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The *Bencao Zhu* (Commentary on the Materia Medica) states: "Tangerine peel tastes bitter, and pomelo peel tastes sweet." This is an error. Pomelo peel is extremely bitter and inedible. The peel that tastes sweet belongs to the kumquat (Gan).

According to the *Yueling* (Monthly Ordinances), the antlers of elk (Cervus canadensis) shed at the Winter Solstice, while those of deer (Cervus nippon) shed at the Summer Solstice; their yin and yang natures are thus opposite. Currently, people treat elk velvet antler and deer velvet antler as a single category for use, which is likely due to negligence.

There is also a practice of using blood from pierced elk or deer to substitute for velvet antler, claiming that "antler is merely blood." This is a major error. Upon careful consideration of the ancients' intent: among all creatures containing blood, flesh grows relatively easily, horns/antlers grow with difficulty, and bones grow with the greatest difficulty. Therefore, from conception to adulthood, human bone marrow takes twenty years to become solid. Only deer velvet antler grows from emergence to hardness in less than two months. Large specimens can weigh over twenty jin (approx. 10+ kg), and their hardness is like stone. Calculating the growth rate, they must gain several liang (approx. tens of grams) per night. Such instantaneous formation of bone is miraculous in its growth, unparalleled even by fast-growing plants and trees. This represents the strongest form of bone tissue; hence, it can tonify bone and blood, strengthen the Yang pathway, and fortify essence and marrow. How can it be compared to mere blood? Elk velvet antler is beneficial for tonifying Yang, whereas deer velvet antler is beneficial for tonifying Yin. When using velvet antler, it should not be too tender. What the world calls "eggplant velvet" (very young antler) is rare, has little efficacy, and overly mature antlers are too old. The best quality consists of antlers a few inches long; when broken open, the inner texture resembles rotten wood, and the tip resembles agate or red jade. Additionally, in the northern deserts, there exists an animal called "Mi Tuochen," which is powerful, dark gray in color, with a yellow rump and no spots; it is a type of deer. Its antlers have patterns and are hard and translucent like jade; its velvet is also usable.

When I compiled the *Lingyuan Fang*, discussing Ji She Xiang (Chicken Tongue Fragrance), I considered it the mother of Ding Xiang (Clove), based on the *Chen Shi Shi Yi*. However, upon detailed examination, this remains incorrect. According to the *Qimin Yaoshu*, Ji She Xiang is named so because it resembles the bud of a clove, hence also called Ding Zi Xiang, which is the current Ding Xiang (Clove). Ri Huazi stated that Ji She Xiang treats halitosis. Thus, in the story of "Sanxing," officials held Ji She Xiang in their mouths so that their breath would be fragrant when presenting memorials and responding to inquiries. This precisely refers to Ding Xiang treating halitosis, a view maintained in medical formularies to this day. Furthermore, the ancient formula Wu Xiang Lian Qiao Tang uses Ji She Xiang, whereas the Wu Xiang Lian Qiao Tang in the *Qianjin Fang* does not use Ji She Xiang but instead uses Ding Xiang. This is the most clear evidence. The *Xin Bu Bencao* lists Ding Xiang as a separate entry, likely due to a lack of deep investigation. What is currently referred to as Ji She Xiang is obtained within Ru Xiang (Frankincense). It is large, resembling Cornus officinalis fruit (Dogwood fruit),