yi Nüe [malaria epidemic], etc.) Donkey fat treats various conditions, best used raw. Mixed with raw Sichuan pepper powder and pounded, wrapped in cotton and inserted into the ear, it turns chronic deafness into hearing normality; mixed with dried plum flesh into pills and swallowed with water, it abruptly cuts off chronic malaria. Mixed with salt and applied externally cures sores and scabies; taken with wine retreats mania. Donkey meat is slightly cold in nature; consumption should be moderate. Although it relieves mental restlessness and calms the spirit, one must guard against triggering old diseases and stirring wind pathogens. Donkey milk is cold, purgative, and sweet in taste, truly treating various ailments in children. It removes Tian Diao (infantile convulsion) and Ke Wu (evil influence), stops Chi Li (bloody dysentery) and Jing Xian (convulsive epilepsy). If Yan You (slug/snail) enters the ears, pouring donkey milk in dissolves it immediately. Also, the grease under the tail axis treats irregularly recurring malaria. Take one cup of water-washed juice, mix with flour to make two cakes. (Cook them thoroughly like sesame seed cakes.) Eat one before the onset of symptoms, and finish the other when the fever strikes. Though the substance is minute, its efficacy is repeatedly achieved.

Ejiao (Donkey-Hide Gelatin)

Sweet and pungent in taste, neutral in Qi, slightly warm. Its flavor is light but its aroma is strong, ascending and Yang. Non-toxic. Extracted from Dong'e Well water (Dong'e County belongs to Yanzhou Prefecture, Shandong Province; the well is located north of the city). Made using pure black donkey hide. (Most gelatins are made from cowhide, only this uses donkey hide.) Add one piece of deer horn later, simmer slowly over gentle fire until ready. Official supervision prohibits private production, making authentic Ejiao rare. When seeking it for medical use, one must test it carefully. Authentic Ejiao is brittle (pronounced 'cui') and easy to break, clear and transparent like water; fake Ejiao is soft and hard to crack, dull and dark like ink. Preparation involves slicing thinly and stir-frying with Clam Shell Powder (Ge Fen) until it forms beads. Do not boil in decoctions; grind into powder and dissolve. (When other herbs are cooked, strain the dregs, add the powder inside, and it will naturally melt.) Incompatible with Dioscorea Opposita (Shan Yao), adverse to Rheum Palmatum (Da Huang). Enters the Taiyin Lung Meridian, as well as the Liver and Kidney viscera. It can drive away widespread pain extending to limbs caused by Wind pathogen excess and hyperactive Wood; it tonifies prolonged cough with pus and blood due to Fire excess and deficient Metal. It nourishes blood to stop hematemesis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea; boosts Qi to support emaciation and consumptive injuries. It promotes urination for urinary retention, taken with Zhu Ling Tang; secures the fetus for threatened abortion, taken with Si Wu Tang. It stabilizes asthma, combined with Jin Yin Hua and Zi Wan; stops diarrhea and dysentery, combined with Honey, Beeswax, and Coptis Chinensis (Huang Lian). It calms the fetus and nourishes the Liver, strengthens bones and moistens the Kidneys.

(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: Using hide for boiling gelatin takes advantage of its ability to disperse pathogens from the skin surface. This applies not only to this gelatin but also to others boiled from cowhide, still selecting black varieties. For example, using black chicken eggs or black snakes, although these items treat wind diseases, they are chosen because their black color corresponds to Water, presumably following the principle that Water controls Heat, thus preventing the generation of Wind. Dong'e Well water is fed by the Ji River. The water flows rapidly downward, clear and heavy. Using it for decoction clarifies turbidity. Those who consume it can eliminate turbid filth and rebellious phlegm rising upward.