驴鞭者，驴之外肾也。味甘，气温，无毒。最能长阳，然而单服此一味，绝不效。盖驴
鞭非
长阳之物也，止能展筋耳。夫阳道之细小也，乃人肝胆之不足，而筋不能舒耳。驴鞭展筋
，筋展则阳道宜于修伟矣。然而，驴鞭止能展身内之筋，而不能展身外之筋，必得龙骨、阳
起石合用，则外之筋乃展。外筋既展，而谓阳不能展乎。
或疑驴鞭亦寻常之物，而称其功用之奇，岂因其驴势之伟长，因疑可以展阳耶？此亦无
征不
可信之说也。曰∶驴鞭不能展阳，余先言之矣。因其与龙骨、阳起石同用，而有相得之验也
。夫龙骨得驴鞭而化，龙骨得阳起石而兴，三者配合，始建奇功，缺一而无功也。虽然舍人
参、 、术、菟丝、熟地补阳补阴之药，而唯三者之配合也，奇功又何以建哉。
獭肝，味甘、平、咸，微热，无毒。疰病传尸，一门传染者悉效。产劳发热，三时虚汗
者殊
功。上气咳嗽堪除，鬼毒瘟疠能遣，疗蛊疫，治冷劳，却鱼鲠，消水胀。乃痨瘵中必需之药
，不可不先备也。取得之时，以酒煮干焙燥，藏之磁器中，经年不坏。
痨瘵之症，久则生虫，用鳗鱼之类，亦可杀虫，何以必用獭肝？盖痨虫之种类不同，而
治法
之制伏，亦宜各别。用獭肝以制虫者，其虫必食鱼而得之者也，其虫绝似鱼类，故取獭以制
鱼也。若鳗鱼亦鱼类，安能以鱼制鱼哉。
或问用獭以制鱼类之虫，自是确义，但不知同是痨瘵之症，何易知其虫之似鱼，以用獭
肝哉
？不知痨虫不同，而辨法实易。凡生鱼类之痨虫者，遇天雨，则胸膈间必怦怦自动，听水声
则惊，饮茶水则快，大便必滑，日间肠胃必有微动，而夜则安然者也。闻鱼腥则喜，看网缯
鱼笱之类，必孛然色变。此等之症，必须用獭肝入药，始可制之，否则无益。（〔批〕辨症
甚确。）
驴鞭，是驴的外肾。味道甘，性质温，没有毒性。最能助长阳气，然而单独服用这一味药，完全不起作用。因为驴鞭并不是真正能壮阳的药物，只能舒展筋脉。所谓阴茎细小，是由于人的肝胆不足，导致筋脉不能舒展罢了。驴鞭舒展筋脉，筋脉舒展了，阴茎自然就能变得修长伟岸。然而，驴鞭只能舒展身体内部的筋脉，而不能舒展身体外部的筋脉，必须得到龙骨、阳起石配合使用，那么外部的筋脉才能舒展。外部筋脉既然已经舒展，还说阳气不能舒展吗？
有人怀疑驴鞭也是寻常之物，却称赞它功效奇特，难道是因为驴的生殖器雄伟长大，就推测它可以壮阳吗？这也是没有证据不可信的说法。我说：驴鞭不能直接壮阳，我之前已经说过了。因为它与龙骨、阳起石一起使用，才有相得益彰的效果。龙骨得到驴鞭而发挥作用，龙骨得到阳起石而兴起活力，三者配合，才开始建立奇功，缺少其中一味就没有功效。虽然如此，如果舍弃人参、白术、菟丝子、熟地黄这些补阳补阴的药物，而只靠这三者的配合，奇功又怎么能建立起来呢？
獭肝，味道甘、平、咸，微热，没有毒性。对于疰病（慢性传染病）传尸（指痨虫传染），全家传染的情况都有效。治疗虚劳发热，四季（三时泛指各个季节）虚汗的症状有显著功效。能消除上气咳嗽，驱除鬼毒瘟疠，治疗蛊疫，治愈冷劳，去除鱼刺卡喉，消除水胀水肿。这是治疗痨瘵（肺结核等慢性消耗性疾病）中必需的药物，不可以不预先准备。取得獭肝的时候，用酒煮干后烘焙干燥，存放在瓷器中，经过多年也不会变质。
痨瘵这种病症，时间久了会生虫，使用鳗鱼之类也可以杀虫，为什么一定要用獭肝呢？大概是因为痨虫的种类不同，所以制伏它们的治疗方法也应该各自区别。使用獭肝来制伏虫子，这种虫子一定是吃了鱼才得来的，它的样子极像鱼类，所以取獭来制伏鱼类的虫子。如果鳗鱼也是鱼类，怎么能用鱼来制伏鱼呢？
有人问：用獭来制伏鱼类的虫子，这自然是确切的道理，但不知道同样是痨瘵的病症，怎么容易知道虫子像鱼，从而使用獭肝呢？不知道痨虫不同，但辨别方法其实很容易。凡是产生鱼类痨虫的患者，遇到下雨天，胸膈之间必定怦怦跳动，听到水声就会惊恐，喝茶水就觉得舒服，大便必然滑利，白天肠胃必定有轻微蠕动，而晚上则安然无恙。闻到鱼腥味就高兴，看到网、缯、鱼笱等捕鱼工具，必定突然脸色大变。这样的病症，必须用獭肝入药，才可以制伏它，否则没有益处。（〔批注〕辨证非常准确。）
The donkey penis is the external kidney of the donkey. Its flavor is sweet, its nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. It is most capable of promoting Yang Qi (vital energy associated with warmth and activity), yet taking this single herb alone yields absolutely no effect. This is because the donkey penis is not a substance that truly tonifies Yang; it can only relax the sinews. The condition of a small penis results from insufficiency in the Liver and Gallbladder meridians, leading to sinews that cannot relax. When the donkey penis relaxes the sinews, and the sinews are relaxed, the penis will naturally become long and robust. However, the donkey penis can only relax the internal sinews of the body, not the external ones. It must be combined with Long Gu (Fossilized Bones) and Yang Qi Shi (Halloysitum Rubrum) for the external sinews to relax. Once the external sinews are relaxed, how could Yang fail to expand?
Some may doubt that since the donkey penis is an ordinary object, praising its miraculous efficacy implies attributing it to the grandeur of the donkey's genitalia, thus suspecting it can promote Yang. This is also an unsubstantiated and unbelievable theory. I have already stated that the donkey penis cannot directly promote Yang. Its efficacy arises when used in conjunction with Long Gu and Yang Qi Shi, producing a synergistic effect. Long Gu acts effectively when combined with the donkey penis, and its vitality is stimulated by Yang Qi Shi. Only through the combination of these three substances can miraculous results be achieved; lacking any one of them renders the formula ineffective. Furthermore, if one were to discard herbs such as Renshen (Ginseng Root), Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Tusizi (Cuscuta Seed), and Shudihuang (Prepared Rehmannia Root)—which tonify both Yin and Yang—and rely solely on the combination of the former three, how could such miraculous effects be established?
The liver of the otter has a sweet, neutral, and salty flavor, with a slightly warm nature, and is non-toxic. It is effective for Zhu Bing (chronic infectious diseases) and Chuan Shi (transmission of tubercle bacilli among family members). It shows remarkable merit in treating Lao Re (fever due to deficiency-heat) and Xu Han (deficiency sweating occurring in all seasons). It can eliminate Shang Qi Ke Sou (cough with rebellious Qi), dispel Gui Du Wen Li (plague toxins), treat Gu Yi (parasitic epidemics), cure Leng Lao (cold consumption), remove fish bones stuck in the throat, and resolve Shui Zhang (water swelling/edema). It is an essential medicine for treating Lao Zhai (consumption/tuberculosis) and must be prepared in advance. Upon acquisition, it should be boiled in wine, dried by baking, and stored in porcelain vessels, where it will remain unspoiled for years.
In cases of Lao Zhai, prolonged illness leads to the generation of parasites. While using Mian Yu (Eel) or similar substances can also kill parasites, why is it necessary to use Otter Liver? This is because the types of Lao Chong (tubercle parasites) differ, and the methods to subdue them must vary accordingly. Otter Liver is used to subdue parasites that originate from consuming fish; these parasites closely resemble fish. Therefore, the otter (a predator of fish) is used to subdue fish-like parasites. If Mian Yu is also a fish, how can one use a fish to subdue another fish?
One might ask: Using otters to subdue fish-like parasites is indeed logical, but how can one easily identify that the parasite in a patient with Lao Zhai resembles a fish, thereby justifying the use of Otter Liver? In fact, although the parasites differ, the method of differentiation is quite simple. For patients infected with fish-type Lao Chong, when it rains, they experience palpitations in the chest and diaphragm; hearing water sounds causes alarm; drinking tea provides relief; stools are invariably loose; there is slight intestinal movement during the day, while nights pass peacefully. They feel pleasure at the smell of fish and exhibit sudden facial changes upon seeing fishing nets, traps, or baskets. Such symptoms require the inclusion of Otter Liver in the prescription to be effective; otherwise, it is of no benefit. ([Comment] The syndrome differentiation is very accurate.)