出陕西河东秦益诸州。诸蛮夷中尤多。形似獐麋而小。食柏叶。夏月多啖蛇虫。至冬香
满。（生阴茎前皮内。别有膜袋盛之。）入春满甚。便自剔去。是为生香。最不易得。其次捕
得杀取者。名脐香。
味苦辛。气温。 通诸窍。开经络。透肌骨。治中风中气中恶。痰厥惊痫。积聚症瘕。
及妇人产难。纳子宫。暖水脏。止冷带下。杀脏腑虫能蚀一切痈疽脓水。 济生治食瓜果成
积作胀者。及饮酒成消渴者。以果得麝则坏。酒得麝则败也。 同犀角牛黄琥珀龙齿远志丹
砂铅丹金箔菖蒲真珠茯神天竺黄。治心气虚怯。惊邪癫痫。或梦寐纷纭。鬼交鬼疰。及小儿
急惊。大人中恶等证。 同白芨白蔹红白药子雄黄乌骨鸡 乳香没药冰片为末。敷一切痈疽
疔肿。有神。
缪氏云。诸证之属于虚者。概弗施用。（芳烈轻扬。能泄卫气。穿射走窜。又能泄营。）
如不得已。借以开通开窍。亦宜少用。孕妇不宜佩带。劳怯人亦忌之。不可近鼻。有白虫入
脑患癞。久带其香透关。令人成异疾。
〔辨治〕 取香剂中当门子。捻之如血线。拓之如桃花瓣。燥甚者。始真。然多伪造。
虽膜囊完固。弗信。但破看一片。毛在其裹中者。为胜。 凡使勿近火日。微研。不必苦细。
如
鼠类。属水。其皮毛戟刺如针。属金。见鹊则仰腹受喙。火炼金。其气相制也。
皮
气味苦平。有小毒。 主治五痔阴蚀。下血不止。痔痛有头。多年不瘥。止肠毒下血。
疗腹痛疝积。（并烧灰。酒服之。）止衄。（烧灰。绵裹塞鼻。）疗反胃。（烧灰酒服。或煮汁。
或五味淹炙。食此物。开胃气有功。其字从胃。深有理。）治胃逆。
〔论〕 皮之用。专于大肠。故疗痔病为多。夫痔所受病者燥气。为病者湿气也。或
又曰。胃热也。何以明之。盖阳明燥金。以其阳盛趋阴。而阴气不能与之合。故为燥。人身
身半以下属地。阴气主之。或因房劳劳力。虚其肾阴。则燥者益燥。更由胃中酒食积毒。归
于大肠。以乘其阴虚之燥。则燥随化火以伤血。是谓收气不得职。致经脉横解。浊气污血。
流注肛门。其始本燥与热合也。而热因与湿合。所谓湿气者。由阳不得真阴以收。既淫而为
热。即阴不得真阳以化。更淫而为湿。以故痔初起显燥证。有便涩作痛之情。渐显湿证。有
肿痛坚块之患。然则燥者病之本。湿者病之标。而热则病于标本之中也。夫热之合于燥也。
为气伤。其合于湿也。为血伤。如肠中止有湿热。止病于下血而已。惟湿热本于燥。肠头斯
有坚块。至于作痛者。热因燥乘。风因热化。而更蓄于湿以不得达。故大痛也。久之破而为
漏。亦此之由耳。（湿圉其燥热风之气。则溃肠以出。治之宜兼破气药。又忌过用苦寒。盖
用寒过剂。则真阳益病。而湿愈不行。）方书云痔初成渐大。便涩作痛者。宜润燥及滋阴。
嗣如肛门下坠。便血而疼痛坚硬者。宜清火渗湿。或紫色疼痛。大便虚闭作痒。宜凉血祛风。
疏利湿热。又或肿痛坚硬。后重坠刺。便难者外宜熏洗。内宜宣利。合而参之。初起之治。
缓而先本。后此三证。热胜则肿痛。湿胜则坚硬下坠。皆当急而救标。本标之治。节次不爽。
乃免穿肠溃决之患矣。 皮于诸痔无不逐群剂以奏功。缪氏谓 属水。其皮得坚金之气。而
和血于大肠。故治五痔阴蚀有专功。
凡食其肉。当去骨。误食令人瘦劣。诸节渐小。（仲淳）
〔辨治〕 猪蹄者良。鼠脚者次。取皮入药。烧灰。或炙黄。或炒黑。或水煮。任入汤
丸。
Musk is produced in Shaanxi, Hedong, and various prefectures such as Qinzhou and Yizhou. It is particularly abundant among the various ethnic minorities. Its shape resembles that of a muntjac or a sika deer but is smaller in size. It feeds on cypress leaves and consumes many snakes and insects during summer months; by winter, its fragrance becomes fully developed. (The fragrance develops inside the skin anterior to the penis, contained within a separate membranous sac.) In spring, when the fragrance reaches its peak, the animal naturally sheds this layer, which is known as "raw musk" (Sheng Xiang), the most difficult to obtain. The second type is obtained by capturing and killing the animal, called "navel musk" (Qi Xiang).
Musk tastes bitter and pungent and is warm in nature. It unblocks all orifices, opens meridians and collaterals, and penetrates muscles and bones. It is used to treat wind-stroke (Zhong Feng), qi-stagnation stroke, poisoning by evil turbid qi (Zhong E), phlegm-collapse, convulsions, epilepsy, accumulations and masses (Ji Ju Zheng Jia), as well as dystocia in women, uterine prolapse, warming the water organ (Kidney Yang), and stopping cold leukorrhea. It can kill parasites in the zang-fu organs and cauterize pus and fluid from all types of carbuncles and sores. The Jisheng Fang uses it to treat abdominal distension caused by accumulation from eating fruits and melons, and xiao-ke (wasting-thirst) caused by drinking alcohol, because fruit spoils when exposed to musk, and wine deteriorates upon contact with it. When combined with Rhinoceros Horn (Xijiao), Calculus Bovis (Niuhuang), Amber (Hupo), Dragon Tooth (Longchi), Polygala Root (Yuanzhi), Cinnabar (Dansha), Lead Oxide (Qiandan), Gold Leaf (Jinbo), Acorus (Changpu), Pearl (Zhenzhu), Poria (Fushen), and Himalayan Mint (Tianzhuhuang), it treats deficiency and timidity of Heart Qi, evil influences, epilepsy, chaotic dreams, hallucinations, and pediatric acute wind-stroke or adult poisoning by evil qi. Mixed with Bletilla Tuber (Baiji), Ampelopsis Radix (Bailian), Red and White Arsenolite (Hongbai Yaozi), Realgar (Xionghuang), Black-bone Hen (Wugu Ji), Frankincense (Ruxiang), Myrrh (Moyao), and Borneol (Bingpian) into powder, it is applied externally to all carbuncles, sores, and furuncles, yielding miraculous effects.
Mr. Miu stated: For all conditions belonging to deficiency, musk should generally not be used. (Its aromatic and acrid nature is light and ascending, capable of draining Wei Qi; its penetrating and moving strength can also drain Ying Blood.) If absolutely necessary to use it for opening orifices, it should be used in small doses. Pregnant women should not wear it, and those with consumptive weakness should avoid it; it should not be brought near the nose. There are cases where white worms entered the brain causing leprosy-like diseases, and long-term wearing of musk led to strange ailments.
[Differentiation and Treatment] Select the "dangmenzi" (central part of the musk grain) from the musk preparation. When kneaded, it resembles a blood thread; when spread, it looks like peach blossom petals. Only when extremely dry is it genuine. However, there are many forgeries. Even if the membranous sac is intact, do not trust it blindly. Break open a piece; if hair is found wrapped inside, it is of superior quality. When using musk, avoid fire and direct sunlight. Grind it slightly; there is no need to grind it finely.
Rats belong to Water. Their fur is stiff like needles, belonging to Metal. When seeing a magpie, they lie on their backs to be pecked, illustrating that Fire controls Metal, showing mutual restriction of their energies.
Rat skin tastes bitter and is neutral in nature, with slight toxicity. It primarily treats five types of hemorrhoids causing erosion of the yin area, continuous bleeding, painful hemorrhoids with distinct heads, and chronic non-healing ulcers. It stops intestinal toxic bleeding and treats abdominal pain and hernia masses. (All forms are calcined to ash and taken with wine.) It stops epistaxis. (Calcined to ash, wrapped in cotton, and inserted into the nostril.) It treats retrograde vomiting. (Calcined to ash taken with wine, or boiled in water, or marinated and roasted with five flavors. Consuming this food benefits stomach qi. The character contains the radical for 'stomach,' which is highly logical.) It treats rebellious Stomach Qi.
[Discussion] The efficacy of rat skin focuses on the Large Intestine, hence it is frequently used for hemorrhoidal diseases. The pathogenic factor for hemorrhoids is Dryness, while the manifestation involves Dampness. Some argue it is due to Stomach Heat. How to clarify this? Generally, Yangming Dryness-Metal, due to excessive Yang energy trending toward Yin, fails to harmonize with Yin, resulting in Dryness. The lower half of the human body belongs to Earth and is governed by Yin Qi. If Kidney Yin is depleted due to sexual excess or physical labor, the existing Dryness increases further. Additionally, accumulated toxins from alcohol and food in the Stomach return to the Large Intestine, attacking the Yin-deficient Dryness. Consequently, Dryness transforms into Fire, damaging Blood. This represents a failure of the Receiving Qi function, leading to laxity of meridians, allowing turbid Qi and dirty Blood to flow into the anus. Initially, Dryness and Heat combine. Heat then combines with Dampness. The so-called Dampness arises because Yang cannot receive true Yin to restrain it, thus overflowing into Heat; similarly, Yin cannot receive true Yang to transform it, thus overflowing into Dampness. Therefore, early-stage hemorrhoids manifest Dryness symptoms, such as difficult and painful defecation. Gradually, Dampness symptoms appear, such as swelling, pain, and hard masses. Thus, Dryness is the root of the disease, Dampness is the branch, and Heat exists between the root and branch. Heat combining with Dryness damages Qi; Heat combining with Dampness damages Blood. If only Damp-Heat exists in the intestines, it merely causes rectal bleeding. Only when Damp-Heat originates from Dryness will hard masses form at the anal verge. Regarding pain, Heat attacks due to Dryness, Wind transforms due to Heat, and both accumulate in Dampness without dispersing, causing severe pain. Over time, rupture leads to fistulas, also due to these factors. (Dampness confines the energies of Dryness, Wind, and Heat, causing intestinal ulceration. Treatment should include Qi-breaking herbs, and bitter-cold herbs should be avoided in excess. Excessive use of cold herbs damages True Yang, causing Dampness to stagnate further.) Medical texts state that for early-stage hemorrhoids that gradually enlarge, with difficult and painful defecation, one should moisten Dryness and nourish Yin. Subsequently, for anal prolapse, bleeding, pain, and hardness, one should clear Fire and drain Dampness. For purple-colored pain, empty constipation, and itching, one should cool Blood, dispel Wind, and regulate Damp-Heat. For swelling, pain, hardness, tenesmus, stabbing pain, and difficult defecation, external fumigation and washing are suitable, along with internal regulation and purging. Synthesizing these approaches, early treatment is slow and addresses the root; later treatments for the three aforementioned syndromes address the branch urgently when Heat dominates (causing swelling/pain) or Dampness dominates (causing hardness/prolapse). Adhering strictly to the sequence of treating root and branch avoids the disaster of intestinal perforation and ulceration. Rat skin, combined with other herbs, effectively treats all types of hemorrhoids. Mr. Miu stated that rats belong to Water, but their skin obtains the Qi of firm Metal, harmonizing Blood in the Large Intestine, thus having specific efficacy for the five types of hemorrhoids with yin erosion.
When consuming its meat, bones should be removed. Accidental ingestion causes emaciation and gradual shrinking of joints. (Zhongchun)
[Differentiation and Treatment] Pig trotter skin is preferred; rat foot skin is inferior. The skin can be used medicinally by calcining to ash, roasting until yellow, stir-frying until black, or boiling in water, and can be added to decoctions or pills as needed.