犀有山犀、水犀二种,而水犀为妙。味苦寒。主百毒虫疰,杀邪气之虫。邪鬼灵气辟
邪瘴气。郁热之毒。杀钩吻、鸩羽、蛇毒,除邪,一切草木虫鸟之毒皆除之。不迷惑,魇寐
。解心经热邪,通心窍。
牛属土,而犀则居水,水无兽,惟犀能伏其中,则其得水土之精可知。凡物之毒者,投
水土则毒自化。犀得水土之精,故化毒之功为多。而其角中虚有通灵之象,故又能养心除邪
也。
味咸平。主目瞑,明目,夜视有精光。存养肝经阴气之精。久服,令人喜乐媚好
无忧。肝气和则乐。
凡有翼能飞之物,夜则目盲。伏翼又名天鼠,即鼠类也,故日出则目瞑而藏,日入则目
明而出,乃得阴气之精者也。肝属厥阴,而开窍于目,故资其气以养肝血,而济目力,感应
之理也。物有殊能,必有殊气,皆可类推。
古人用蝉,今人用蜕,气性亦相近。味咸寒。主小儿惊痫夜啼,癫病寒热。皆小儿风
热之疾。
蚱蝉感凉风清露之气以生,身轻而声嘹亮,得金气之发扬者也。又脱落皮壳,亦属人身
肺经之位,故其性能清火驱风,而散肺经之郁气。若其质轻虚,尤与小儿柔弱之体为宜也。
蚱蝉日出有声,日入无声,止夜啼,取其意也。
味咸。主小儿惊痫夜啼,风痰之病。去三虫,风气所生之虫。灭黑 ,令人面色好
,能去皮肤之风斑,令润泽。男子阴疡病。下体风湿。
蚕,食桑之虫也。桑能治风养血,故其性亦相近。僵蚕感风而僵,凡风气之疾,皆能治
之,盖借其气以相感也。僵蚕因风以僵,而反能治风者,何也?盖邪之中人也,有气而无形,
穿
经透络,愈久愈深,以气类相反之药投之,则拒而不入,必得与之同类者,和入诸药,使为
乡道,则药力至于病所,而邪与药相从,药性渐发,邪或从毛空出,或从二便出,不能复留
矣,此即从治之法也。风寒暑湿,莫不皆然,此神而明之之道,不专恃正治奏功也。
Rhinoceros horn is of two types: mountain rhino and water rhino, with the water rhino being superior. Its taste is bitter and its nature is cold. It primarily treats various poisonous insects and *zhu* qi (a type of infectious disease caused by external pathogens), killing pathogenic insects associated with evil qi. It repels evil spirits, spiritual energy, and miasma. It clears toxic heat accumulation. It kills *Gougen* (Aconitum ferox), *Zhen yu* (poisonous feathers), and snake venom, dispelling evil; all toxins from plants, trees, insects, and birds are eliminated. It prevents confusion and nightmare sleep. It resolves heat-evil in the Heart meridian and unblocks the heart orifices.
The ox belongs to Earth, whereas the rhino resides in Water. Since there are no beasts in water, only the rhino can submerge within it, indicating that it has obtained the essence of both Earth and Water. For any toxic substance, when placed in Earth and Water, its toxicity naturally transforms. The rhino horn, having obtained the essence of Earth and Water, possesses great power in resolving toxins. Furthermore, its horn is hollow in the center, symbolizing spiritual penetration, thus it can also nourish the Heart and dispel evil.
Its taste is salty and its nature is neutral. It primarily treats dim vision, improves eyesight, and allows for clear night vision with bright light. It preserves the essence of Yin Qi in the Liver meridian. Long-term consumption brings joy, beauty, and freedom from worry. When Liver Qi is harmonious, one feels happy.
All winged creatures that fly become blind at night. *Fuyi* (also known as *Tianshu*, belonging to the rodent family) becomes blind at sunrise and hides, but sees clearly at sunset and emerges, as it has obtained the essence of Yin Qi. The Liver belongs to the Jueyin meridian and opens into the eyes; therefore, utilizing its Qi to nourish Liver Blood and assist vision follows the principle of resonance. Entities with special abilities must possess special Qi, which can be inferred analogously.
In ancient times, cicadas were used; today, cicada sloughs (*Chantui*) are used, and their Qi and nature are similar. Their taste is salty and their nature is cold. They primarily treat pediatric convulsions, epilepsy, night crying, and alternating chills and fever in manic disorders. These are all diseases of wind-heat in children.
The grasshopper cicada (*Zhachan*) is born from the Qi of cool winds and clear dew; its body is light and its voice resonant, embodying the expansive nature of Metal Qi. Additionally, shedding its skin corresponds to the position of the Lung meridian in the human body; thus, its properties can clear fire, drive out wind, and disperse stagnant Qi in the Lung meridian. Its light and void texture is particularly suitable for the delicate constitution of children.
The grasshopper cicada sings at sunrise and stops at sunset; using it to stop night crying relies on this symbolic meaning.
Silkworm (*Jiangcan*) tastes salty. It primarily treats pediatric convulsions, epilepsy, night crying, and diseases caused by wind-phlegm. It eliminates three types of parasites (worms generated by wind-pathogens). It removes black spots, improves complexion, clears wind-spots on the skin, and makes the skin lustrous. It treats ulcers of the male genitals and damp-wind in the lower body.
Silkworms are insects that eat mulberry leaves. Mulberry can treat wind and nourish blood, so the silkworm shares similar properties. Silkworms become stiff due to wind; they can treat all diseases caused by wind-pathogens, likely through mutual resonance of their Qi. Why does a silkworm, which becomes stiff from wind, cure wind-diseases? Generally, when evil invades the human body, it exists as Qi without form, penetrating meridians and collaterals, becoming deeper over time. If drugs with opposing natures to the evil are administered, the evil rejects entry. One must use substances of the same category as the evil, mixing them with other herbs to act as guides, allowing the medicinal force to reach the site of the disease. The evil aligns with the medicine, the medicinal properties gradually manifest, and the evil may exit through hair follicles or the two bowels, unable to remain. This is the method of "treating according to the disease" (Cong Zhi). Wind, cold, summer-heat, and dampness are all treated similarly; this is the profound and illuminating principle, not relying solely on orthodox treatment methods for efficacy.