龙鳞八十一。具数九九。阳之极也。故为辰而司水。鲤鳞三十六。具数六六。阴之极也
。故变阳而化龙。(埤雅)龙火得湿则焰。得水则燔。以人火逐之即息。故人之相火似之。(
又)
骨
出晋地及太山沧剡诸州。山岩水岸土穴中。龙化解脱之处。是蜕骨。非死骨也。麋鹿
角。蟹易螯。蛇易皮。龙易骨。骨细文广者雌。骨粗文狭者雄。五色具者上。白黄者中。
黑者下。
味甘平。气微寒。阴中之阳。入足厥阴少阳少阴。兼入手少阴厥阴阳明经。安魂魄。固
脱气
肛。
脏中。
龙骨牡
治。皆收
衄九窍出血。并用龙骨末吹入鼻中。有人衄血一斛。众方不止。用此即断。劳心梦泄。龙骨
远志等分为
每冷水空
钱半。为
齿
味涩。气平凉。主安魂魄。疗惊痫诸痉癫疾。魂游不定。龙之变化似之。魄止能守。
之专静同之。是故魄不宁者。定以虎睛。魂飞扬者。安以龙齿。龙骨入心肾肠胃。龙齿单
肝心。故骨兼止泻涩精之用。齿惟镇惊安魂魄而已。(仲淳)同荆芥泽兰丹皮苏木人参牛膝
红花蒲黄当归童便。治产后恶血扑心。癫狂妄语。切不可认作伤寒发狂治。误则杀人。同牛
黄犀角钩勾丹砂生地茯神琥珀金箔竹沥天竺黄苏合香。治大人小儿惊痫癫疾。
〔论〕 龙之变化最灵者。纯乎阳也。而阳原本于阴。故乘水则神立。失水则神废。且
呵气
肾。
神征
如阴
齿鼻
之形神
凡泻痢肠 及崩漏溺血等证。皆血热积滞为患。法当疏利。不可便用止涩。惟久病虚脱
者。
〔辨治〕 凡使得脊脑。作白地锦纹。舐之着舌者佳。入药水飞过晒干。每斤用黑豆一
斗。
龙鳞有八十一片,符合九九之数,是阳气的极致。因此作为辰(地支第五位)而掌管水。鲤鱼鳞有三十六片,符合六六之数,是阴气的极致。所以变化阳气而化为龙。(出自《埤雅》)龙的火遇到湿气则燃烧更旺,得到水则火势更烈。用人的火去驱逐它,火焰就会熄灭。所以人体的相火(寄居于肝肾,具有生发、温煦作用的火)与它相似。(又引)
龙骨出土于晋地及泰山、沧剡等州的山岩、水岸和土穴中。这是龙蜕化解脱的地方,是蜕下的骨,不是死去的骨。麋鹿换角,螃蟹换螯,蛇换皮,龙换骨。骨细纹理宽的为雌性,骨粗纹理窄的为雄性。五色俱全的为上品,白黄色的为中品,黑色的为下品。
味道甘平,气微寒,属于阴中之阳。入足厥阴肝经、足少阳胆经、足少阴肾经。兼入手少阴心经、手厥阴心包经、手阳明大肠经。能安魂魄,固脱气肛(收敛固涩,治疗脱肛等症)。
治九窍出血。都用龙骨末吹入鼻中。有人鼻出血一斛(古代容量单位),各种方剂不能止住,用此法即断绝。劳心导致的梦遗,龙骨与远志等分研磨成粉,每服钱半(约1.5克),用冷水空腹送服。
味涩,气平凉。主要功效是安魂魄,治疗惊痫、各种痉病、癫疾。魂游荡不定,因为龙的变化莫测与之相似。魄主静守,因为龙的专静与之相同。所以魄不宁的,用虎睛来安定;魂飞扬的,用龙齿来安神。龙骨入心、肾、肠胃经。龙齿单入肝、心经。所以龙骨兼有止泻、涩精的作用,龙齿只有镇惊、安魂魄的功效。(出自仲淳)配合荆芥、泽兰、丹皮、苏木、人参、牛膝、红花、蒲黄、当归、童便,治疗产后恶血攻心,导致的神志狂乱、胡言乱语。切不可误认为是伤寒引起的发狂来治疗,误治会致死。配合牛黄、犀角、钩藤、朱砂、生地、茯神、琥珀、金箔、竹沥、天竺黄、苏合香,治疗大人和小儿的惊痫、癫疾。
【论】龙的变化最为灵验,纯乎阳气。但阳原本源于阴,所以依靠水则神灵显现,失去水则神灵废弛。且呵气成云,象征肾水之神征如阴。其形神似齿鼻之形。
The scales of the dragon number eighty-one, conforming to the number 9x9, which represents the extreme of Yang. Therefore, it corresponds to Chen (the fifth Earthly Branch) and governs water. The scales of the carp number thirty-six, conforming to the number 6x6, which represents the extreme of Yin. Thus, it transforms Yang and becomes a dragon. (*Pi Ya*) The fire of the dragon flares up when it meets dampness and burns fiercely when it encounters water. However, if driven away by human fire, the flames will extinguish. Hence, the *Xiang Huo* (Ministerial Fire, residing in the Liver and Kidney, responsible for growth and warming) of humans is similar to it. (Also cited)
Dragon bone is found in Shanxi (Jin), as well as Mount Tai, Cangshan, and other regions, within mountain rocks, riverbanks, and earth burrows. These are places where dragons shed their bones during transformation and liberation; they are shed bones, not bones from dead dragons. Elk shed antlers, crabs shed claws, snakes shed skin, and dragons shed bones. Bones that are fine with broad patterns belong to females; those that are coarse with narrow patterns belong to males. Those possessing all five colors are of the highest grade; white and yellow ones are medium; black ones are inferior.
It has a sweet and neutral taste, and a slightly cold nature, belonging to "Yin containing Yang." It enters the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, and Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. It also connects with the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, and Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. It calms the soul (*Hun*) and spirit (*Po*), and secures against collapse, specifically treating rectal prolapse.
For bleeding from the nine orifices, powdered Dragon Bone is blown into the nose. In cases where a patient suffered a massive epistaxis (one hu, an ancient unit of volume) that resisted various treatments, this method immediately stopped the bleeding. For nocturnal emissions caused by mental exertion, equal parts of Dragon Bone and Polygala Root (*Yuanshi*) are ground into powder. Half a qian (approx. 1.5g) is taken with cold water on an empty stomach.
It has an astringent taste and a neutral-cool nature. Its primary function is to calm the soul and spirit, treating epilepsy, convulsions, and manic disorders. The wandering *Hun* is likened to the unpredictable transformations of the dragon. The steadfast *Po* is likened to the tranquility of the dragon. Therefore, for an unsettled *Po*, Tiger Eye is used to stabilize it; for a soaring *Hun*, Dragon Tooth is used to calm the spirit. Dragon Bone enters the Heart, Kidney, and Intestines/Stomach meridians. Dragon Tooth enters only the Liver and Heart meridians. Thus, Dragon Bone serves both to stop diarrhea and astringe essence, whereas Dragon Tooth is used solely to settle fright and calm the spirit. (Cited from Zhong Chun) Combined with Schizonepeta (*Jingjie*), Landfill Weed (*Zelan*), Moutan Bark (*Danpi*), Bryony Vine (*Sumu*), Ginseng (*Renshen*), Achyranthes (*Niuxi*), Safflower (*Honghua*), Rhizoma Alismatis (*Puhuang*), Angelica Sinensis (*Danggui*), and fresh urine of boys (*Tongbian*), it treats postpartum blood stasis attacking the heart, leading to mania and delirious speech. It must not be mistaken for mania caused by Cold Damage (*Shanghan*); misdiagnosis can be fatal. Combined with Realgar (*Niu Huang* - note: likely typo in original for Niuhuang/Calculus Bovis, but text says Niu Huang), Rhinoceros Horn (*Xijiao*), Uncaria (*Gouteng*), Cinnabar (*Zhusha*), Rehmannia Root (*Shengdi*), Poria (*Fushen*), Amber (*Hupo*), Gold Leaf (*Jinbo*), Bamboo Sap (*Zhuli*), Heavenly Wheat (*Tianzhuhuang*), and Storax (*Suhe Xiang*), it treats epilepsy and convulsions in adults and children.
[Discussion] The transformation of the dragon is the most spiritual, being purely Yang. Yet Yang originates from Yin. Thus, relying on water establishes its spirit; losing water causes its spirit to fail. Exhaling breath creates clouds, symbolizing the divine manifestation of Kidney Water resembling Yin. Its form and spirit resemble teeth and nose.
For conditions such as dysentery, bloody diarrhea, uterine bleeding, and hematuria, these are typically caused by heat accumulation and stagnation in the blood. The treatment method should be to promote circulation and drainage; one should not immediately use astringents. Only in cases of chronic illness with collapse due to deficiency is it applicable.
[Differentiation and Treatment] The best quality Dragon Bone is found at the spine and brain area, displaying white brocade-like patterns, and sticks to the tongue when licked. It is processed by boiling in water, washed, and dried. For every jin (approx. 500g) of Dragon Bone, one dou (approx. 10 liters) of Black Soybeans (*Heidou*) is used.