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Cormorant Feces

Also known as Shu Shuihua (Shu Water Flower). It can remove black moles on the face.

Nature and Flavor: Slightly Cold. Main indications: Esophageal obstruction by foreign bodies (such as fish bones) and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). Burn it into ash and take orally.

Tao Hongjing stated: It is very common in streams and valleys; one should collect its feces personally and select the white parts for use. Those sold in the market are unreliable. The bones of this bird also treat esophageal obstruction by fish bones. This bird does not reproduce by laying eggs but vomits out its young from its mouth, which is indeed a unique anomaly. Minister Yuxi et al., according to Chen Cangqi, noted that Cormorant Feces, in addition to its original efficacy, can facilitate childbirth; at the time of delivery, let the parturient hold it. This bird is viviparous and still gives birth through the mouth, similar to rabbits giving birth. These two animals share the same reproductive method, and their therapeutic effects are also consistent. Furthermore, there are two types of this bird: those with slender heads, long bodies, and white crowns are named "Yuwen" (Fish Mosquito). Du Taiqing's *Huai Fu* states: "In the eighth and ninth months, cormorants vomit out their young, holding their wings and flying high and low." *Yaoxing Lun* states: Shu Shuihua can also be used alone, which refers to cormorant bird feces. It is toxic and can remove facial scars. Ri Huazi stated: It is cold in nature and slightly toxic. It treats facial blemishes and marks left by scalds and burns. Mix with lard and apply topically to carbuncles.

*Tujing* states: Cormorant Feces, not recorded in the *Ben Jing* regarding its place of origin, is now found in water regions. This bird is viviparous and vomits out its young from its mouth, resembling rabbits. Thus, Du Taiqing's *Huai Fu* states: "In the eighth and ninth months, cormorants vomit out their young, holding their wings and flying high and low," referring to this phenomenon. When a woman is in labor, having her hold it facilitates easy delivery. Its feces are mostly found on mountain rocks, purple like flowers; scrape them off the rocks for use. Southerners use it to treat pediatric malnutrition with roundworms; dry it, grind into powder, dip roasted pork in it, and feed it to the child, yielding miraculous results. The *Ben Jing* names it Shu Shuihua. However, Tang dynasty facial cream formulas sometimes use Cormorant Feces and sometimes Shu Shuihua; how can one substance have two uses? The exact situation is unknown. There is another bird similar to the cormorant, with a slender head, long back, and white markings on the neck, called "Baijiao" (White Shark), which is unsuitable for medicinal use.

*Shenghui Fang*: Treats rhinophyma (nasal acne/rosacea). Use one he of Cormorant Feces, ground up, mixed with lard from the twelfth lunar month, and applied nightly. *Waitai Miyao* treats esophageal obstruction by fish bones. Calling out the name "cormorant" causes the bone to pass. Another prescription: Treats alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Take Cormorant Feces ash, administered with water, one cubic inch spoonful. Sun Simiao treated impending dysphagia attacks by having the patient hold a cormorant's beak in their mouth, after which the condition subsided. *Waitai Miyao* concurs.

*Yanyi* states: Regarding the cormorant, Tao Hongjing said: This bird does not lay eggs but vomits out its young. People now call it the "Water Crow." It nests in large trees, gathering in flocks, with fixed roosting spots. Over time, the trees wither due to the toxicity of its feces. Pregnant women dare not eat it because it vomits out its young. Chen Cangqi further claimed it facilitates easy childbirth, suggesting parturients hold it, which contradicts Tao's account. I once served as an official in Lizhou. Behind the government office stood a large tree with thirty or forty nests. Observing day and night, I saw they could mate, and green eggshells were scattered on the ground. How could they vomit young from their mouths? This was entirely unverified, showing that people at that time believed erroneous reports.