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[Dog Meat]
Taste: Salty and sour. Nature: Hot. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Mingmen (Gate of Life) meridian. Main actions: Strengthens Yuan Yang (Primordial Yang), treats severe injuries, stabilizes the Five Zang organs, and boosts Qi and strength. The penis is particularly effective in assisting sexual function, and treating twelve types of leukorrhea and bleeding disorders in women; blood mainly nourishes Yin and expels evil pathogens. Used for treating rabid dog bites; garlic should be avoided.

Commentary: Dog meat is also a salty and hot substance, entering the Mingmen. It accelerates the generation of fire most rapidly, so it is strictly forbidden for those with heat syndromes. Roasted and consumed, it causes unquenchable thirst. Consuming it in the ninth lunar month damages the Shen (Spirit). Pregnant women who consume it may give birth to children with cleft lips and no voice. Zhu Danxi said: "Human deficiency is mostly Yin deficiency. When Yin is deficient, Yang must hyperactive. Using dog meat as a tonic—would this not intensify the fire and exacerbate the disease?" People believe it tonifies deficiency, thinking it refers to Yang deficiency. They do not realize that if it were truly Yang deficiency, death would follow immediately; even if Cang Gong or Bian Que were reborn, they could not handle it. How could this be considered a tonic? Nevertheless, Zhu Danxi's lifelong focus was on nourishing Yin, hence this view. However, the efficacy of warming and tonifying has been well articulated by other physicians. Is it not true? Only for those with weak Mingmen pulses and no history of fire syndromes is it highly suitable. Otherwise, one suffers harm before gaining any benefit.

[Mutton]
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Very Hot. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Spleen and Lung meridians. Main actions: Treats deficiency-cold, brain wind, and major wind diseases; tonifies Spleen Qi, calms the Heart, and settles fright.

Commentary: The sweetness of mutton suits its entry into the Spleen. In the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), it corresponds to Dui (Lake), which belongs to Metal in the West, thus it also enters the Lungs. The *Ten Categories* states: "Tonification can remove weakness, such as with Ginseng and Mutton." Ginseng tonifies Qi in the middle jiao, while Mutton tonifies form in the exterior. When tonifying deficiency, these must be used differently and cannot be treated identically. Consuming it in the sixth lunar month damages the Shen. It is contraindicated for pregnant women, and those with edema, bone-steaming fever, malaria, and all fire syndromes.

[Yellow Beef]
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Spleen meridian. Main actions: Stabilizes the Middle Jiao, benefits Qi, strengthens the Spleen and nourishes the Stomach, fortifies bones, and strengthens sinews. Its milk tonifies deficiency, nourishes the Heart and Lungs, moistens the skin, resolves heat toxins, stops xiao-ke (wasting-thirst), and lubricates the large intestine. Brain treats head wind; gallbladder treats wind-phlegm. Horn base (cheekbone area) treats red-and-white leukorrhea and promotes blood circulation.

Commentary: Beef is yellow in color and sweet in taste, belonging to Earth. In the Bagua, it corresponds to Dui, so it specifically enters the Spleen. Using it for "Dao Cang" (a therapy involving consuming large amounts of beef to cleanse the stomach/intestines) indeed has regenerative merit. However, cattle are resources for agriculture and farming; they should not be slaughtered lightly. Cattle that die naturally or are old and sick have no tonic value and may actually harm humans. This flaw is common in markets; consumers must be cautious.