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Capítulo 8 de 33
神农本草经
This chapter covers the Upper Grade of the Beasts section in the Shennong Bencao Jing, comprising six substances: Longgu (keel/dragon bone), Shexiang (musk), Niuhuang (bezoar), Xiongzhi (bear fat), Baijiao (white glue/antler glue), and Ejiao (ass-hide glue). The ancients classified these medicines derived from animals or their products as Upper Grade, considering them relatively mild in nature, with effects of tonification, calming the spirit, warding off evil, and prolonging life. Below is a detailed paraphrase of each entry.
Original Meaning: Longgu is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. The ancients believed it could treat conditions of the heart and abdomen, guizhu (what the ancients called illnesses caused by ghostly pathogens), diseases caused by spirits, goblins, and old apparitions, cough with reversed qi flow, diarrhea and dysentery, stool with pus and blood, uterine bleeding in women, zhengjia hard masses (abdominal lumps and accumulations) in the abdomen, and infantile fever with convulsions. Among them, longchi (dragon teeth) was used to treat convulsions, epilepsy, manic running, qi stagnation below the heart, inability to breathe, and various tetanic spasms in both children and adults, and was believed capable of killing spirit beings. It was also said that prolonged use could make the body light, the spirit and mind clear and penetrating, and extend one's years. The medicine grows in mountain valleys.
Commentators' Additions: Wu Pu said Longgu is produced in the shady, damp places of the valleys of the Jin region and in places where great waters have passed; it is the bone left behind after a dragon's death. Those that are blue-white in color are of superior quality. It is collected in the twelfth month, though it may also be collected without a fixed schedule. Longgu fears ganqi, Sichuan pepper, and lishi. Longchi is very cold in nature, treats convulsions and epilepsy, and with prolonged use lightens the body. The famous physicians said it is produced in the Jin region and in rocky water banks and earth caves atop Mount Tai where dead dragons are found; collection is not restricted to a specific season. Fan Zijiran said Longgu comes from Hedong.
(Note: The "dragon" in the original text mostly refers to the mythological naming of fossils of large mammals by ancient people, not an actual dragon.)
Original Meaning: Shexiang is pungent in taste and warm in nature. The ancients used it to dispel foul and filthy qi, kill ghost-spirit beings, treat warm malaria, gu poison, epilepsy with convulsions, and expel the three worms (various parasites as described in ancient times). It was said that prolonged use could eliminate pathogenic qi and prevent nightmares and being oppressed by sleep paralysis. It grows in rivers and valleys.
Commentators' Additions: The famous physicians said it is produced in the mountains of Zhongtai and in the mountains of Yizhou and Yongzhou. It is collected at the spring equinox; fresh ones are considered better. The Shuowen Jiezi says the musk deer resembles a small sika deer, with musk in its navel, and is a type of black river deer. In the Er Ya, Guo Pu's annotation says its feet resemble those of a sika deer and it carries musk.
Original Meaning: Niuhuang is bitter in taste and neutral in nature. It mainly treats convulsions and epilepsy, alternating chills and fever, manic frenzy with spasms due to intense heat. The ancients believed it could dispel evil and expel ghosts. It grows in level marshes.
Commentators' Additions: Wu Pu said Niuhuang is bitter and non-toxic. When cattle exhibit anomalies such as bellowing or appearing to have light visible in their eyes at night, when the cow dies, it can be obtained from the gallbladder; it is shaped like egg yolk. The famous physicians said it is produced in the Jin region; after being obtained from the cattle, one should let it dry in the shade for one hundred days, keep it dry, and do not expose it to sunlight or moonlight.
Original Meaning: Xiongzhi is slightly cold in nature. It mainly treats wind-bi with numbness (numbness of the limbs), spasms and contraction of sinews and vessels, accumulations in the five viscera and abdomen, chills and fevers, emaciation, head sores, white baldness (tinea capitis), dark facial spots and pustular sores. With prolonged use, the ancients believed it could strengthen the mind and will, reduce hunger, and make the body light. It grows in mountain valleys.
Commentators' Additions: The famous physicians said it is produced in Yongzhou and collected in the eleventh month. The Shuowen Jiezi says the bear resembles a pig, dwells in the mountains, and hibernates in winter.
Original Meaning: Baijiao is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It mainly treats internal injury and consumptive exhaustion, low back pain, and emaciation. It can supplement the center and boost qi, treat women's amenorrhea and infertility, relieve pain, and calm the fetus. With prolonged use, it lightens the body and extends years. It is also known as Lujiaojiao (deer antler glue) .
Commentators' Additions: The famous physicians said it is produced in the Yunzhong region and is made by boiling deer antlers in water. The Shuowen Jiezi says that glue has the meaning of binding; it is made from hides. The Kaogong Ji records that deer glue is blue-white in color, and ox-hide glue is fiery-red. Zheng Xuan's annotation says both are made by boiling their hides or using their antlers.
Original Meaning: Ejiao is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It mainly treats disorders of the heart and abdomen, internal collapse with bleeding, extreme consumptive fatigue, chills and shivering like a malaria attack, low back and abdominal pain, soreness and pain in the four limbs, uterine bleeding in women, and can calm the fetus. With prolonged use it lightens the body and boosts qi. It is also known as Fuzhijiao (fixed/attached glue) .
Commentators' Additions: The famous physicians said it is produced in Pingdong Commandery, made by boiling ox hide, and comes from Dong'e in particular. Later commentators noted that Baijiao and Ejiao were not originally marked with place of production in the Bencao Jing; it is suspected that the original text simply wrote "jiao" (glue), and later people added the characters "bai" (white) and "e" (from Dong'e), dividing it into two entries.
All medicinal indications in ancient texts are historical records, for study purposes only, and do not constitute medical, diagnostic, or treatment advice. 🚑
Most of these medicines should not be used for daily health maintenance; even Ejiao, commonly found in foodstuff, should be viewed rationally — "substances have attributes that correspond to the body" does not mean they can be taken unbounded for long periods.
Associated Concepts:
Upper Grade medicines, Four qi and five flavors, Channel tropism, Guizhu, Gu poison, Three worms, Zhengjia, Convulsions and epilepsy, Wind-bi, Calming the fetus, Supplementing the center and boosting qi, Substances of flesh and blood.
Further Reading:
—— Bu Gua
This content is based on classical Chinese medical texts and is provided solely for the study of traditional culture; it does not constitute any medical diagnosis, prescription, or treatment advice. If you feel unwell, seek medical attention promptly.