《本草注》。橘皮味苦，柚皮味甘，此误也。柚皮极苦，不可向口。皮甘者乃柑耳。
按月令，冬至麋角解，夏至鹿角解，阴阳相反如此。今人用麋鹿茸作一种，殆疏也。
又有刺麋鹿血以代茸，云茸亦血耳，此大误也。窃详古人之意。凡含血之物，肉差易长，其
次角难长，最后骨难长，故人自胚胎至成人，二十年骨髓方坚，惟鹿茸自生至坚，无两月之
久。大者乃重二十余斤，其坚如石。计一夜须生数两，凡骨之顿成。生长神奇，无甚于此。
虽草木之易生者，亦无能及之，此骨之至强者，所以能补骨血，坚阳道，强精髓也，岂可与
血为比哉？麋茸利补阳，鹿茸利补阴。凡用茸无须太嫩，世谓之茄子茸，但真甚难得，而其
实少功，坚者又太老。唯长数寸破之，肌如朽木，茸端如玛瑙红玉最善。又北方沙漠中，有
麋驼尘。强大而色苍，尻黄而无斑，亦鹿之类。角大有文，坚莹如玉，其茸亦可用。
予集《灵苑方》，论鸡舌香，以为丁香母，盖出《陈氏拾遗》。今细考之，尚为未然。按
《齐民要术》，鸡舌香以其似丁子，故一名丁子香，即今丁香是也。日华子云，鸡舌香治口
气，所以三省故事，郎官含鸡舌香，欲其奏事对答，气芬芳，此正谓丁香治口气，至今方书
为然。又《古方》五香连翘汤，用鸡舌香，《千金》五香连翘汤，无鸡舌香，却有丁香，此
最为明验，《新补本草》，又出丁香一条，盖不曾深考也。今世所谓鸡舌香者，乳香中得之。
大如山茱萸，
《本草注》中说：橘皮味道苦，柚皮味道甘，这是错误的。柚皮极苦，无法入口。味道甘的皮其实是柑的皮。
根据《月令》，冬至时麋鹿角脱落，夏至时鹿角脱落，阴阳属性如此相反。现在人们将麋鹿茸混为一谈使用，大概是因为疏忽了。
又有用刺取麋鹿血来代替鹿茸的做法，声称茸也是血，这是极大的错误。我仔细推究古人的用意。凡是含血的动物，肉比较容易生长，其次是角较难生长，最后是骨最难生长，所以人从胚胎到成年，需要二十年骨髓才坚固，只有鹿茸从生出到变坚硬，不超过两个月。大的鹿茸重达二十多斤，其坚硬程度像石头一样。计算起来，一夜之间须生长数两，这种骨骼瞬间形成的现象，生长神奇，没有比这更神奇的了。即使是容易生长的草木，也没有能赶上的，这是骨质中最坚硬的，所以能够补骨血，壮阳道，强精髓，怎么能与血相提并论呢？麋茸利于补阳，鹿茸利于补阴。凡是用鹿茸不需要太嫩的，世间称为“茄子茸”，但真正的很少见，而且功效少；太老的又不好。只有长度几寸，剖开后肌肉像朽木，茸端像玛瑙红玉的最好。另外在北方沙漠中，有一种麋驼尘（一种类似鹿的动物），体型强大且颜色青苍，臀部黄色无斑点，也是鹿的一类。角上有花纹，坚硬晶莹如玉，它的茸也可以使用。
我编纂《灵苑方》时，论述鸡舌香，认为它是丁香的母本，这出自《陈氏拾遗》。现在仔细考证，仍然不对。按《齐民要术》记载，鸡舌香因为形状像丁香子，所以又名丁子香，就是现在的丁香。日华子说，鸡舌香治疗口臭，所以有“三省”的故事，郎官口含鸡舌香，想要他在奏事应对时口气芬芳，这正是指丁香治疗口臭，至今医方书都是这样说的。另外《古方》中的五香连翘汤，使用鸡舌香，《千金方》中的五香连翘汤，没有鸡舌香，却有丁香，这是最明显的证据。《新补本草》又单独列出丁香一条，大概是没有深入考证的缘故。现在世上所谓的鸡舌香，是在乳香中得到的。大小如山茱萸，
The *Bencao Zhu* (Commentary on the Materia Medica) states: "Tangerine peel tastes bitter, and pomelo peel tastes sweet." This is an error. Pomelo peel is extremely bitter and inedible. The peel that tastes sweet belongs to the kumquat (Gan).
According to the *Yueling* (Monthly Ordinances), the antlers of elk (Cervus canadensis) shed at the Winter Solstice, while those of deer (Cervus nippon) shed at the Summer Solstice; their yin and yang natures are thus opposite. Currently, people treat elk velvet antler and deer velvet antler as a single category for use, which is likely due to negligence.
There is also a practice of using blood from pierced elk or deer to substitute for velvet antler, claiming that "antler is merely blood." This is a major error. Upon careful consideration of the ancients' intent: among all creatures containing blood, flesh grows relatively easily, horns/antlers grow with difficulty, and bones grow with the greatest difficulty. Therefore, from conception to adulthood, human bone marrow takes twenty years to become solid. Only deer velvet antler grows from emergence to hardness in less than two months. Large specimens can weigh over twenty jin (approx. 10+ kg), and their hardness is like stone. Calculating the growth rate, they must gain several liang (approx. tens of grams) per night. Such instantaneous formation of bone is miraculous in its growth, unparalleled even by fast-growing plants and trees. This represents the strongest form of bone tissue; hence, it can tonify bone and blood, strengthen the Yang pathway, and fortify essence and marrow. How can it be compared to mere blood? Elk velvet antler is beneficial for tonifying Yang, whereas deer velvet antler is beneficial for tonifying Yin. When using velvet antler, it should not be too tender. What the world calls "eggplant velvet" (very young antler) is rare, has little efficacy, and overly mature antlers are too old. The best quality consists of antlers a few inches long; when broken open, the inner texture resembles rotten wood, and the tip resembles agate or red jade. Additionally, in the northern deserts, there exists an animal called "Mi Tuochen," which is powerful, dark gray in color, with a yellow rump and no spots; it is a type of deer. Its antlers have patterns and are hard and translucent like jade; its velvet is also usable.
When I compiled the *Lingyuan Fang*, discussing Ji She Xiang (Chicken Tongue Fragrance), I considered it the mother of Ding Xiang (Clove), based on the *Chen Shi Shi Yi*. However, upon detailed examination, this remains incorrect. According to the *Qimin Yaoshu*, Ji She Xiang is named so because it resembles the bud of a clove, hence also called Ding Zi Xiang, which is the current Ding Xiang (Clove). Ri Huazi stated that Ji She Xiang treats halitosis. Thus, in the story of "Sanxing," officials held Ji She Xiang in their mouths so that their breath would be fragrant when presenting memorials and responding to inquiries. This precisely refers to Ding Xiang treating halitosis, a view maintained in medical formularies to this day. Furthermore, the ancient formula Wu Xiang Lian Qiao Tang uses Ji She Xiang, whereas the Wu Xiang Lian Qiao Tang in the *Qianjin Fang* does not use Ji She Xiang but instead uses Ding Xiang. This is the most clear evidence. The *Xin Bu Bencao* lists Ding Xiang as a separate entry, likely due to a lack of deep investigation. What is currently referred to as Ji She Xiang is obtained within Ru Xiang (Frankincense). It is large, resembling Cornus officinalis fruit (Dogwood fruit),