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Capítulo 12 de 20
本草纲目
Overall Paraphrase
The "Scales" section of the Compendium of Materia Medica catalogues what ancient scholars classified as "scaled" substances—including dragons (in fact, ancient biological fossils), crocodiles, pangolins, lizards, geckos, various snakes, and numerous fish species. Li Shizhen grouped these animals under the category of "scales," recording their natures, flavors, efficacies, and a large number of appended formulas.
Notably, the "dragon" at the beginning of this section is not the mythical beast. Li Shizhen already clarified in the "Explanation of Names" (释名) section that the so-called "dragon bone" is in fact fossilized skeletal remains of ancient mammals such as elephants, rhinoceroses, horses, and camels 🦴. This reflects Li Shizhen's spirit of seeking truth from facts.
The drugs in this section can be broadly divided into several groups:
I. Fossils and Armor/Shells (Dragon, Crocodile, Pangolin): Dragon bone and dragon teeth are used to calm the mind and settle fright; pangolin scales are used to unblock collaterals, reduce swelling, and promote lactation. These represent the ancients' understanding of the medicinal value of mineral fossils and animal shells.
II. Reptiles (Skinks, Geckos, Tokay Geckos, Various Snakes): Lizards, geckos, tokay geckos, white-flowered snakes, black snakes, etc., are mostly used for wind syndromes, arthralgia pain, convulsions, and epilepsy. The ancients believed these "creatures of movement" could unblock channels and collaterals, dispel wind, and settle fright.
III. Fish (Sea Bream, Crucian Carp, Snakehead, Eel, Ricefield Eel, Loach, Cuttlefish, Carp, Green Fish, etc.): Mostly used to tonify deficiency, promote diuresis, stimulate lactation, and stop bleeding. Fish has always held an important place in Chinese medicinal dietary therapy.
This entire section contains an enormous number of appended formulas covering internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology, and pediatrics, reflecting the rich practical experience of Ming-dynasty folk medicine. However, a considerable portion consists of empirical records that must be viewed critically from a modern perspective.
"Dragon bone" is a fossil 🦴 with a heavy, sinking nature. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that "heavy substances can quell fear"—that is, heavy materials can stabilize the mind and suppress hyperactivity. Therefore, dragon teeth are used for "fright in adults, constrained qi below the heart, calming the heart, and settling the spirit." Dragon bone is used for forgetfulness, nocturnal emission, enuresis, diarrhea, chronic dysentery, hematemesis, etc.—all conditions of "failure to hold"—where essence leaks outward (nocturnal emission, enuresis), qi and blood spill outward (hematemesis, hematuria), or the intestines slip and discharge (chronic diarrhea, anal prolapse). The ancients believed dragon bone is sweet and astringent in taste, with the ability to astringe and secure, "plugging the leak." This embodies the therapeutic principle of "using astringents to stop discharge."
To the ancients, the pangolin was an animal that "burrows through earth," giving rise to the correlative thinking (取类比象) that: since it can bore through mountains and penetrate stone, its medicinal use should likewise "unblock channels and reach the site of disease." It was thus widely used for:
This reflects the traditional medical "taking form as the basis for treatment" analogical thinking. However, the pangolin is now a first-class nationally protected animal in China; such records should be studied only as historical literature.
White-flowered snake (Baihuashe), black snake (Wushe), and python (Ranshe) are all used for "wind syndromes"—wind paralysis, leprosy, scabies and ringworm, tetanus, wind-cold joint pain, etc. Chinese medicine holds that "wind is characterized by movement and is swift and changeable." Wind tends to be erratic and wandering, and snakes move sinuously with swift agility. The ancients considered their "swift and ever-changing nature" to correspond with pathogenic wind, making them appropriate "wind medicines" to search out wind, unblock collaterals, dispel wind, and stop convulsions. In addition, snake slough is used for throat obstruction, eye films, and sores, drawing on the idea of "molting and regeneration"—believed to have the effects of removing opacities, reducing swelling, and resolving toxicity.
Most fish are sweet and neutral; the ancients believed "fish nature belongs to water," so they can promote diuresis to reduce edema (carp, snakehead, yellow catfish for edema), and also tonify deficiency and benefit people (crucian carp to strengthen the spleen and stomach, shad to tonify consumptive fatigue, ricefield eel as a highly warming tonic for the middle burner). Cutttlefish bone (sea clam shell, 海螵蛸) is salty and astringent, excelling in stopping bleeding, astringing and drying dampness, and promoting healing of sores—used for various "leakage" conditions such as bleeding, eye films, ear discharge, and damp sores. These dietary therapeutic concepts still circulate in folk practice today.
Potentially Valuable Elements:
Dragon Bone for Calming the Spirit: From a modern viewpoint, dragon bone—as a calcium-based fossil—primarily contains calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. Calcium ions contribute to neural stability and may help alleviate irritability and insomnia. However, the classical descriptions of "calming the heart and settling the spirit" carry clear historical coloring and should not be measured solely by modern pharmacological standards.
Cuttlefish Bone for Stopping Bleeding: Sea clam shell contains calcium carbonate and colloids. Applied topically, it does possess physical astringent, adsorptive, and hemostatic effects, similar in principle to modern medical calcium carbonate dressings. The concept of internal use for acid control (treating hyperacidity) is partially consistent with calcium carbonate's ability to neutralize gastric acid.
Fish in Dietary Therapy: Crucian carp, carp, and others are rich in protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin D, etc., providing genuine nutritional support and "tonifying deficiency." The folk experience of fish soup promoting diuresis and reducing edema may relate to high-protein, low-fat nutrition improving hypoalbuminemia-related edema.
Snake Slough and Gecko for External Use: Folk tradition does include burning these to ash and applying to sores—essentially an ancient "charred/adsorptive" topical technique, somewhat analogous in form to modern charcoal-based dressings.
Limitations that must be clearly stated:
Pangolin: Modern research has not verified any unique pharmacological effect for "promoting lactation" or "unblocking collaterals." Moreover, pangolins are first-class nationally protected animals—hunting, trading, and use are strictly prohibited. Such entries are only for historical study.
"Correlative analogy" thinking: Inferring drug efficacy from animal habits (e.g., because the pangolin burrows through mountains, it must unblock collaterals) is a form of ancient intuitive analogy, lacking scientific pharmacological evidence.
Many appended formulas have not undergone modern validation: Records such as "scraping bones to remove teeth," "drug-induced abortion," and "moxa four cones," as well as those containing toxic substances (arsenic, cantharidin, mercury, calomel) or involving dangerous procedures, must never be applied directly.
Animal conservation perspective: This section involves numerous species that are now protected (pangolin, certain snakes, seahorses, etc.). When studying, one should maintain awareness of wildlife conservation—do not capture, purchase, or use them.
Although this section focuses mainly on formulas and drugs, some non-therapeutic wellness takeaways can be drawn:
Eat with moderation; moderate fish intake: Fish is a high-quality protein source. Including it appropriately in the daily diet supports nutritional balance. But "excess is as bad as deficiency"—the records noting ricefield eel is "highly warming" and eel is "toxic" remind us that no food should be consumed to excess.
Maintain a calm mind and balance activity with rest: The classical emphasis on "fright," "calming the spirit," and "settling the heart" reminds us of the importance of emotional stability for health. In daily life, balancing work and rest and avoiding prolonged mental tension align with the TCM concept of "nourishing both body and spirit."
Follow the seasons and keep regular routines: The recurrent admonitions to "avoid wind," "abstain from sexual activity," and "pay attention to diet" during treatment indicate—from a wellness perspective—that during recovery from serious illness or when the constitution is weak, extra care should be taken to protect against drafts, moderate food intake, and limit overexertion.
Approach traditional experience rationally: Many contents in this section reflect the folk wisdom of "making full use of everything" under constrained conditions. However, given the limitations of the times, they include numerous empirical records that have not been rigorously validated. Study them for their cultural value and modes of thinking—do not blindly follow or apply them.
Related Concepts:
Further Reading:
This content is based on classical Chinese medical texts and is provided solely for the study of traditional culture and historical literature. It does not constitute any medical diagnosis, medication advice, or treatment recommendation; if you feel unwell, please seek medical attention in a timely manner.