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Niu Huang (Calculus Bovis)

Bitter in flavor, neutral in nature, slightly toxic. It primarily treats convulsions and epilepsy (Jing Xian), cold-heat disorders, manic symptoms caused by excessive heat, expels evil spirits, treats various pediatric diseases and various types of febrile epilepsy with inability to open the mouth, as well as adult mania and epilepsy. It also induces abortion. Long-term use makes the body light and extends lifespan, enhancing memory. It is produced in Pingze, Jin region, obtained from cattle, and must be dried in the shade for one hundred days to ensure proper drying, avoiding exposure to sunlight or moonlight. (Ren Shen [Ginseng Root] acts as its guiding herb; combined with Mu Dan Pi [Moutan Cortex] and Chang Pu [Acorus Rhizome], it benefits the ears and eyes; it is incompatible with Gu Long [Dragon Bone], Di Huang [Rehmannia Root], Long Dan Cao [Gentian Root], and Fei Lian [Blatta Orientalis]; it fears Niu Xi [Cyathula Root].)

Tao Hongjing stated: Old texts mention that divine cattle produce this when entering and exiting while roaring. One should wait where their horns emerge, catch the expelled substance in a basin of water, and it will fall into the water. Nowadays, people mostly obtain it directly from the gallbladder. It is mostly produced in Liangzhou and Yizhou. A single piece is as large as a chicken egg yolk, layered upon itself. Among medicinal substances, none is more precious than this. A single piece weighing three or two fen is worth five to ten thousand cash if of good quality. The *Tang Bencao* annotation states: Niu Huang is now produced in Laizhou, Mizhou, Zizhou, Qingzhou, [missing character]zhou, and Rongzhou. Cattle possessing this substance often roar frequently; it is obtained by intimidating and forcing the animal, termed "Sheng Huang" (Raw Yellow), which is of the best quality. There are three types of Niu Huang: San Huang (Scattered Yellow) granules like hemp seeds; Man Huang (Slow Yellow) resembling the paste of a chicken egg yolk, found in the liver and gallbladder; Yuan Huang (Round Yellow) in block form, varying in size, also found in the liver and gallbladder. It mostly occurs in Qinqte cattle (Yak); it is unheard of in Wu cattle (domestic yellow cattle). Minister Yuxi et al., according to *Yaoxing Lun*, state: Niu Huang is a sovereign drug, incompatible with Chang Shan (Dichroa Root), fears Gan Qi (Dry Lacquer), sweet in flavor. It can ward off evil charms, calm the soul and spirit, treat infant night crying, and manage sudden stroke from malignant pathogens. Wu Shi said: Niu Huang is non-toxic. Cattle that groan upon entering and exiting may have it; at night, the horn glows, oil flows from the horn, and after death, it enters the gallbladder, looking like a chicken egg yolk. Ri Huazi said: Niu Huang is cool. It treats wind-stroke aphasia, lockjaw, female blood lockjaw, palpitations, epidemic febrile diseases, forgetfulness, and deficiency fatigue.

*Tujing* states: Niu Huang is produced in Pingze, Jin region; currently produced in Dengzhou and Laizhou, with other places having some but not of high quality. Any cattle with this substance have glossy skin and fur, blood-red eyes, and often roar. They also like to gaze at water reflections. People use a basin of water to catch the expelled substance, then intimidate the animal until it falls into the water. Once obtained, it is dried in the shade for one hundred days. A single piece is as large as a chicken egg yolk, layered and peelable; those that are light, hollow, and fragrant are superior. However, this substance is often counterfeit. Current testing methods involve rubbing it on fingernails; if it penetrates the nail turning yellow, it is genuine. It is also said there are four types: Sheng Huang obtained by intimidation; Jiao Zhong Huang (Horn Yellow) obtained after slaughter; Xin Huang (Heart Yellow) peeled from the heart after death, initially like thick yellow sauce in the heart, hardening like broken Tribulus or Gleditsia fruit when dipped in water; Gan Huang (Liver Yellow) obtained from the liver and gallbladder. Generally, none surpasses Sheng Huang obtained by intimidation. For medicinal use, Water Buffalo, Yak, and Yellow Cattle provide milk and products like Su (Clarified Butter), Lao (Fermented Milk), and Ti Hu (Butter Oil), but their properties differ: Water Buffalo milk is cool, Yak milk is warm, and their meats are all cold. Self-deceased cattle are inedible. Their clarified butter is used to compound various plasters for massaging wind-induced swelling and traumatic blood stasis; Niu Su (Clarified Butter) is strongest, and Ti Hu is especially good. There is also Di Ye Jia (Vidanga), made by Western Barbarians mixing various bile salts, resembling old spoiled pills, reddish-black, possibly found in the South Sea. Also in the middle category is Niu Jiao Ji (Buffalo Horn Fragment), using Water Buffalo or Yellow Buffalo horns rotted white in dung/soil for a long time, treating bloody and white dysentery, taken as ash powder. Sha Niu Jiao Ji (Sand Buffalo Horn Fragment) treats lower jiao obstruction and blood stasis, female leukorrhea, taken as ash with wine. Cui Yuanliang's *Haishang Fang* treats throat bi (sore throat/swelling) causing suffocation. Take Sha Niu Jiao Ji, burn and scrape for ash, sieve finely, mix with wine, take a date-sized amount, or mix with water. For infants nursing poorly, feeling similar to throat bi, apply this ash to the nipple; swallowing cures it. Yellow Cattle Gallbladder is used for pill making: current formula takes juice on the 12th lunar month day, mixes with Tian Nan Xing (Arisaema Rhizome) powder, returns to the membrane, places in windy area for over a month, then uses to compound Liang Feng Wan (Cool Wind Pill), yielding remarkable effects. Huang Jian Niu (Castrated Yellow Bull) and Wu Gu Niu (Black Ox) urine both treat edema and promote urination. Yang Yan's *Nanxing Fang* treats gouty arthritis (Hongxiangjiao) with lower abdominal distension and difficult urination; take one sheng of Wu Te Niu (Black Male Ox) urine, divided into one day's doses, stop when abdomen reduces. For lowering edema, take Huang Jian Niu urine, drink three sheng at once; if no effect, increase dose; halve for elderly and children. Cow dung ash applied to unhealed moxibustion sores. Oral saliva treats regurgitation. Old cow saliva treats dysphagia. Chewing grass in the mouth, juiced, treats hiccups. Remaining parts like teeth, marrow, heart, liver, kidney are beneficial when eaten but rarely used in formulas. Horse, donkey, and sheep milks have similar functions. Donkey and horse milks are cold and purgative; sheep milk is warm and tonifying; horse milk is best for making cheese. The following item, Bai Gu Pi (Rotten Drum Skin), treats gu poison; ancient formulas also use it alone, burned to ash and taken. Like cattle-related items, it is rarely used, so it is appended at the end.

Lei Gong stated: There are four types for use: First is Sheng Shen Huang (Divine Raw Yellow), obtained by trickery/intimidation; second is Jiao Huang (Horn Yellow), taken directly; third is Xin Huang (Heart Yellow), obtained by experts dissecting the heart after natural death, breaking it open to find the yellow substance inside like thick yellow sauce, which hardens like broken Tribulus or bean-sized Emperor Bead when dipped in water; fourth is Gan Huang (Liver Yellow), where the cattle have glossy bodies, blood-red eyes, enjoy gazing at water, possess nocturnal luminescence, and frighten humans; if collected separately, it may have miraculous effects. For use, it must first be individually pounded, ground fine as dust, wrapped in silk, then wrapped in fresh yellow cowhide, placed above a well surface, three to four chi away from water, left overnight, and used the next morning. *Shenghui Fang*: For newborns up to seven days with lockjaw. Take a small amount of Niu Huang, grind fine, mix with Dan Zhu Li (Bamboo Sap), administer one zi measure,灌 (pour) into mouth. Also dot pig milk into the mouth for cure. Another formula: Treats infant abdominal pain and night crying. Look upward. Grind Niu Huang the size of a soybean, mix with honey water and administer. Yao Hezhong treats infants three days old to dispel evil spirits and malodorous qi. Take Niu Huang the size of a soybean, grind fine, mix with red honey and sour jujube cooked and ground, dip cotton in it, let the infant suckle, finish within one day.

*Yanyi* states: Niu Huang also includes Luo Tuo Huang (Camel Stone), both from Western Regions. Camel Stone is easily obtained; physicians must carefully distinguish and verify before use due to morphological confusion. Yellow Cattle Niu Huang is light and naturally slightly fragrant, distinguishing it. There is also Mao Niu Huang (Yak Stone), which is hard and not fragrant.