蜂蜜 〔甘平，入胃、脾二经。忌生葱。凡蜜一斤，入水四两
同炼，去沫，滴水不散为度，青赤酸者不堪入药。〕调和百药，化解诸毒。润能滑肠，可行初痢
之积滞；〔生地汁，生蜜浆和匀，顿服一碗，积自排出。〕甘能缓急，善止诸般之疼痛。〔如心腹
肌肉，及疮毒丹毒汤火诸痛，又诸鱼骨鲠，咽之令下。〕
同生葱莴苣食，令人利下，同 食，令人暴亡。
龟甲 〔咸寒，入心、肾二经。或酥或酒，或醋或猪脂，或黄蜡涂炙，捣小块用。若 末入
丸散，恐中湿则遂其变化之性，成 瘕于腹中，故经言中湿有毒，煎胶用良。〕补肾退骨蒸，〔禀北方
之气，至阴之物，故所主阴虚血弱，腰脚酸疼，骨蒸寒热诸病。《别录》谓其能令人食者，除热之功
也。〕养心增智能。〔心藏神，龟性神灵，借其气以相通，且得水火既济之义，实非补心之正药。〕
截疟，理伤寒劳复寒热；〔久疟则阴伤劳复，寒热由阴虚而邪热为病，故皆用以补阴。〕续筋骨，治
劳倦四肢无力。〔补阴虚之功也。《本经》治湿痹，四肢重弱者，亦肾阴虚而邪气易犯，养正则邪自除
。〕泄痢久而能止，〔肾司二便，久泄久痢不止，下多亡阴，当求责肾，且其性又能益大肠也，产后
下痢尤宜。〕肿毒起而可消。〔妇人乳毒，阴蚀阴疮甚效。一方治发背初起。以龟甲黄蜡炙透内服外敷
有神。〕治小儿囟门不合，〔肾主骨，以肾虚故不合。〕医妇人漏下赤白。〔叔和云∶崩中日久为白带
，漏下多时肾水枯。此有大补阴之功。〕疗五痔如神，〔益阴除热故也。〕敷 疮至
效。〔小儿头耳口吻诸疮，并 末敷之。〕
龟鹿皆永年，龟首藏向腹，能通任脉，取下甲以补阴血，鹿鼻反向尾，能通督脉，取上角以补精气。
肾虚无热者，孕妇亦忌。
鳖甲 〔咸寒，入肝经。或酒或醋炙黄捣碎。〕除阴虚寒热往来之要药，主劳瘦骨蒸吐血之上
剂。〔阴虚即精血虚也。凡寒热属阴虚者，皆用，故产后血虚发热最宜。劳热骨蒸，则饮食不为肌肤，此
能益阴除热，故悉主之。治吐血者，以其为肝经血分之药，兼能下瘀血也。〕疟疾劳复， 瘕坚积咸
收用；〔凡阴虚人，或作劳，或房劳，疟发于阴，或疟疾多热久不解者，必用之以益阴除热而消散。故
劳复，女劳复亦为必须之药，食复及小儿胁下坚亦用。疟母必需者，以其有咸能软坚破积消瘀之功。〕
经行先期，漏下五色共寻求。〔皆益阴除热之功。〕
鳖色青，主治皆肝症。龟色黑，主治皆肾症。同归补阴，食有分别。
凡阴虚人胃弱呕恶，脾虚泄泻者勿用。能堕胎，孕妇亦忌。
鲤鱼胶 〔咸甘〕补肾止遗滑，益精多子嗣。性极粘腻，为添精益髓，止滑之神品，近人用之
甚效。宜入丸剂，若入汤液，胃弱人恐难胜受。
真珠 〔咸寒，入心经。绢包入豆腐中，煮一炷香，研细方可用。〕安魂定悸，除热解毒。〔
痘毒、疔毒皆效。〕眼科用以点目退翳，外科用以收口生肌。
田中螺汁 〔甘大寒。〕膈症宜投，〔取其甘寒清胃。〕黄胆可服，〔以其能利湿热也。〕点目
热赤痛，涂痔疮肿疼。〔寒能除热也。〕大肠脱肛，鸡翎刷之，托上而如神；小便不通，同盐捣敷脐下而
立应。
雄晚蚕蛾 〔是第二番者，咸温有小毒，炒去翅足。〕强阳不痿，止精不泄。〔以其性淫，出茧
便媾，交接不倦，咸温而暖水脏故也。〕
阴虚火旺者勿用。
晚蚕砂 〔味辛甘温。炒。〕主疗风湿，〔属火性燥，能胜风祛湿，故主中风瘫痪，皮肤顽痹症疼痛，
外兼炒熨有神，〕可涂目烂，〔烂弦风眼，用麻油浸三日，研细抹患处，不论新旧即愈。〕
牡蛎 〔咸寒，入肝、肾二经。火 ，或童便、或醋淬之。〕盗汗梦遗，便浊均收，溺频带下，
崩淋并简，〔皆取其咸能走血，咸能入肾，寒能除热，涩能固脱也。又咸能软坚，故又有化痰消瘰 积块
之功。〕虚而热者宜之。
有寒者勿用。
海螵蛸 〔乌贼鱼骨也。咸微温，入肝经。炙黄，文顺者是真，横者勿用。〕崩淋带下并简，肠
风不止宜求。〔味咸入血，性涩能收也。〕
瓦楞子 〔咸平，火 醋淬。〕化痰积至效，消血块殊灵。〔咸走血而软坚也。〕
穿山甲 〔辛微寒，有毒，入肝、胃二经。炙黄，或酥或醋，或溺涂炙，或油煎，或土炒，随
宜。〕搜风逐痰，破血开气，〔性专行散故也。〕下乳汁多灵，〔通经脉之功。〕截疟疾至效，〔治
疟用之者，恐其经络阴阳相隔阻，药力难骤入故也。〕消肿毒须用，治痛痹宜求。〔穴山而居，寓水而
食，能走窜经络，无处不到，直达病所成功。患病在某处。即用某处之甲更效。〕
性猛不可过服。
虫 〔地鳖虫也。有小毒。去足炙研。〕祛血积而搜剔极周，〔仲景有大黄 虫丸，治干血
积结，鳖甲煎丸治疟母，以其有攻坚下血之功也。〕治折损而接续至妙。〔以刀断之，中有白浆，凑合复
能行走，故接续筋骨有奇效。〕
无瘀血停留者勿用。
蟹 〔咸寒，治病宜生捣去壳用。形状怪异者有毒，勿食。芦根汁、冬瓜汁、紫苏汁解蟹毒。〕
和经脉而散恶血，〔血热
瘀滞者宜之。〕理折伤以续筋骨，〔生捣酒饮，外用炒热涂敷，能续断绝筋骨有神。〕解漆毒之疮，
〔其黄能化漆为水故也。〕合小儿之囱。〔囱门不合，同白芨涂之，以合为度。〕
爪能破胎堕胎，孕妇忌食。
石决明 〔咸寒，入肝、肾二经。盐水煮研，七孔八孔者佳，十孔者不佳。〕内服退翳，外点赤膜。
蝉壳 〔咸寒，入肺、脾、肝三经。水洗净泥沙，去足翅用。〕能发痧疹痘疮，〔其体轻浮之
故也。〕可除目昏障翳，〔其性善脱故也。〕治大人失音，〔取其清响，能发音声。〕止小儿夜啼，〔取其
昼鸣夜息。〕疗头风眩晕，祛皮肤风热。〔入肝祛风散热之故。〕
白僵蚕 〔辛咸微温，入肺、肝二经。洗净焙。去丝及黑口研。〕治中风失音，〔祛风化痰之
功。〕祛皮肤风痒。〔风邪客于皮肤，故痒如虫行，辛能入肺散邪故也。〕能疗男子阴疮，〔风湿侵淫
，则生阴疮痒痛。散风而又能燥湿，故主之。〕可理小儿惊痫，〔惊痫夜啼，因风热乘肝所致者宜之。
〕瘰 能消。〔散结化痰故也。〕雀斑可灭。〔以风邪
客于皮肤，故面生黑斑诸疮，斑痕并用之。〕长于祛风化痰。小儿惊痫夜啼，由心虚神魂不宁
，血虚经络劲急所致，及类中失音，非因外邪者均忌。
五倍子 〔酸涩苦平，或生或炒研末。〕自汗盗汗，津调纳脐内；口疮湿疮，干末敷患处
。君藤黄，醋调敷肿毒；佐白矾，煎汤洗脱肛。掺湿烂之目，染须发之白。
性燥急而专收敛，外治多功。今人滥用，治咳嗽泻痢，使火气无从泄越，贻祸不浅。
蜂蜜 【味甘性平，归胃经、脾经。忌与生葱同食。凡取蜜一斤，加入水四两共同炼制，撇去浮沫，以滴入水中不散开为限度，颜色青赤且味酸者不堪入药。】调和各种药物，化解多种毒素。其滋润之性能滑利肠道，可通导初患痢疾时的积滞；【用生地黄汁与生蜜浆混合均匀，一次性服用一碗，积滞自然排出。】其甘缓之性能缓解急迫，善于制止各类疼痛。【如心腹肌肉疼痛，以及疮毒、丹毒、汤火烫伤等引起的疼痛，还有各种鱼骨卡喉，吞咽蜂蜜使其下行。】
与生葱、莴苣同食，使人腹泻；与某些食物（原文此处有缺漏或指代不明，通常指与葱类）同食，使人突然死亡。
龟甲 【味咸性寒，归心经、肾经。可用酥油、酒、醋或猪脂、黄蜡涂抹后炙烤，捣成小块使用。若制成粉末用于丸散，恐怕遇到湿气则会发挥其变化之性，在腹中形成瘕块，所以医经说遇湿有毒，煎煮成胶使用较好。】补肾以退除骨蒸劳热，【龟禀受北方之气，属于至阴之物，所以主治阴虚血弱、腰脚酸痛、骨蒸寒热等各种病证。《名医别录》说它能让人食欲增加，这是因为它能除热的功效。】养心并增强智慧。【心藏神，龟具有灵性，借其气机相通，且符合水火既济的道理，但严格来说并非补心的正药。】截断疟疾，调理伤寒愈后因劳累复发的寒热症状；【久疟导致阴伤、劳复，寒热因阴虚而邪热致病，所以都用它来补阴。】续接筋骨，治疗因劳倦导致的四肢无力。【这是补阴虚的功效。《神农本草经》说治湿痹、四肢沉重软弱，也是因肾阴虚而邪气容易侵犯，养护正气则邪气自除。】泄泻痢疾日久能止住，【肾主管二便，久泄久痢不止，下利多亡阴，应当责之于肾，且其性又能益大肠，产后下痢尤其适宜。】肿毒发起时可消除。【妇人乳痈、阴蚀阴疮非常有效。一方治疗发背初起，用龟甲和黄蜡炙透内服外敷，有神效。】治疗小儿囟门不合，【肾主骨，因肾虚故不合。】医治妇人漏下赤白带下。【王叔和说：崩中日久变为白带，漏下多时肾水枯竭。此药有大补阴之功。】治疗五痔如神，【因为能益阴除热。】敷贴疮疡非常有效。【小儿头耳口吻各处的疮，都将其研末敷贴。】
龟和鹿都能长寿，龟头缩向腹部，能通任脉，取下甲以补阴血；鹿鼻反向尾部，能通督脉，取上角以补精气。肾虚无热者，孕妇也忌用。
鳖甲 【味咸性寒，归肝经。或用酒或醋炙黄后捣碎。】是去除阴虚寒热往来的重要药物，主治劳瘦骨蒸吐血的优良方剂中的主要药材。【阴虚即精血虚。凡是寒热属于阴虚的，都用它，所以产后血虚发热最适宜。劳热骨蒸，则饮食不能化为肌肤，此药能益阴除热，所以都主治。治吐血者，因为它是肝经血分的药，兼能下瘀血。】疟疾劳复，癥瘕坚积都广泛使用；【凡是阴虚之人，或因劳作，或因房劳，疟疾发于阴分，或疟疾多热久不解者，必用之以益阴除热而消散。所以劳复，女劳复也是必须的药物，食复及小儿胁下坚积也用。治疗疟母必需，因为它有咸能软坚破积消瘀的功效。】月经先期，漏下五色都寻求使用。【都是益阴除热的功效。】
鳖色青，主治皆属肝病；龟色黑，主治皆属肾病。同归补阴，食用时有分别。
凡是阴虚之人胃弱呕恶，脾虚泄泻者不要用。能堕胎，孕妇也忌用。
鲤鱼胶 【味咸甘】补肾止遗精滑泄，益精增多子嗣。性质极粘腻，是添精益髓、止滑的神品，近代人使用很有效。宜入丸剂，若入汤液，胃弱的人恐怕难以承受。
真珠 【味咸性寒，入心经。用绢包好放入豆腐中，煮一炷香的时间，研细才可使用。】安魂定悸，除热解毒。【痘毒、疔毒都有效。】眼科用来点眼退翳，外科用来收口生肌。
田中螺汁 【味甘大寒。】膈症适宜投用，【取其甘寒清胃。】黄疸可以服用，【因为它能利湿热。】点眼治热赤痛，涂痔疮肿疼。【寒能除热。】大肠脱肛，用鸡毛刷拭，托举而上如神；小便不通，同盐捣敷脐下而立应。
雄晚蚕蛾 【是第二番出的，味咸温有小毒，炒去翅足。】强阳不痿，止精不泄。【因为其性淫，出茧便交配，交接不倦，咸温而暖水脏的缘故。】
阴虚火旺者不要用。
晚蚕砂 【味辛甘温。炒。】主治风湿，【属火性燥，能胜风祛湿，所以主治中风瘫痪，皮肤顽痹症疼痛，外兼炒熨有神效，】可涂目烂，【烂弦风眼，用麻油浸三日，研细抹患处，不论新旧即愈。】
牡蛎 【味咸性寒，入肝、肾二经。火煅，或用童便、或醋淬之。】盗汗梦遗，便浊均收，溺频带下，崩淋并简，【都取其咸能走血，咸能入肾，寒能除热，涩能固脱。又咸能软坚，所以又有化痰消瘰疬积块之功。】虚而热者适宜。
有寒者不要用。
海螵蛸 【乌贼鱼骨也。味咸微温，入肝经。炙黄，纹理顺的是真品，横纹的不要用。】崩淋带下并简，肠风不止宜求。【味咸入血，性涩能收。】
瓦楞子 【味咸平，火煅醋淬。】化痰积非常有效，消血块殊为灵验。【咸走血而软坚。】
穿山甲 【味辛微寒，有毒，入肝、胃二经。炙黄，或用酥或醋，或溺涂炙，或油煎，或土炒，随宜。】搜风逐痰，破血开气，【因其性专行散。】下乳汁多灵，【通经脉之功。】截疟疾至效，【治疟用之者，恐其经络阴阳相隔阻，药力难骤入故也。】消肿毒须用，治痛痹宜求。【穴山而居，寓水而食，能走窜经络，无处不到，直达病所成功。患病在某处，即用某处之甲更效。】
性猛不可过服。
地鳖虫 【地鳖虫也。有小毒。去足炙研。】祛血积而搜剔极周，【仲景有大黄䗪虫丸，治干血积结，鳖甲煎丸治疟母，以其有攻坚下血之功也。】治折损而接续至妙。【以刀断之，中有白浆，凑合复能行走，故接续筋骨有奇效。】
无瘀血停留者不要用。
蟹 【味咸寒，治病宜生捣去壳用。形状怪异者有毒，勿食。芦根汁、冬瓜汁、紫苏汁解蟹毒。】和经脉而散恶血，【血热瘀滞者宜之。】理折伤以续筋骨，【生捣酒饮，外用炒热涂敷，能续断绝筋骨有神。】解漆毒之疮，【其黄能化漆为水故也。】合小儿之囱。【囱门不合，同白芨涂之，以合为度。】
爪能破胎堕胎，孕妇忌食。
石决明 【味咸寒，入肝、肾二经。盐水煮研，七孔八孔者佳，十孔者不佳。】内服退翳，外点赤膜。
蝉壳 【味咸寒，入肺、脾、肝三经。水洗净泥沙，去足翅用。】能发痧疹痘疮，【其体轻浮的缘故。】可除目昏障翳，【其性善脱的缘故。】治大人失音，【取其清响，能发音声。】止小儿夜啼，【取其昼鸣夜息。】疗头风眩晕，祛皮肤风热。【入肝祛风散热的缘故。】
白僵蚕 【味辛咸微温，入肺、肝二经。洗净焙。去丝及黑口研。】治中风失音，【祛风化痰之功。】祛皮肤风痒。【风邪客于皮肤，故痒如虫行，辛能入肺散邪故也。】能疗男子阴疮，【风湿侵淫，则生阴疮痒痛。散风而又能燥湿，故主之。】可理小儿惊痫，【惊痫夜啼，因风热乘肝所致者宜之。】瘰疬能消。【散结化痰故也。】雀斑可灭。【以风邪客于皮肤，故面生黑斑诸疮，斑痕并用之。】长于祛风化痰。小儿惊痫夜啼，由心虚神魂不宁，血虚经络劲急所致，及类中失音，非因外邪者均忌。
五倍子 【味酸涩苦平，或生或炒研末。】自汗盗汗，津调纳脐内；口疮湿疮，干末敷患处。君藤黄，醋调敷肿毒；佐白矾，煎汤洗脱肛。掺湿烂之目，染须发之白。
性燥急而专收敛，外治多功。今人滥用，治咳嗽泻痢，使火气无从泄越，贻祸不浅。
Honey [Sweet, neutral in nature, enters the Stomach and Spleen meridians. Avoid raw green onions. For every jin (500g) of honey, add 4 liang (200g) of water and refine together, removing foam. The degree is reached when a drop does not disperse in water; those that are greenish-red and sour are unfit for medicinal use.] Harmonizes various medicines, resolves multiple toxins. Its moistening property lubricates the intestines, capable of moving accumulation in initial dysentery; [Mix fresh Rehmanniae Radix juice with fresh honey syrup evenly, take one bowl at once, and the accumulation will be discharged naturally.] Its sweet and緩 (soothing) property relieves urgency, effectively stopping various types of pain. [Such as pain in the heart, abdomen, muscles, as well as pain from sores, carbuncles, erysipelas, scalds, burns, and fish bones stuck in the throat; swallowing it helps them go down.]
Eaten with raw green onions or lettuce, it causes diarrhea; eaten with certain foods, it causes sudden death.
Tortoise Shell [Salty, cold in nature, enters the Heart and Kidney meridians. Can be applied with marrow fat, wine, vinegar, lard, or beeswax before roasting, then crushed into small pieces for use. If made into powder for pills and powders, it is feared that encountering dampness will activate its transformative nature, forming masses in the abdomen; thus, classics state it is toxic when damp, and boiling it into gelatin is better.] Tonifies the Kidney to alleviate bone-steaming fever; [Endowing Qi from the North, it is a substance of extreme Yin, thus governing conditions of Yin deficiency and blood weakness, soreness and pain in the waist and legs, bone-steaming fever, etc. *Bielu* states it promotes appetite due to its heat-clearing efficacy.] Nourishes the Heart and enhances intelligence. [The Heart houses the Spirit; the tortoise possesses spiritual nature, allowing qi connection, and embodies the meaning of Water and Fire interacting successfully, though strictly speaking, it is not the primary herb for tonifying the Heart.] Stops malaria, regulates chills and fever after recovery from Cold Damage due to overexertion; [Prolonged malaria damages Yin and leads to recurrence; chills and fever arise from Yin deficiency with pathogenic heat, so it is used to tonify Yin.] Reconnects sinews and bones, treats limb weakness due to fatigue. [This is the effect of tonifying Yin deficiency. *Shennong Bencao Jing* treats damp bi syndrome and heavy/weak limbs, which is also due to Kidney Yin deficiency allowing pathogenic factors to invade easily; nourishing righteous Qi eliminates pathogens naturally.] Stops chronic diarrhea and dysentery; [The Kidney governs the two excretions; prolonged diarrhea/dysentery leads to Yin loss from excessive discharge, requiring attention to the Kidney, and its nature benefits the Large Intestine, especially suitable for postpartum dysentery.] Reduces swelling and toxins. [Very effective for breast abscesses, vaginal erosion/ulcers in women. One prescription for early-stage back carbuncle: roast Tortoise Shell with beeswax thoroughly, take internally and apply externally, showing miraculous effects.] Treats fontanelle non-closure in infants; [The Kidney governs bones; non-closure is due to Kidney deficiency.] Treats leukorrhea (red and white discharge) in women. [He Suhe said: Prolonged metrorrhagia becomes leukorrhea; prolonged leakage dries up Kidney Water. This herb has great Yin-tonifying power.] Cures five types of hemorrhoids miraculously; [Due to benefiting Yin and clearing heat.] Effective for applying to sores. [Crush into powder and apply to sores on the head, ears, mouth, and corners of the lips in infants.]
Both tortoises and deer live long lives. The tortoise head retracts towards the abdomen, connecting the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel); taking the shell tonifies Yin and Blood. The deer nose faces the tail, connecting the Du Mai (Governing Vessel); taking the horn tonifies Essence and Qi. Contraindicated in pregnancy for those with Kidney deficiency without heat.
Soft-shell Turtle Shell [Salty, cold in nature, enters the Liver meridian. Roast yellow with wine or vinegar, then crush.] A key medicine for eliminating alternating chills and fever due to Yin deficiency; a premier agent for treating emaciation, bone-steaming fever, and hemoptysis due to consumption. [Yin deficiency refers to Essence and Blood deficiency. It is used for all chills/fever cases belonging to Yin deficiency, making it most suitable for postpartum fever due to blood deficiency. For consumption fever and bone-steaming, where diet fails to nourish flesh, it benefits Yin and clears heat, thus governing these conditions. For hemoptysis, it is a medicine of the Liver meridian blood level, also resolving stasis.] Widely used for malaria recurrence, hard accumulations (zheng jia); [For Yin-deficient individuals, whether due to labor or sexual excess, if malaria originates in the Yin level, or if malaria involves much heat and persists, it must be used to benefit Yin, clear heat, and dissipate. Thus, it is essential for general and female sexual exhaustion recurrence, food recurrence, and hard accumulations under the ribs in children. Essential for malaria mother (splenomegaly) due to its salty nature softening hardness, breaking accumulation, and resolving stasis.] Used for early menstruation and profuse multicolored discharge. [All due to benefiting Yin and clearing heat.]
Turtle shell is green, governing Liver disorders; Tortoise shell is black, governing Kidney disorders. Both benefit Yin, but their dietary uses differ.
Contraindicated for Yin deficiency with weak stomach/vomiting, or Spleen deficiency with diarrhea. Aborts fetus; contraindicated in pregnancy.
Carp Glue [Salty, sweet] Tonifies Kidney, stops enuresis and seminal emission, benefits Essence for fertility. Extremely sticky/greasy nature, it is a divine product for adding Essence and marrow, stopping slipping. Modern usage is very effective. Suitable for pills; if used in decoctions, those with weak stomachs may not tolerate it.
Pearl [Salty, cold in nature, enters the Heart meridian. Wrap in silk, boil in tofu for the time it takes to burn one incense stick, then grind finely for use.] Calms the Soul and palpitations, clears heat and detoxifies. [Effective for chickenpox/toxins and carbuncle toxins.] In ophthalmology, used to instill eyes to remove nebula; in surgery, used to close wounds and generate flesh.
River Snail Juice [Sweet, extremely cold] Suitable for diaphragmatic obstruction syndromes; [Taking its sweet/cold nature to clear Stomach heat.] Suitable for jaundice; [Because it promotes draining damp-heat.] Instill for hot/red/painful eyes, apply for swollen/painful hemorrhoids. [Cold clears heat.] For rectal prolapse, brush with chicken feather to lift miraculously; for urinary retention, mix with salt, paste on lower umbilicus for immediate effect.
Male Late-season Silkworm Moth [The second generation, salty, warm, slightly toxic. Roast, remove wings and feet.] Strengthens Yang preventing flaccidity, stops spermatorrhea. [Due to its lustful nature, mating immediately upon emerging from cocoon without fatigue; salty/warm warms the Water Organ/Kidney.]
Contraindicated for Yin deficiency with hyperactive fire.
Silkworm Frass [Pungent, sweet, warm. Roasted.] Governs wind-dampness; [Fire-nature dry, overcomes wind and dispels damp, thus governing stroke paralysis, skin stubborn bi-syndrome pain; external application with roasting is miraculous.] Can apply to rotten eyes; [Marginal blepharitis: soak in sesame oil for three days, grind fine, apply to affected area, heals regardless of new/old.]
Oyster Shell [Salty, cold in nature, enters Liver and Kidney meridians. Calcined, or quenched with child's urine or vinegar.] Night sweats, nocturnal emissions, turbid urination are all addressed; frequent urination, leukorrhea, metrorrhagia, strangury are simplified; [All taken for salty entering blood/kidney, cold clearing heat, astringent securing collapse. Also salty softens hardness, thus having phlegm-resolving and scrofula/mass-reducing effects.] Suitable for deficiency with heat.
Contraindicated for those with cold.
Cuttlefish Bone [Bone of cuttlefish. Salty, slightly warm, enters Liver meridian. Roast yellow; grain running longitudinally is authentic, transverse grain is not used.] Metrorrhagia, strangury, leukorrhea are simplified; intestinal wind bleeding should seek it. [Salty enters blood, astringent nature gathers.]
Ark Shell [Salty, neutral, calcined and quenched with vinegar.] Resolving phlegm accumulation is highly effective; dissolving blood masses is remarkably potent. [Salty moves blood and softens hardness.]
Pangolin Scales [Pungent, slightly cold, toxic, enters Liver and Stomach meridians. Roast yellow, or apply marrow/vinegar, or quench with urine, or fry in oil, or stir-fry with earth, as appropriate.] Searches wind and drives out phlegm, breaks blood and opens Qi; [Due to its specific dispersing nature.] Promotes lactation miraculously; [Function of unblocking meridians.] Stops malaria effectively; [Used for malaria fearing meridian/Yin-Yang blockage prevents drug penetration.] Must be used for reducing swelling/toxins, sought for treating painful bi-syndrome. [Lives in mountains, feeds in water, can penetrate meridians everywhere, reaching the disease site directly. Using scales from the affected area is more effective.]
Potent nature; do not overdose.
Ground Beetle [Diaptus chinensis. Slightly toxic. Remove feet, roast, and grind.] Removes blood accumulation with thorough searching; [Zhang Zhongjing's Dahuang Zhechong Wan treats dry blood accumulation; Biejia Jian Wan treats malaria mother, due to its ability to break hardness and purge blood.] Miraculous for treating fractures and reconnecting; [If cut with a knife, white fluid appears; when put back together, it can walk again, thus having unique effects in reconnecting sinews/bones.]
Contraindicated without blood stasis.
Crab [Salty, cold. For treatment, crush raw and remove shell. Those with strange shapes are toxic, do not eat. Reed rhizome juice, winter melon juice, perilla juice resolve crab toxicity.] Harmonizes meridians and disperses evil blood; [Suitable for blood heat/stagnation.] Regulates trauma to reconnect sinews/bones; [Raw crush drink with wine, externally apply roasted hot paste, miraculously reconnects severed sinews/bones.] Resolves poison sores from lacquer; [Its yellow part liquefies lacquer.] Closes infant fontanelle. [Fontanelle non-closure: apply with Bletilla striata until closed.]
Claws can break fetus and abort; contraindicated in pregnancy.
Abalone Shell [Salty, cold, enters Liver and Kidney meridians. Boil in salt water, grind; seven or eight holes are good, ten holes are poor.] Internally taken to remove nebula, externally instilled for red membranes.
Cicada Slough [Salty, cold, enters Lung, Spleen, Liver meridians. Wash clean of sand, remove feet and wings.] Erupts measles and smallpox; [Due to its light/floating body.] Removes dim vision and nebula; [Due to its shedding nature.] Treats adult aphonia; [Taking its clear/resonant quality to produce voice.] Stops infant night crying; [Taking its day singing/night resting nature.] Treats head wind/dizziness, dispels skin wind-heat. [Enters Liver to dispel wind/clear heat.]
White Stiff Silkworm [Pungent, salty, slightly warm, enters Lung and Liver meridians. Wash clean, bake. Remove silk and black mouth, grind.] Treats stroke aphonia; [Wind-dispelling/phlegm-resolving function.] Dispels skin wind-itch. [Wind-pathogen lodging in skin causes itch like insects crawling; pungent enters Lung to scatter pathogen.] Treats male genital sores; [Wind-damp invasion causes genital sores/itch-pain. Scatters wind and dries damp, thus governing.] Regulates infant convulsions/epilepsy; [Convulsions/night crying due to wind-heat attacking Liver are suitable.] Eliminates scrofula. [Scattering nodules/resolving phlegm.] Extinguishes freckles. [Wind-pathogen in skin causes dark spots/sores on face; used for spots/scars.] Excellent at dispelling wind and resolving phlegm. Contraindicated for infant convulsions/night crying caused by Heart deficiency/restless Soul/Blood deficiency/tight meridians, and aphonia from internal stroke not due to external pathogens.
Galla Chinensis [Astringent, sour, bitter, neutral. Raw or roasted, ground to powder.] Spontaneous/night sweats: mix with saliva, place in umbilicus; mouth ulcers/damp sores: apply dry powder to affected area. With Melia Toosendan, mix with vinegar for swelling/toxins; with Alum, decoct for washing rectal prolapse. Sprinkle in wet/rotten eyes, dye beard/hair white.
Nature is dry/urgent and specifically astringent; many merits in external treatment. Modern abuse in treating cough/diarrhea traps fire Qi, causing deep harm.