禀纯阳之质，含生发之气，味甘，气温。入手厥阴、少阴、足少阴、厥阴经，为
温补肝肾，及走命门心包络，填精血补真阳之要药。形如茄子饱满光润者佳。鹿茸补
阳，麋茸补阴，角亦如之。凡角初生软嫩者，为茸，禀壮健之性，故峻补肾家真阳之
气，熬成白胶，则气味甘酸，能通周身之血脉。生角，则味咸气温泄散热，行血消肿，
辟恶气而已。咸能入血软坚，温能通行散邪，故主恶疮痈肿，逐邪恶气及留血在阴
中。少腹血急痛折伤恶血等症也，去毛骨酥炙用。
鹿茸，补元阳精血更捷，主小便数利。泄精尿血腰肾虚冷，脚膝无力。夜梦鬼交，
精溢自出。填精血壮元阳，益气滋阴，大补羸瘦，强志坚齿，腰膝酸痛及虚劳洒洒如
疟。女人漏血崩中，且鹿性最淫，故专以壮阳补肾不足也。麋茸，一云系鹿之大者，功
力尤胜，但性热而专补阳多，骨软可健，茎痿能扶，壮阳之品，而风寒湿痹，筋挛等症
亦用。其鹿麋二肉具补，此以麋鹿为一种，但以大小分别命名，鹿性温而补阴，麋性热
而补阳，则麋茸之热，过于鹿茸为论矣。此说非也。夫麋与鹿自有二种，鹿是山兽也。
好群而相比，为阳之类，故夏至感阴气而角解，阴生阳退之象也。麋是泽兽也，多欲而
善走，为阴之类，故冬至感阳气而角解，阳生阴退之象也。阴阳相反如斯，鹿茸禀纯阳
之质，含发生之气一牡常御百牝，是肾气有余，而足于精者也。故有助阳扶阴之妙，鹿
补阳，右肾精气不足，麋补阴，左肾血液不足，然虽有阴阳功用之殊，总不外乎填精
髓，强筋骨，长精气，为肾肝滋补之要药也。鹿角主恶疮痈肿，逐邪恶气留血在阴
中，除小腹血急痛，腰脊冷痛，产后血晕，血瘀折伤恶血，生用行血，熟用补虚。龟鹿
皆灵而有痔，龟首常藏在腹，能通任脉，其华在甲，取以补心补肾补血，皆以养阴也。
鹿鼻常反向尾，能通督脉，其华在角，取以补命门。补精补气，皆以养阳也。龟鹿二仙
膏，一阴一阳之义也，但鹿角生用，散热行血消肿辟邪，熟有则宜肾补虚，强精活血炼
霜熬膏，则专于温补，膏可冲酒，配药俱宜。霜惟入丸，以为佐使。鹿髓精血之纯，
内充以实骨者也。鹿禀纯阳，故髓味甘气温，性能补血而润燥，所以主一切血脉不
和，伤中续绝，筋急挛痛，及咳逆也。同蜜煮服，壮阳道，令人有子，同地黄汁煎膏
服，填骨髓、壮筋骨，治呕吐。鹿肾能壮阳道，大补肾家不足，以其肾气有余，而足于
精者也。鹿肉味甘气温，通血脉补中，能益脾胃，强五脏，益气力也，生者薄片，贴中
风口僻即正，亦取其通血脉之功也。
按∶鹿性淫而不衰，其角不两月长大一二十斤生长神奇，无过于此，盖其性热，生
生不已，气化浓密，故补肾之力其功伟哉！
鹿茸禀受纯阳的本质，蕴含生发之气，味甘，性温。它入足厥阴肝经、手少阴心经、足少阴肾经、足厥阴肝经（注：原文“入手厥阴”疑为笔误或特定流派说法，通常鹿茸归肝肾经，此处依原文直译），是温补肝肾，以及作用于命门和心包络，填补精血、补益真阳的重要药物。形状像茄子一样饱满光润的鹿茸为佳。鹿茸补阳，麋茸补阴，鹿角的作用也是如此。凡是刚长出来、质地软嫩的角称为茸，因为它禀受了壮健的性质，所以能峻补肾中真阳之气；将其熬制成白胶后，气味变为甘酸，能够疏通全身血脉。如果是生的硬角，则味咸、性温，具有泄热散气、行血消肿、辟除恶气的作用。咸味能入血分软化坚积，温性能通行并驱散邪气，因此主治恶疮痈肿，驱逐邪恶之气及滞留于阴分的瘀血，以及小腹部血液急痛、跌打损伤导致的恶血等症状。使用时需去毛，将骨酥炙后使用。
鹿茸补充元阳、精血更为迅速，主治小便频数且清长。对于遗精、尿血、腰膝肾虚寒冷、脚膝无力、夜间梦交、精气自行溢出等症状，鹿茸能通过填精血、壮元阳、益气滋阴，大补身体消瘦虚弱者，增强意志、坚固牙齿，治疗腰膝酸痛及虚劳引起的如疟疾般的寒战症状。对于女性漏下出血、崩中（大量阴道出血），由于鹿性最淫欲，所以专门用于壮阳、补肾不足。麋茸，有一种说法认为是体型较大的鹿，功效尤其显著，但性质热而专于补阳较多，能使骨骼柔软变得强健，扶持阴茎痿弱，作为壮阳的药物，风寒湿痹、筋脉拘挛等症状也适用。鹿肉和麋肉都具有滋补作用，这里将麋和鹿视为一种，仅以大小分别命名。如果说鹿性温而补阴，麋性热而补阳，那么麋茸的热性就超过鹿茸了，这种说法是不对的。麋和鹿本来就是两种动物，鹿是山兽，喜欢群居相互比附，属于阳的一类，所以在夏至时感应到阴气而脱角，这是阴生阳退的现象。麋是泽兽，多欲且善于奔跑，属于阴的一类，所以在冬至时感应到阳气而脱角，这是阳生阴退的现象。阴阳相反如此。鹿茸禀受纯阳的本质，蕴含生发之气，一只公鹿常驾驭百只母鹿，说明其肾气有余，精力充沛。因此有辅助阳气、扶持阴精的妙用。鹿补阳，针对右肾精气不足；麋补阴，针对左肾血液不足。虽然阴阳功用有所不同，但总不外乎填补精髓、强壮筋骨、增长精气，都是肾肝滋补的重要药物。鹿角主治恶疮痈肿，驱逐邪恶之气及滞留于阴分的瘀血，消除小腹部血液急痛、腰脊冷痛、产后血晕、血瘀及跌打损伤导致的恶血。生用可活血，熟用可补虚。
龟和鹿都有灵性且有痔疮，龟头常藏在腹中，能通任脉，其精华表现在甲壳上，取用以补心、补肾、补血，都是为了滋养阴液。鹿鼻常反向对着尾巴，能通督脉，其精华表现在角上，取用以补命门，补精补气，都是为了滋养阳气。龟鹿二仙膏，体现了一阴一阳的道理。但鹿角生用，能散热、行血、消肿、辟邪；熟用则宜于补肾补虚、强精活血。炼霜熬膏，则专门用于温补，膏剂可以冲酒服用，配伍药物都适宜。鹿角霜只能入丸药，作为佐使药。鹿髓是精血的纯粹物质，内部充实以坚固骨骼。鹿禀受纯阳之性，所以鹿髓味甘、性温，性能补血而润燥，因此主治一切血脉不和、内伤续绝、筋脉紧急拘挛疼痛，以及咳嗽气逆等症状。与蜂蜜同煮服用，能壮阳道，使人有子嗣；与地黄汁煎膏服用，能填骨髓、壮筋骨，治疗呕吐。鹿肾能壮阳道，大补肾家不足，因为它的肾气有余，精力充沛。鹿肉味甘、性温，能通血脉、补中焦，能益脾胃、强五脏、益气力。生鹿肉切成薄片，贴敷于中风导致的面部歪斜处即可矫正，也是取其通血脉的功效。
按语：鹿性情淫乱而不衰败，其角在不到两个月的时间里就能长出一二十斤，生长神奇，没有能超过它的，大概是因为其性质热，生生不息，气化浓密，所以补肾的力量非常伟大！
Deer antler velvet (Lurong) possesses the nature of pure Yang and contains the Qi of growth and development. Its taste is sweet, and its temperature is warm. It enters the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin, Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin, Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin, and Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin. It is a crucial herb for warming and tonifying the Liver and Kidney, acting on the Mingmen (Gate of Vitality) and Pericardium (Xinbaoluo), and is essential for filling essence and blood and supplementing true Yang. Deer antler velvet that is plump, smooth, and glossy like an eggplant is considered superior. Deer antler velvet tonifies Yang, while Elk antler velvet tonifies Yin; the same applies to their horns. When the horn is newly grown, soft, and tender, it is called "rong" (velvet). Because it embodies a robust and healthy nature, it can vigorously tonify the true Yang Qi of the Kidney. When boiled down into white gelatin, its taste becomes sweet and sour, capable of unblocking the blood vessels throughout the body. If used as a raw, hard horn, it tastes salty and is warm in temperature, with properties that drain heat, dissipate Qi, promote blood circulation, reduce swelling, and ward off evil Qi. Salty flavors enter the blood level to soften hardness, and warm properties promote circulation and dispel pathogens; thus, it treats malignant sores and carbuncles, expels evil Qi and retained blood within the Yin aspects, and addresses conditions such as acute abdominal pain due to blood stasis and traumatic injury with evil blood. Before use, remove the hair and bone, then calcine until brittle.
Deer antler velvet replenishes Yuan Yang (Original Yang), essence, and blood more rapidly. It primarily treats frequent and profuse urination. For symptoms such as seminal emission, hematuria, coldness and deficiency-cold of the lower back and kidneys, weakness in the legs and knees, nocturnal emissions during dreams (dream intercourse), and spontaneous leakage of essence, it fills essence and blood, strengthens Yuan Yang, benefits Qi, nourishes Yin, greatly tonifies emaciation, strengthens willpower, consolidates teeth, and treats soreness and pain in the waist and knees, as well as deficiency exhaustion manifesting as chills resembling malaria. For women with metrorrhagia (irregular bleeding) and metrorrhagia exuberans (profuse bleeding), given that deer have a strong sexual nature, it is specifically used to strengthen Yang and tonify Kidney insufficiency. Elk antler velvet is sometimes said to be a larger variety of deer with even greater efficacy, but its nature is hot and specializes more in tonifying Yang. It can soften bones to make them strong and support penile flaccidity. As a Yang-strengthening agent, it is also used for wind-cold-damp bi syndrome and tendon spasms. Both deer meat and elk meat have tonic effects. Some classify elk and deer as one species, distinguished only by size. The theory that deer are warm and tonify Yin, while elk are hot and tonify Yang, implying elk velvet is hotter than deer velvet, is incorrect. Elk and deer are indeed two distinct species. Deer are mountain animals, fond of herding and associating, belonging to the category of Yang; therefore, they shed their antlers at the Summer Solstice when Yin Qi arises, symbolizing the generation of Yin and retreat of Yang. Elk are wetland animals, lustful and swift runners, belonging to the category of Yin; therefore, they shed their antlers at the Winter Solstice when Yang Qi arises, symbolizing the generation of Yang and retreat of Yin. Their Yin and Yang natures are opposites in this manner. Deer antler velvet embodies pure Yang and contains the Qi of generation. A single male often mates with many females, indicating surplus Kidney Qi and abundant essence. Thus, it has the subtle effect of assisting Yang and supporting Yin. Deer tonifies Yang, addressing insufficiency of Jing-Qi in the Right Kidney; Elk tonifies Yin, addressing insufficiency of Blood in the Left Kidney. Although their Yin-Yang functions differ, they all essentially fill marrow and essence, strengthen sinews and bones, and augment Jing-Qi, making them key herbs for tonifying the Kidney and Liver. Deer horn treats malignant sores and carbuncles, expels evil Qi and retained blood in the Yin, eliminates acute abdominal pain from blood stasis, cold pain in the lower back and spine, postpartum blood dizziness, blood stasis, and traumatic evil blood. Raw use promotes blood circulation; cooked use tonifies deficiency.
Tortoise and deer are both spiritual creatures prone to hemorrhoids. The tortoise head is often concealed within its shell, connecting with the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel); its brilliance manifests in its shell. It is used to tonify the Heart, Kidney, and Blood, all for nourishing Yin. The deer nose often points backward toward its tail, connecting with the Du Mai (Governing Vessel); its brilliance manifests in its antlers. It is used to tonify the Mingmen (Gate of Vitality), benefiting essence and Qi, all for nourishing Yang. Guilu Erxian Gao (Tortoise-Deer Two Immortals Paste) embodies the principle of one Yin and one Yang. However, raw deer horn disperses heat, promotes blood circulation, reduces swelling, and wards off evil; cooked deer horn is suitable for tonifying the Kidney, reducing deficiency, strengthening essence, and invigorating blood. Refined into frost or paste, it specializes in warming and tonifying. The paste can be taken with wine or combined with other herbs. Deer horn frost is only used in pills as an assistant drug. Deer marrow is the purest form of essence and blood, internally solidifying the bones. Deer embodies pure Yang; thus, deer marrow is sweet in taste and warm in temperature. Its nature benefits blood and moistens dryness, treating all disorders of blood vessel harmony, internal injuries requiring repair, tendon spasms and pain, and cough with reversed Qi. Boiled with honey and taken, it strengthens the Yang pathway and aids fertility. Decocted with Rehmannia juice into a paste and taken, it fills marrow, strengthens bones, and treats vomiting. Deer kidney strengthens the Yang pathway and greatly tonifies Kidney insufficiency, as its Kidney Qi is abundant and essence is sufficient. Deer meat is sweet in taste and warm in temperature, promoting blood circulation and tonifying the Middle Jiao. It benefits the Spleen and Stomach, strengthens the Five Zang Organs, and boosts Qi and strength. Fresh deer meat sliced thinly and applied to facial deviation caused by Wind-Stroke can correct the condition, utilizing its blood-circulating power.
Commentary: The deer's nature is lustful and inexhaustible. Its antlers grow remarkably fast, gaining ten to twenty jin in less than two months. Nothing surpasses this miraculous growth. This is likely because its nature is hot, generating life continuously with dense Qi transformation, thereby possessing tremendous power to tonify the Kidney!