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Lizhi (Rabbit Bone) [Note: Context implies "Li" refers to a wild cat-like animal, often translated as Wild Cat or Civet in ancient texts, but strictly following WHO terms for generic "Li" where specific species isn't defined beyond "Hu Li" (Tiger-striped) vs "Mao" (Cat). I will use *Viverridae* family context or generic *Wild Cat* if applicable, but standard TCM English often uses *Li Gu*. Let's stick to *Li Gu* with explanation.]
Flavor: Sweet. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic.
Indications: Mainly treats Fengzhu (Wind Zhu disease), Shizhu (Corpse Zhu disease), and Guizhu (Ghost Zhu disease) [collective terms for chronic, infectious, or psychosomatic wasting diseases]; toxic vapors wandering in the skin causing sensations like needle pricks; heart and abdominal pain; pain migrating to various locations; and Shulou (rat scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis). The head bone is particularly effective.
Chen Yuxi et al., according to *Yaoxing Lun*: Lizhi, salty flavor, minister herb. It can also be used alone. The head bone, stir-fried into powder, treats Ye disease (dysphagia/choking sensation), preventing food and drink from passing through. Meng Shen states: Lizhi bone mainly treats hemorrhoids; it should be made into a soup and eaten, not consumed with wine. Burning its head bone into ash and taking it with wine (2 qian bi) treats hemorrhoids. Additionally, after poisoning from eating wild bird meat, taking the burned ash cures the condition. Grilled bone mixed with Moschus (Shexiang) and Realgar (Xionghuang) into pills treats hemorrhoids and malignant sores. Feces burned into ash treat Gui Nue (Ghost Malaria, a severe type of malaria with chills and fever).
Rihua Zi states: Lizhi bone treats Youfeng Echuang (wandering wind malignant sores); the head bone is best. Feces burned into ash treat cold-heat malaria.
Lizhi meat treats various Zhu diseases.
Chen Yuxi et al., according to *Shu Ben Bencao*: Lizhi meat treats Shulou. Rihua Zi states: Lizhi meat treats Youfeng and other diseases. Also, burning Lizhi head into ash and taking with wine treats all wind conditions.
Lizhi penis mainly treats amenorrhea (menstrual obstruction) and Nanzi Yintui (male genital atrophy/testicular degeneration). Burn it and take with east-flowing water.
Tao Hongjing states: There are many types of Li. Currently, Hu Li (Tiger-striped wild cat) is used, not domestic cats, though Mao Li (cat-like wild cat) is also good. Their bones are difficult to distinguish; self-collection ensures authenticity.
There is also Shan Li (mountain wild cat), yellow in color and smelly. Its meat also treats Shulou. Making Lizhi meat into soup as commonly done is excellent. *Tang Ben Cao Zhu* states: Lizhi feces ash treats cold-heat Gui Nue, especially those with irregular onset, which is very effective. Domestic Li is also good, also known as Mao. Now referring to Chen Cangqi's *Bencao*: Feng Li (Wind Li) urine treats various wind pathogens. People catch and raise them, feeding them fruits and keeping them in cages. Its urine resembles milk and is very rare. It looks like a rabbit but is shorter. It waits on high trees for the wind to blow it to other trees. It is found south of Yongzhou.
*Tujing* states: Lizhi bone and meat are not recorded in *Ben Jing* regarding their origin provinces, but they are now found everywhere. There are many types; those with tiger stripes are suitable for use, while those with cat spots are inferior. The head bone should always be used. Hua Tuo's formula includes Lizhi San (Powder) to treat Shizhu. Lizhi meat treats hemorrhoids and can be made into soup. In the south, there is a Xiang Li (Fragrant Li), eaten as raw slices (Kuai) by people. When alive, it resembles northern foxes; its preparation makes its scent very fragrant, slightly musky. South of Yongzhou, there is another Feng Li, resembling a short rabbit, inhabiting high trees, waiting for wind to blow it to other trees. Its urine treats wind, but is hard to obtain; only available after long-term raising.
Dietary therapy: For Shizhu, abdominal pain, and Shulou. Grill until fragrant, powderize, and take 2 qian with wine. After ten doses, efficacy appears. Head bone is best. To treat Shizhu evil qi, burn to ash, take 2 qian with wine. It also treats swelling from poisoning by wild bird meat. Taking it again leads to recovery. Feces collected in May are extremely miraculous. Do not eat in the first lunar month as it harms the spirit. *Shenghui Fang*: Treats Luoli (scrofula) swelling, hardness, and pain that persists. Use Lizhi head and hoof bones, smear with butter, grill until yellow, grind and sieve into powder. Take 1 qian bi with porridge drink on an empty stomach daily. *Waitai Miyao* treats painful hemorrhoid outbreaks. Eating Lizhi meat soup is good; eating it as dried meat cures within three meals; this meat is very effective. *Zhouhou Fang*: Treats Shulou swollen nodes and pain, especially if there is an open sore with pus and blood. Take one cat, process into soup as per dietary methods, and consume on an empty stomach. *Shiyi Xinjing* treats persistent pain from scorpion stings. Apply cat feces to the sting site, changing three times daily until cured. *Zimu Milu*: Formula for Xiao'er Guishi (children's ghost-licking disease): Burn Lizhi feces to ash, mix with pig fat from the twelfth lunar month, and apply externally. Same as *Qianjin Fang*. *Huanan Fang*: Lizhi head treats Shulou and rat bites; Lizhi heals them. *Book of Rites* states to remove the central spine when eating Li.
*Yanyi* states: Lizhi bone resembles a cat, with two patterns: one like linked coins, one like tiger stripes. Both colors are usable in medicine. Its meat taste is not far from fox meat. In Jiangxi, there is a Niushi Li (Ox-tail Li) with a tail like an ox. People often pickle and eat it, but it is rarely used in medicine. Meng Shen states: Lizhi bone treats hemorrhoids by making soup. But how is bone made into soup? (" ", pronounced Hao, means meat soup). Grilled bone mixed with Moschus and Realgar into pills treats hemorrhoids and malignant sores, with great effect.