《孫真人備急千金要方》Vol. 80

Coix seeds, also called Job’s tears, taste sweet, are warm in nature, and are non-toxic. They treat cramping and stiffness in the sinews and vessels, difficulty bending and stretching, and chronic painful impediment caused by wind and dampness. They help the movement of Qi descend. Taken over a long period, they can make the body feel lighter and stronger. Their roots drive out the three worms from the body.

The Other Records of Famous Physicians says that Coix seeds dispel pathogenic influences from the bones and sinews and relieve numbness and loss of sensation. They benefit the stomach and intestines, reduce edema, and improve appetite. They are also called “yi” or “ganmi.” People in Shu often grow and eat them.

Sesame tastes sweet, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It treats damage to the internal organs and weakness with wasting. It nourishes the five organs, boosts Qi and strength, promotes the growth of muscle, and nourishes the marrow and brain. It also strengthens the sinews and bones. Sesame can be used to treat wounds caused by metal, relieve pain, and address deficiency heat, fatigue, and weakness following the severe vomiting and diarrhea associated with cold damage and warm-type malaria. Taken over a long period, it can make the body feel lighter, delay aging, sharpen hearing and vision, increase tolerance to cold and heat, and prolong life.

The oil pressed from sesame is slightly cold in nature and helps move the bowels. It can be used when the afterbirth has not been delivered. Crushed raw sesame can be applied externally to sores and swellings. It can also treat baldness and relieve wandering, shifting wind rashes on the head and face. Sesame is also called “jusheng,” “goushi,” and “fangjing.” Its leaves are called “qingrang” and treat summer heat; its flowers can be used to treat baldness. Harvest the finest parts growing at the tops of the plants in the seventh month, dry them in the shade, and use them.

White hemp seeds, also called hemp seed kernels, taste sweet, are neutral in nature, and are non-toxic. They benefit the liver, replenish the center and boost Qi, strengthen the body, and may help delay aging. They can be used for windstroke, sweating, edema, difficulty urinating, accumulations of stagnant blood, painful swelling caused by wind toxin, and lingering ailments after childbirth. They also promote hair growth and can be used as a hair wash. Classical texts say that long-term use can make a person immortal.

The grain called “mi” in the source text, whose written form is unclear, tastes sweet, is slightly warm in nature, and is non-toxic. It replenishes deficiency, dispels cold, and increases strength. It can be used for rumbling in the intestines, sore throat, coughing up blood, and sudden bouts of coughing.

Yellow soybean sprouts, a medicinal material made by germinating soybeans, taste sweet, are neutral in nature, and are non-toxic. They treat chronic painful impediment caused by wind and dampness, cramping and stiffness in the sinews and vessels, and knee pain. They disperse knots and stagnation in the five organs and stomach, boost Qi, and resolve toxins. They can also remove dark moles and facial blemishes and make the skin and hair lustrous. They benefit the kidneys.

Raw soybeans taste sweet, are cold in nature, and are non-toxic. Crush raw soybeans, mix them with strong vinegar, and apply the mixture externally to treat various toxic swellings and relieve pain. Boil them, let the liquid cool, and drink it to resolve ghost toxins, reduce edema and abdominal distension, clear heat in the stomach, and relieve painful impediment caused by wind and dampness. The liquid can also be used for internal injury, persistent dribbling urination, stagnant blood, accumulations in the five organs, and internal cold. Raw soybeans can also counteract the toxicity of medicines such as monkshood and aconite, as well as that of many other drugs. They should not be taken over a long period, however, as they can make the body feel heavy. Powder made from roasted soybeans tastes sweet and is warm in nature.

Its nature and flavor are mild, and it is non-toxic. It treats heat in the stomach and swelling of the body; dispels impediment disorders, such as numbness and pain in the limbs; aids digestion; and relieves abdominal distension.

Harvest it in the ninth month. The Yellow Emperor said: When taking soybean powder, avoid eating pork. Do not give roasted soybeans to children over one year and under ten years of age. It is said that eating pork afterward causes Qi to stagnate and become obstructed, and may even be fatal.

Red adzuki beans: Sweet and salty in flavor, neutral and somewhat cold in nature, and non-toxic. They eliminate edema and discharge pus and blood. They are also called “red beans.” They should not be taken for a long time, or they will leave the body thin and dry.

Green mung beans: Sweet and salty in flavor, warm and neutral in nature, astringent, and non-toxic. They treat alternating chills and fever, internal heat, and thirst; stop diarrhea and promote urination; and relieve vomiting, sudden dysentery, and abdominal fullness. They are also called “ma lei” and “hu beans.” The Yellow Emperor said: Eating green mung beans with pickled carp is said to turn the complexion yellow, as if affected by liver disease. After five years, one will develop wasting-thirst disease and grow progressively thinner.

Fermented soybeans: Bitter and sweet in flavor, cold and astringent in nature, and non-toxic. They treat headaches and alternating chills and fever caused by cold damage; ward off miasma and poisonous influences; and relieve agitation, fullness and oppression in the chest and abdomen, weakness and fatigue with panting, and pain and coldness in both feet. They can also destroy the various toxins carried by the young of the six domestic animals.

Hyacinth beans: Sweet in flavor, slightly warm in nature, and non-toxic. They harmonize the Spleen and stomach and direct Qi downward. Hyacinth bean leaves are neutral in nature and treat persistent vomiting and diarrhea caused by cholera.

Buckwheat: Sour in flavor, slightly cold in nature, and non-toxic. It is difficult to digest and can intensify severe heat and wind disorders. Eating its leaves raw may bring on piercing wind, making the body itch. The Yellow Emperor said: If buckwheat noodles are eaten hot with pork or mutton for eight or nine meals, they will generate wind-heat, causing the eyebrows and beard to fall out. They will grow back later, but more sparsely. People north of Jingzhou and Binzhou often suffer from this condition.

Barley: Salty in flavor, slightly cold and slippery in nature, and non-toxic. It benefits the heart, treats wasting-thirst disease, and clears heat. Taken over a long period, it increases strength and makes walking brisker. When barley sprouts are made into malt, they are warm in nature and aid digestion and harmonize the Spleen and stomach. Roast barley until it is reddish-black and pound it into powder to make mai (a kind of roasted barley flour), which stops diarrhea. Take it with clear, mild vinegar water three times during the day and once at night.

Wheat: Sweet in flavor, slightly cold in nature, and non-toxic. It nourishes Liver Qi, clears external heat, relieves agitation, thirst, and dryness of the throat, promotes urination, and stops bleeding from the urinary tract and blood coughed or spat up. The classic also says that if a woman eats it and becomes pregnant, she will certainly give birth to a boy.

Wheat ferment made in the sixth month is warm in nature and non-toxic. It treats childhood epilepsy and undigested food, as well as the five kinds of hemorrhoids and intestinal worms. It can calm stomach Qi, aid digestion, and stop diarrhea. Wheat flour is warm in nature and non-toxic, but it does not clear heat or relieve agitation. It should not be eaten in excess, or it may worsen chronic intestinal disorders and cause external pathogenic influences to linger, making them difficult to treat.

Green glutinous millet: Sweet in flavor, slightly cold in nature, and non-toxic. It treats gastric impediment, a blockage and stagnation in the stomach, and internal heat; relieves wasting-thirst disease; stops diarrhea; and promotes urination. It also strengthens Qi, replenishes the center, makes the body light and agile, and promotes longevity.

Yellow millet rice, made from yellow millet, tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It is nontoxic and can strengthen Qi and vitality, harmonize the spleen and stomach, and stop diarrhea. It is also called “bamboo-root rice.” It may also be used when someone has slept exposed to the wind and has been affected by dampness and cold.

White millet rice tastes sweet and is slightly cold in nature. It is nontoxic and can clear heat and boost Qi.

Foxtail millet tastes salty and is slightly cold in nature. It is nontoxic and can nourish Kidney Qi, relieve bone impediment—a condition involving pain or numbness in the joints or bones and sinews—and clear internal heat. It can also boost Qi.

Aged foxtail millet tastes bitter and is cold in nature. It is nontoxic and is used chiefly for heat in the stomach, wasting thirst—symptoms such as excessive drinking and urination, and persistent thirst—and can also promote urination.

Red glutinous millet tastes bitter and is slightly warm in nature. It is nontoxic and is used chiefly for cough, counterflow of Qi, asthma, and cholera. It can also stop diarrhea, clear heat, and ease restlessness and thirst. White glutinous millet tastes sweet and pungent and is warm in nature. It is nontoxic and is suitable for nourishing the Lungs and replenishing central Qi. It should not, however, be eaten over a long period, as it can readily increase heat and cause restlessness. The Yellow Emperor said that eating any of the five kinds of glutinous millet with sunflower greens could cause a chronic illness that is difficult to treat. It was also said that storing dried or cured meat among the five kinds of glutinous millet and then eating it could obstruct the breath.

Aged granary rice, rice stored for a long time in a grain storehouse, tastes salty and sour and is slightly cold in nature. It is nontoxic and can clear vexing heat, direct Qi downward, harmonize the spleen and stomach, and stop diarrhea. The Yellow Emperor said that if dried or cured meat is stored in rice for three months, eating it can cause harm even if one does not know it has been stored there.

Germinated rice tastes bitter and is slightly warm in nature. It is nontoxic and is used chiefly for deficiency-cold in the middle burner and counterflow of Qi. It can also clear heat.

Glutinous millet tastes sweet and is slightly cold in nature. It is nontoxic and is used chiefly for alternating chills and fever. It can promote the movement of the large intestine and is also used to treat lacquer sores, a skin condition caused by contact with lacquer.

Wine tastes bitter, sweet, and pungent and is extremely hot in nature. It is toxic and can strengthen the effects of medicines, as well as dispel pernicious influences and harmful vapors. The Yellow Emperor said that drinking wine after severe diarrhea can cause heat in the area above the diaphragm to lie dormant. When drinking wine with raw vegetables, one should not warm oneself by a fire or apply heat to the abdomen, or stagnation may develop in the intestines. Bian Que said that drinking wine over a long period damages the intestines and stomach, seeps into and harms the bone marrow, scorches the sinews and vessels, harms the spirit, and shortens life. Lying exposed to the wind after becoming drunk, or fanning oneself, can bring on pernicious wind; bathing in cold water while drunk can cause pain and numbness. After sweating from heavy intoxication, one should dust the body with powder and let it dry naturally, or wind impediment may develop. If one usually finishes dinner before sunset, it is said that avoiding wine after the meal will prevent retching throughout one’s life. Drinking large amounts of water or wine after eating one’s fill can cause distention and fullness, with water Qi stagnating in the intestines.

Broomcorn millet tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It is nontoxic and can boost Qi, steady the middle burner, replenish deficiency, and harmonize the stomach. It is also suitable for the spleen and stomach. Japonica rice tastes pungent and bitter and is neutral in nature. It is nontoxic and is used chiefly for restlessness of the heart and diarrhea. It can harmonize stomach Qi, nourish the muscles, and warm the middle burner. Another account holds that raw japonica rice is cold in nature, while roasted rice is hot.

Glutinous rice tastes bitter and is warm in nature. It is nontoxic and can warm the middle burner and stimulate the appetite. Eating too much, however, can readily increase heat and make the stool dry and hard.

Vinegar tastes sour and is warm in nature. It has an astringent effect and is nontoxic. It can disperse sores and swellings, water accumulation, and pernicious toxins, and can also disperse stagnant blood.

Bian Que said that consuming too much vinegar can damage the bones, but vinegar can harmonize various medicines and dispel toxic heat.

Salt tastes salty and is warm in nature. It is non-toxic and can drive away ghosts, gu poison, and malign influences. It can also treat sores caused by worms in the lower body. When someone has a fever and chills from a cold damage disorder, salt can induce vomiting of phlegm and fluid retained in the chest, ease sudden pain in the chest and abdomen, and strengthen the muscles and bones. Salt should not be eaten in excess, as this can damage Lung Qi, cause coughing, darken the complexion, and weaken the sinews. Bian Que said that salt can also ease pain caused by various severe wind disorders; it may be heated in a pan and applied as a warming compress to the affected area. The Yellow Emperor said that eating salt immediately after sweet porridge can cause vomiting and may even bring on cholera.

Birds and Beasts, Fifth

Human breast milk tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It is non-toxic and can nourish the five viscera, making the body fuller and the complexion fair and lustrous.

Mare’s milk tastes pungent and is warm in nature. It is non-toxic and can relieve thirst. Cow’s milk tastes sweet and is slightly cold in nature. It is non-toxic and can strengthen the weak and relieve thirst. With fresh ginger and the white part of scallions added, it can ease vomiting in children and nourish those weakened by overexertion. Goat’s milk tastes sweet and is slightly warm in nature. It is non-toxic and can nourish people who are frail, weak, or deficient in Qi and blood, and warm the body. Donkey’s milk tastes sour and is cold in nature, though some say it is extremely cold. It is non-toxic and treats high fever and jaundice, and can also relieve thirst. Sow’s milk is neutral in nature and non-toxic. Given to children, it can treat convulsions and epilepsy; the text calls its effects miraculous.

The cheese made from the milk of horses, cattle, and sheep tastes sweet and sour and is slightly cold in nature. It is non-toxic and can nourish the Lungs and promote bowel movements. The Yellow Emperor said that eating a large amount of vinegar immediately after sweet cheese may cause a blood-clot-like disorder to form in the abdomen or lead to bloody urine. Hua Tuo said that if a slug or similar mollusk crawls into the ear, pouring in cheese made from horse, cow, or sheep milk will make it come out.

The ghee of yellow cattle and white sheep tastes sweet and is slightly cold in nature. It is non-toxic and can dispel malign influences lodged in the chest, promote bowel movements, and treat sores in the mouth. Cow’s ghee tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It is non-toxic and can dispel painful Wind-Damp impediment, clear heat, promote bowel movements, and digest accumulated food.

Ghrita, the essence extracted from dairy products, tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It is non-toxic and can strengthen the weak and dispel painful Wind-Damp impediment. Ghrita refined repeatedly is considered best. It can treat “lunar eclipse sores,” a kind of skin ulcer that is difficult to heal; nourish the marrow; restore the body; and strengthen the bones. The text says that taking it over a long period can prolong life.

Bear meat tastes sweet and is slightly cold in nature, though some say it is slightly warm. It is non-toxic and treats painful Wind-Damp impediment, numbness in the limbs, cramped sinews and vessels, and slack, weak sinews and vessels. The text says that if there are masses in the abdomen together with alternating chills and fever and wasting, disorders caused by dampness may be difficult to clear after eating bear meat. Bear fat tastes sweet and is slightly cold in nature. Its effects are similar to those of bear meat, and it can also treat sores on the head, ringworm with hair loss, dark patches on the face, and vomiting after meals. The text says that taking it over a long period can strengthen the will, reduce hunger, make the body feel light, and prolong life. The Yellow Emperor said that meat left undercooked, or raw meat left uncovered until it dries, may cause masses to form in the abdomen if eaten. Bear fat and pig fat should not be used in lamps, as their smoke is harmful.

The horn of the male goat is sour and bitter in taste, warm and slightly cold in nature, and non-toxic. It is used to treat blindness or severe visual impairment. It can brighten the eyes, kill scabies mites, stop cold-induced diarrhea, and ease palpitations. It can also disperse stagnant Qi in the joints, treat injuries caused by wind, gu toxins, and vomiting blood, and relieve lingering pain after childbirth. Burning the horn is said to drive away ghosts and spirits and ward off tigers and wolves. Taken for a long time, it can calm the mind, replenish primordial Qi, and make the body feel light. Do not let it become damp, or it will turn toxic.

Sheep marrow is sweet in taste, warm in nature, and non-toxic. It treats internal injury in men and women and deficiencies of Yin-Yang Qi. It can dispel wind-heat, detoxify, promote the flow of blood through the vessels, and replenish the Qi of the channels. It may be taken mixed with wine or used over a long period without harming the body.

The bile of a green sheep is cold in nature and non-toxic. It treats various sores and helps restore vitality to the body’s channels and vessels. It also treats blindness and brightens the eyes.

Sheep lung is neutral in nature. It can nourish the lungs, treat coughs, relieve thirst, and reduce excessive urination.

Sheep heart treats internal injury, checks symptoms of weakness, replenishes deficiencies, and dispels pathogenic wind.

Sheep liver nourishes the liver and brightens the eyes.

The sheep’s pericardium—the membrane between the chest and diaphragm—can treat rebellious Qi between the chest and diaphragm, as well as anxiety and anger.

Sheep kidney replenishes deficient kidney Qi and strengthens Jing and marrow.

Sheep skull treats convulsions in children. It may be boiled in water, which can then be used to bathe the child.

Sheep’s hoof is neutral in nature and treats the “five taxations and seven injuries” in men, a range of conditions involving exhaustion and weakness.

Sheep meat is bitter and sweet in taste, extremely hot in nature, and non-toxic. It warms the middle burner and stops pain. It treats problems involving breast milk and lingering ailments, as well as windstroke affecting the head, persistent sweating, and coldness from exhaustion. It also replenishes the center and boosts Qi, strengthens the body, calms the mind, stops convulsions, and aids childbirth.

Sheep head meat is neutral in nature. It treats wind-related dizziness, emaciation, convulsions in children, and the five taxations and seven injuries in men.

Sheep bone is hot in nature and treats exhaustion, internal cold, and emaciation. Those who already have internal heat should not eat it.

Sheep fat can stop diarrhea and rectal prolapse, dispel wind-toxin, and ease gripping abdominal pain after childbirth.

Sheep stomach treats rebellious stomach Qi, weakness and emaciation, frequent urination, and spontaneous sweating.

The Yellow Emperor said: Eating sheep meat with vinegar damages the heart. It should not be eaten with raw fish or cheese either, as this is harmful.

If a sheep’s hoof contains a white, bead-like object, it is called “the sheep’s suspended tendon.” Eating it can cause madness. A white sheep with a black head can cause intestinal abscess if its brain is eaten. Sheep stomach is often eaten with rice and drinks; over time, this can cause rebellious stomach Qi and obstruction. Eating sweet porridge with sheep stomach increases saliva and makes a person prone to spitting up clear fluid. Men who eat sheep or pig brain deplete their vital essence and reduce their chances of fathering children. If they must eat it, they should pound it into powder and mix it with vinegar; in general, however, it is best not to eat it. Eating green sheep liver with small red beans…

Eating lamb liver raw with Sichuan pepper can harm the eyes and impair vision. Mutton can damage the five zang organs, especially the heart, and is even more harmful to children, so it should be avoided with particular care. Mutton should not be placed in willow or poplar vessels standing in water, nor cooked in copper vessels. Eating mutton, lamb marrow, or bone broth soon after diarrhea has stopped can cause persistent restlessness and internal heat, and may bring the diarrhea back. Any internal organ from one of the six domestic animals that continues to twitch after removal from the body, does not change color when exposed to salty or sour substances, falls to the ground without picking up dust, or is sniffed by a dog that then refuses to eat it is poisonous and may be fatal. Avoid eating mutton in the sixth lunar month, lest it weaken the spirit and vital energy.

The bone marrow of the sand-colored ox, a type of cattle, tastes sweet and is warm in nature. It is non-toxic and can settle the five zang organs, harmonize Stomach Qi, open the twelve meridians—the network of channels described in Chinese medicine—regulate the Triple Burner, the upper, middle, and lower functional regions of the organs, warm and nourish the bone marrow, strengthen the body, heal injuries, increase strength, stop diarrhea, and relieve wasting thirst. It may be mixed with clear wine, warmed, and taken. Ox liver improves vision, and ox bile can be made into pills. Ox bile tastes bitter and is intensely cold in nature. It is non-toxic and can clear heat in the heart and abdomen, relieve thirst, stop diarrhea, ease dryness of the mouth, and benefit the eyes. Ox heart is used to treat weakness of heart Qi and forgetfulness; ox kidney treats damp impediment, in which dampness causes numbness, pain, and related symptoms in the limbs, and can supplement Kidney Qi and benefit Jing. Ox teeth can be used to treat “ox epilepsy” in children, an ancient term for seizures resembling epilepsy. Ox meat tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It is non-toxic and can relieve wasting thirst, stop drooling, settle the body, increase strength, and nourish the Spleen and Stomach. However, it should not be eaten often, lest it bring on old ailments. Meat from cattle that died of disease is unfit to eat. Ox throat can be used to treat a childhood condition called “piye,” whose meaning is unclear in the original.

The urine of yellow oxen, sand-colored oxen, and black bulls tastes bitter and pungent and is mildly warm yet neutral in nature. It is non-toxic and can be used for edema and swelling of the abdomen and both legs, and to promote urination. The Yellow Emperor said: eating a black ox that died with its head pointing north is harmful. Cattle that die suddenly in midsummer are unfit to eat; eating them may cause intestinal abscesses. Eating the hoof of an ox with “jujin” in its hoof can cause fleshy growths to form on the body. Meat from an ox with only one liver is fatal; meat from cattle with scabies or ringworm, as well as beef eaten with horse meat, may make the whole body itch. Eating beef and pork together causes tapeworms; beef eaten with millet or white wine can also cause tapeworms, and should be especially avoided. For someone with diarrhea, eating meat from cattle that died of disease will certainly worsen the illness. Milk or cheese from cattle or horses, if eaten with raw fish, may cause “fish accumulation,” an ailment described in ancient times. Never eat the spleen of any of the six domestic animals. Avoid eating beef in the twelfth lunar month, lest it weaken the spirit and vital energy.

Horse heart was believed to treat forgetfulness, and the lungs to treat alternating chills and fever. The horse’s penis was thought to treat impotence. Horse meat tastes pungent and bitter; it is neutral in nature, tending toward cool, and non-toxic. Ancient books say it treats internal injury, clears heat, regulates Qi, strengthens the sinews and lower back, and increases physical strength. It is also said to make people resolute and cheerful, keep the body light and nimble, and reduce hunger.

The Yellow Emperor said: If a white horse dies on its own, eating its meat will harm you. If a white horse has a black head, eating its brain will cause madness. If black markings beneath a white horse’s saddle extend into the flesh, eating that flesh will damage the Five Viscera. For someone with diarrhea, eating horse meat will certainly worsen the condition. The meat of a white horse with blue hooves must not be eaten. The horse’s sweat and hair must not get into food, or they will cause harm. If eating horse meat causes restlessness and tightness in the chest, drinking good wine can relieve the symptoms; drinking white liquor will make them worse. Do not eat horse meat in the fifth lunar month, as it is said to damage a person’s spirit and vitality.

The penis of a wild horse tastes sour and salty; it is warm in nature and non-toxic. Ancient books say it treats male impotence, penile atrophy, and reduced seminal fluid.

Horse meat tastes pungent; it is neutral in nature and non-toxic. Ancient books say it treats horse epilepsy, involuntary contractions of the sinews and vessels, and conditions such as paralysis throughout the body and loss of sensation in the skin. A horse that has died from illness must not be eaten.

Donkey meat tastes sour; it is neutral in nature and non-toxic. Ancient books say it treats wind disorders, mania, grief, and low spirits, and calms the heart and Qi. A donkey that has died from illness must not be eaten. It is said that donkey head, with the hair burned off and then boiled, can be used to soak fermentation starter for brewing wine, and that this is effective against “great wind,” a severe illness marked by uncontrollable shaking of the body. Glue made by boiling donkey hide was also thought to treat this illness.

A dog’s penis tastes sour; it is neutral in nature and non-toxic. Ancient books say it treats internal injury and male impotence. Dog brain was believed to treat head wind, impediments, and sores and growths in the lower body. Dog meat tastes sour and salty; it is warm in nature and non-toxic. Ancient books say it benefits the kidneys and calms the Five Viscera. It can replenish weakness caused by injury, overexertion, and chronic illness, and is said to make the body light and nimble and increase strength.

The Yellow Emperor said: Eating white dog meat together with sea xiao, a kind of fish, will certainly cause a serious illness. If a white dog dies on its own and does not stick out its tongue after death, eating it will cause harm. Dogs are prone to madness in spring. A red, raised, and dry nose indicates that a dog is about to go mad, and its meat must not be eaten. Do not eat dog meat in the ninth lunar month, as it is said to damage a person’s spirit and vitality.

Pig testicles taste sweet; they are warm in nature and non-toxic. Ancient books say they treat pain inside the penis, convulsions, ghost influences, Gu toxins, alternating chills and fever, running-piglet Qi (a condition in which Qi is felt to surge upward from the lower abdomen), difficulty urinating, malign influences, and spasms of the sinews and vessels. “Pig convulsion” is another name for them. Pig testicles should be dried in the shade and kept from spoiling.

Pork tastes pungent; it is neutral in nature and slightly toxic. It should not be eaten over a long period, as it is said to cause pain and weakness in the sinews and muscles throughout the body. The hoof capsule hanging from the hind foot of a large pig is non-toxic. Ancient books say it treats the five kinds of hemorrhoids, hidden heat in the abdomen, and tissue decay caused by intestinal carbuncles, a suppurative condition inside the intestines. Take the hoof capsule and soak it in wine for half…

Roast pig’s trotters until browned and use them. The four feet of a pig are slightly cool in medicinal nature and non-toxic. They are chiefly used for injuries from falls and blows, and for ulcerated sores.

A sow’s trotters are cold in medicinal nature and non-toxic. Drinking them boiled in soup can promote lactation and also ease toxicity caused by taking mineral medicines.

Pork head meat is neutral in medicinal nature and non-toxic. It can nourish weakness and strengthen the body, and treat convulsions, demonic toxins, alternating chills and fever, and the five forms of urinary obstruction. Pig brain is chiefly used for dizziness and vertigo. Pig heart is neutral in medicinal nature and non-toxic. It is chiefly used for fright, invasion by pathogenic influences, sorrow and anger, palpitations, rebellious Qi, and postpartum windstroke, blood stasis, and fright in women. Pig kidney is neutral in medicinal nature and non-toxic. It can dispel cold influences, regulate kidney Qi, and promote the flow of urine through the bladder. Pig liver tastes bitter, is neutral in medicinal nature, and is non-toxic. It is chiefly used for eye disorders and can improve eyesight.

Pig lung is slightly cool in medicinal nature and non-toxic. It is chiefly used for the pain and itching caused by chilblains. Pig stomach is slightly cool in medicinal nature and non-toxic. It can nourish the spleen and stomach, strengthen the original Qi, relieve thirst, and stop acute diarrhea. Pig intestines are slightly cool in medicinal nature and non-toxic. They are chiefly used for wasting thirst and frequent urination, and can also nourish deficiency in the lower burner. Pig fat is neutral in medicinal nature and non-toxic. It can be used to prepare various medicinal plasters, dispel cold stagnation and accumulated blood stasis, and counter the poison of the banmao beetle, a poisonous insect. Pig rectum is neutral in medicinal nature and non-toxic and is chiefly used for rectal prolapse. If there is heavy bleeding, pork from a boar may be used.

Boar meat tastes bitter and sour, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It is chiefly used for mania that persists for many days without abating.

In general, pork tastes bitter and is slightly cool, making it suitable for people with kidney disorders. However, it has a mild toxicity, can replenish deficient kidney Qi, and should not be eaten over long periods. Eating it for a long time can reduce fertility, damage Jing and Qi, bring on old illnesses, injure the sinews and bones, and impede the flow of the blood vessels. In people who are weak or have metal wounds—injuries caused by knives, swords, and the like—it may worsen the wound.

Pig blood is neutral in medicinal nature, has an astringent effect, and is non-toxic. It is chiefly used for sudden bleeding that will not stop. Mix it with clear, fine wine, fry it, and take it. Pig blood can also be used for injuries to the limbs after windstroke, wind-related headaches with dizziness, and various forms of urinary dribbling and obstruction.

The Yellow Emperor said: Pig liver and pig lung must not be eaten with raw fish, or suppurating sores and abscesses may develop. Pig liver must also not be eaten with carp intestines or roe, or it will harm a person’s spirit. Eating pig brain damages male sexual function, making a man unable to perform during intercourse. Do not eat pig lung in the eighth month, or eat it with sugar; otherwise, sores and abscesses may develop in winter. Do not eat pork in the tenth month, or it will damage a person’s spirit, Qi, and blood.

Deer head meat is neutral in medicinal nature and is chiefly used for wasting thirst. It may also be used for excessive dreaming and hallucinations. Deer blood can treat abscesses and swellings. Deer penis and sinews are chiefly used for taxation damage. Deer hoof meat is neutral in medicinal nature and is chiefly used for pain in the bones of the feet and knees that makes walking impossible. Deer bone can be used for weakness of the internal organs and broken sinews and bones. It can strengthen the bones and may also be infused in wine. Deer marrow tastes sweet and is warm in nature. It is chiefly used for internal injuries in men and women, depletion of the Qi in the vessels, painful contractions of the sinews and vessels, coughing, and hiccups; it can be taken mixed with wine. Deer kidney is neutral in medicinal nature and is chiefly used for deficient kidney Qi. Deer meat tastes bitter, is warm in nature, and is non-toxic. It can nourish the body and strengthen the five viscera.

Venison is said to strengthen Qi and help flesh grow, and may be used to treat a drooping mouth and eye after a stroke. Finely chop the venison and apply it to the affected side of the face. Hua Tuo said to pound the venison together with fresh pepper and apply the mixture. Have someone watch the face closely to see whether it returns to its normal position. Remove the mixture as soon as it does; otherwise, the face may be pulled toward the side that was not originally affected. There is also a way to take it by mouth: mix one sheng of shavings from deer antler with five sheng of white honey. Simmer over a low flame until the color changes slightly, then dry in the sun, pound, and sift. Take one square-inch spoonful each time, three times a day. The text says this will make the body light and agile, strengthen Qi and the bone marrow, and restore a weakened body.

The Yellow Emperor said that the bile of a white deer is harmful and should not be eaten. White venison should not be cooked with pu bai, the tender stem of the cattail, into a soup, or it may cause severe sores. Venison should also be avoided in the fifth month, as it is believed to damage a person’s Shen and vital energy.

According to the Daoist recluse Hu, deer are naturally alert and fierce. They can distinguish many kinds of plants and eat only nine beneficial herbs, avoiding all others. When deer rest, they stay near hills; after giving birth, they return to low, wet marshland. In ancient times, deer meat was used in sacrifices to the spirits because deer were thought to be fierce in nature and pure. People taking medicine should avoid venison, or the medicine may not work effectively. The text explains that deer often eat herbs that counteract poison, so they can neutralize toxins and also disperse the effects of medicine. The nine herbs are kudzu leaves and flowers, lilyturf, deer medicine herb, white mugwort, water celery, licorice, qitou mugwort, mountain cocklebur, and niqin.

Musk deer bone is slightly warm in nature and non-toxic. It treats weakness and involuntary seminal emission. Musk deer meat is sweet, warm, and non-toxic. It nourishes the five viscera, strengthens the bone marrow and Qi, and gives the complexion a healthy glow. The musk deer has no gallbladder, so it is timid by nature and easily frightened. The Yellow Emperor said that musk deer meat should not be eaten in the fifth month, as it is believed to damage a person’s Shen and vital energy.

Musk deer fat is pungent, warm, and non-toxic. It may be used for abscesses, severe sores, dead flesh, alternating chills and fever, painful numbness of the limbs caused by Wind, Cold, and Dampness, stiffness and impaired movement in the limbs, and swelling of the head caused by Wind. It also opens the interstices between the skin and muscles and softens the skin. It must not come into contact with a man’s genitals, or it may cause impotence. Musk deer fat is also called palace fat and is gathered in the tenth month.

The Yellow Emperor said that eating the meat of a newborn musk deer with shrimp sauce may cause heart pain; eating it with pheasant meat may bring on a stubborn illness.

Tiger meat is sour and non-toxic. It can treat nausea and the urge to vomit, strengthen Qi, and reduce excessive salivation. It should not be eaten hot, as the text says this may damage the teeth. Tiger skull treats disorders caused by Wind, while tiger eyes treat convulsive disorders and other illnesses involving abnormal states of consciousness.

Leopard meat is sour, warm, and non-toxic. It is suitable for nourishing the Kidneys, calming and nourishing the five viscera, and restoring a weakened body. It can also make the body light and agile and strengthen Qi; eating it over a long period is beneficial.

Raccoon dog meat is warm and non-toxic. It nourishes the body’s central Qi, makes the body light and agile, and strengthens Qi. It can also treat various zhu disorders, a term in old medical texts for illnesses caused by malign influences invading and moving through the body.

It is said that in the first lunar month, one should not eat tiger, leopard, or civet meat, as doing so may harm the spirit and shorten one’s lifespan.

Rabbit liver can treat dim vision. Rabbit meat tastes pungent and is neutral and astringent in nature, without toxicity. It can replenish the middle Qi, strengthen primal energy, and relieve thirst. The ancients believed that rabbits had no spleen, which was why they could run so fast. This was because the rabbit corresponds to the Mao Wood position in the second lunar month; Wood overcomes Earth, and the spleen belongs to Earth. Thus, people said that rabbits had no spleen. Horses were also thought to have no spleen and were likewise known for running fast. The Yellow Emperor said that eating rabbit meat with otter liver would inevitably cause “wandering corpse” three days later, an illness described in ancient times as recurring and debilitating. Eating rabbit meat with the liver and heart of a white chicken would make a person’s complexion abnormal and could lead to “jaundice disorder” a year later, an illness resembling jaundice. Eating it with ginger would cause cholera; eating it with white chicken meat would impede the circulation of Qi and blood. In the second lunar month, one should not eat rabbit meat, as it may damage the spirit and primal energy.

Raw rat meat is slightly warm in nature and non-toxic. It is used to treat injuries from falls and broken bones, and can help rejoin sinews and bones. Pound it and apply it to the affected area, changing the dressing every three days.

Otter liver tastes sweet and is slightly toxic. It is used to treat ghost infestation, a category of contagious or persistent illnesses described by the ancients, and gu poison. It can also dislodge fish bones stuck in the throat and relieve a chronic cough. Burn the liver to ash and take it mixed with wine. Otter meat tastes sweet, is warm in nature, and is non-toxic. It can be used for seasonal epidemics and also to treat epidemics affecting cattle and horses. Boil the meat, take the liquid, and drink it once cooled. For sick cattle and horses, administer it by drenching them.

A fox’s penis tastes sweet, is neutral in nature, and is slightly toxic. It is used to treat infertility in women, itching of the genital area, and swelling of the scrotum in children. Fox meat, the five viscera, and the intestines taste bitter, are slightly cold in nature, and are toxic. They are used to treat gu poison, alternating chills and fever, chronic cold illnesses that have accumulated in the five viscera, childhood convulsions, and symptoms in adults such as mania and seeing ghosts.

The Yellow Emperor said that eating musk deer meat with swan meat would form abdominal masses.

Wild boars with blue hooves must not be eaten, nor should wild animals with red feet. Animals found dead lying face down with their heads pointing north must not be eaten; neither should animals with forked tails. If the meat juices of fish are consumed along with meat from livestock that died, carbuncles may develop. In the eleventh lunar month, one should not eat cured meat that has been kept through the summer and begun to stink, or else one may develop water illness and dizziness; men may also become impotent. Eating no meat from wild animals on a Jiazi day is highly auspicious.

If a flying bird strikes a person and then refuses to leave, it may have something in its beak. Check its beak; if there is nothing inside, pull out one feather and let it go. This is highly auspicious. Birds and animals that die without cause and have no visible external injuries must not be eaten. On the third day of the third lunar month, do not eat the viscera of birds or animals, or any fruits, vegetables, or pungent foods; this is highly auspicious.

The meat of a red rooster tastes sweet, is slightly warm in nature, and is non-toxic. It is used to treat excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding and abnormal vaginal discharge, both red and white. It can also replenish deficiency and warm the middle. It may help those who are weak after a long-standing injury and whose wounds have failed to heal for a long time.

The meat of the yellow hen is sour and salty in flavor, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It treats internal injury, wasting-thirst, frequent urination that cannot be controlled, and intestinal diarrhea. It nourishes the five viscera, repairs damage from overexertion, and strengthens vitality.

Egg yolk is slightly cold in nature. It treats heat disorders, burns and scalds with ulcerated sores, and convulsions. The original text also says it “can serve as a divine substance of amber,” but the meaning here is unclear. Egg white is slightly cold in nature. It treats heat, redness, and pain in the eyes; clears accumulated heat below the heart; and relieves agitation, fullness in the chest, and coughing with rebellious Qi. It is also used for diarrhea in children and difficult childbirth in women, when the afterbirth (placenta) cannot be expelled. Egg white may be swallowed raw.

The meat of the white rooster is sour in flavor, slightly warm in nature, and non-toxic. It directs Qi downward, dispels madness and evil influences, steadies the five viscera, and treats internal injury and wasting-thirst. The meat of the black rooster is sweet in flavor, warm in nature, and non-toxic. It replenishes Qi in the middle, and stops heart pain. The meat of the black hen is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It dispels wind-cold-damp impediment (pain and numbness in the limbs caused by wind, cold, and dampness), eases slackness or spasms in the sinews and vessels, and helps secure a pregnancy.

The Yellow Emperor said: Eating chicken with fish or fish soup causes “heart accumulation,” a kind of disorder described in antiquity as a mass in the heart and abdomen. Eating a chicken with all five colors will make a person go mad. Chickens with six toes or four spurs, black chickens with white heads, offspring of domestic chickens and pheasants, chickens with a figure-eight pattern on their bodies, and wild birds whose claws remain curled after death should not be eaten; eating them will harm a person.

Eating egg white with garlic causes shortness of breath; steaming eggs with softshell turtle meat is harmful. Eating chicken with otter meat can cause “corpse-striding affliction,” an illness described in antiquity that is difficult to cure even with medicine. Eating raw scallions along with eggs also causes shortness of breath. Eating chicken with dog liver or kidneys is harmful. Eating raw scallions with chicken or dog meat causes prolonged bleeding from the anus. Eating black chicken with carp can cause carbuncles and sores (pus-filled swellings). Eating chicken, rabbit, and dog meat together will inevitably cause diarrhea. Eating pheasant with domestic chicken eggs can cause “corpse-striding,” as if a corpse spirit were clinging to the body, with pain in the joints of the limbs.

Children under five who have not yet been weaned should not eat chicken. Do not eat eggs in the second month, or nausea will recur often. Eating chicken or pheasant on a Bingwu day will cause a man to be burned to death or go blind; a woman will die from blood loss and experience visions. Do not eat sun-dried chicken in the fourth month, or internal carbuncles (pus-filled swellings within the body) may form in the chest or beneath the arms and develop into draining fistulas. Men will lose Jing and Qi, while women will become infertile; both will also grow weak and fatigued. Do not eat chicken in the eighth month, lest it damage the spirit and vitality.

Pheasant meat is sour in flavor, slightly cold in nature, and non-toxic. It replenishes Qi in the middle and stops diarrhea, but eating it over a long period will make a person thin. The pheasant’s beak can be used to treat ant-hole fistulas. The Yellow Emperor said: Eating pheasant meat on a You day in the eighth month…

It causes shortness of breath. In the eighth month, do not eat pheasant meat, as it will damage a person’s Shen and Qi.

White goose fat can treat sudden deafness. Melt it and pour it into the ear. Goose feathers can be used to treat poison from shegong, a waterborne harm said to be caused by poisonous creatures or malign influences in the water.

Goose meat is pungent in flavor and neutral in nature, and benefits the five viscera.

Duck fat is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It can treat wind-related deficiency, chills, and fever. Duck meat replenishes deficiency and fatigue, dispels pathogenic heat lodged in the body, and promotes the smooth flow of the viscera and the waterways. The Yellow Emperor said that in the sixth month, one should not eat duck meat, as it will damage a person’s Shen and Qi.

Mandarin duck meat is bitter in flavor, slightly warm in nature, and non-toxic. It can treat fistulas and sores. Soak it in clear wine, roast it until hot, and apply it to the affected area; it may also be roasted and eaten. It can also treat conditions in which longing and desire haunt a person in dreams.

Goose fat is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It can treat spasms, stiffness of the limbs, and hemiplegia caused by pathogenic wind, and can also promote the smooth flow of Qi and blood. Goose meat is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. Taken over a long period, it can promote the growth of the hair, sideburns, beard, and eyebrows, strengthen the body, reduce hunger, make the body feel light, and help one endure heat. The Yellow Emperor said that in the sixth month, one should not eat goose meat, as it will damage a person’s Shen and Qi.

The droppings of the Yue swallow are pungent in flavor, neutral in nature, and toxic. They can be used to kill gu toxins, treat ghost intrusion—a category of contagious or invasive illness described by the ancients—ward off malign influences, and relieve five kinds of urinary obstruction while promoting urination. Before use, roast them until fragrant. They can also treat sores in the mouth. Swallow meat should not be eaten; if placed in water, it will be killed by the jiaolong. The Yellow Emperor said that in the eleventh month, one should not eat rat or swallow meat, as it will damage a person’s Shen and Qi.

Rock honey, produced in beehives among rocks, is sweet in flavor, neutral and slightly cold in nature, and non-toxic. It can treat pathogenic influences in the heart and abdomen, convulsions, and spasms, and calm the five viscera. It strengthens the body, replenishes the center, stops abdominal pain, counteracts the toxicity of medicines, and can also harmonize various medicines. It nourishes the Spleen, eases restlessness and difficulty swallowing food, stops intestinal diarrhea, relieves muscle pain, treats sores in the mouth, and helps sharpen hearing and eyesight. Taken over a long period, it can strengthen memory, make the body feel light, reduce hunger, and slow aging. Rock honey is also called rock malt syrup; the best kind is white and paste-like. It is the honey now found on mountain cliffs. Green and red honey is sour and astringent; eating it can cause restlessness. The Yellow Emperor said that in the seventh month, one should not eat raw honey, as it may cause sudden diarrhea and even cholera.

Beeswax is sweet in flavor, slightly warm in nature, and non-toxic. It can treat dysentery with pus and blood, replenish the center, repair damage, treat wounds caused by metal weapons, strengthen the body, reduce hunger, and slow aging. White wax can treat chronic diarrhea and dysentery. After recovery, it can also be used to replenish what has been damaged and regulate the body in cases where urgency or blood in the stool persists; it is also used for children. Taken over a long period, it can make the body feel light and reduce hunger. Beeswax is produced in beehives and is also found on wood and stone. It should not be taken with yuanhua or lily. This is the beeswax used today.

The flesh of the pit viper is neutral in nature and toxic. Soaked in wine, it can treat leprosy, various kinds of fistulas, and pain in the heart and abdomen.

It binds the Qi in the lower abdomen and removes parasitic toxins. In its belly is a creature called “Tunshu.” It is neutral in nature and slightly toxic, and is used to treat fistulas caused by rodents.

The male moth of the original silkworm is salty in taste, warm in nature, and slightly toxic. It is used to replenish Jing and Qi, strengthen male sexual function, and prevent fatigue during intercourse. It can also treat involuntary seminal emission. The phrase “those joined together” in the original text may be missing words, so its meaning is unclear.

The catfish is sweet in taste and nontoxic, and is used to treat various ailments.

The eel is sweet in taste, greatly warm in nature, and toxic. It is used to treat the five kinds of hemorrhoids and fistulous sores, and can also kill parasites.

The flesh of the Shan fish is sweet in taste and greatly warm in nature. Black ones are nontoxic; they are used to replenish the body’s central Qi and nourish the blood. The original text then mentions “Shen Chun.” Its skull, taken on the fifth day of the fifth month, is neutral in nature and nontoxic. Burned and taken as a medicine, it can stop chronic diarrhea. The creature meant by “Shen Chun” is unknown.

The swamp eel is neutral in nature and nontoxic. It is used to treat low Qi, shortness of breath, and weakness in both legs that makes standing impossible. The Yellow Emperor said: Do not eat snake or eel meat in the fourth month, lest it damage the spirit and deplete the original Qi.

Cuttlefish bone is salty in taste, slightly warm in nature, and nontoxic. It is used to treat women’s abnormal discharge of red or white fluids, irregular menstruation, erosion and swelling with pain in the genital area, alternating chills and fever, abdominal masses, and infertility. It also treats fright-induced Qi entering the abdomen and pain around the navel. It can be used for pain and swelling in a man’s genitals, and can help women conceive. Cuttlefish flesh is sour in taste, neutral in nature, and nontoxic; it can replenish Qi and strengthen resolve.

Carp flesh is sweet in taste, neutral in nature, and nontoxic. It is used to treat coughing with rebellious Qi, upward surging Qi, jaundice, and thirst. The Yellow Emperor said: Eating carp after taking cinnamon damages the body. People with longstanding accumulations in the abdomen are also harmed by eating carp.

Crucian carp is sweet in taste, neutral in nature, and nontoxic. It is used to treat various sores. Burn it to ash, mix it evenly with fermented bean sauce, and apply it externally twice a day. It can also be used for intestinal abscesses. The Yellow Emperor said: Do not eat fish with white eyes. Eating a fish with horns causes fright and harms the body. Eating a fish without intestines or a gallbladder will, within three years, cause impotence in men and infertility in women. Do not eat fish with black spots on its body. Fish with red eyes, eaten raw as sliced fish, cause abdominal masses; pickled as fish relish, they harm the body. Eating fish with vegetables causes roundworms and pinworms. Fish tails should not be eaten. Many fish bones are hooked and may lodge in the throat, harming the body. Do not eat fish with horns or white backs. Do not eat fish with red scales or fish without gills. Fish with incomplete gills cause boils and carbuncles when eaten. The Bupi fish should not be eaten, but its tail is poisonous and can be used to treat toothache. The Houtui fish is poisonous and must not be eaten. Do not eat fish on a Gengyin day in the second month; it is extremely inauspicious. Do not use carp roe on the fifth day of the fifth month...

Pig liver should not be eaten with certain foods, or it will be difficult to digest and may bring on serious illness and diarrhea. When eating any kind of fish, also eating spoiled rice, rotten meat, or fish that has gone bad will certainly worsen an illness and may make it critical and difficult to treat. In the third month, do not eat jiaolong meat or any kind of fish, or digestion may become difficult, old illnesses may recur, and the spirit may be harmed, leaving a person dazed and dispirited.

Soft-shelled turtle meat tastes sweet, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It treats internal injury, boosts Qi, and replenishes deficiency; it can also treat beriberi, a category of foot ailments described in ancient times. The Yellow Emperor’s text says that eating soft-shelled turtle meat with abalone roe on the fifth day of the fifth month can bring on danhuang, a jaundice-like illness. Do not eat turtles whose undersides bear a “king” pattern. Eating soft-shelled turtle meat with rabbit meat and mustard sauce harms the body; eating a three-legged turtle is harmful; and eating soft-shelled turtle meat with amaranth or bracken can cause bie jia, a kind of abdominal mass described by the ancients.

Crab shell tastes sour, is cold in nature, and is toxic. It treats harmful heat in the chest, painful stagnation, distortion of the mouth and eyes, and facial swelling; it can also counteract lacquer poisoning. Burnt crab shell can be used to treat rat disease. Crab roe disperses lumps and stagnant blood, treats lacquer sores, and nourishes the sinews and boosts Qi. The Yellow Emperor’s text says that eating crabs with eyes facing one another and spotted legs is harmful. In the twelfth month, do not eat crab or soft-shelled turtle, lest the spirit be harmed. Another account says that eating tortoise, soft-shelled turtle, and pork together is harmful; eating autumn fruits and vegetables with tortoise meat causes shortness of breath; and after drinking alcohol, eating tortoise meat and then water caltrop or Chinese cabbage brings on alternating chills and fever. On the six jia days, dates marked by the ancient system of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, do not eat tortoise or soft-shelled turtle, lest the heart and spirit be harmed.

Eating snails or clams with vegetables can cause heart pain that recurs every three days. Eating raw shrimp or fish salad with pork can cause frequent nausea and excess saliva, and can damage Jing and one’s complexion. Shrimp without whiskers, or with a channel running through the lower abdomen, is harmful to eat and should especially be avoided; do not take this lightly. In the eleventh and twelfth months, do not eat shrimp, clams, or other shelled creatures.