味甘咸，性温无毒，入肾经。主益气滋阴，强志补肾，理虚羸，固齿牙，止腰膝酸疼
，破流血作痛，疗虚劳如疟，女子崩漏胎动，丈夫溺血泄精，小儿惊痫，散石淋痈肿，骨中
热中痒。状如玛瑙红玉，长三四寸，破之中有朽木者佳。连顶骨用。长城鹿角，主逐鬼邪，
益神气，续绝伤，强筋骨，消痈肿。愈恶疮，及妇人梦与鬼交。麋茸及角，功相仿而性更热
。专主补阳，糜鹿角茸四种，俱杜仲为使，畏大黄。
按∶鹿茸咸温之品，舍肾奚归，功效虽宏，须脉沉细。相火衰弱者，始为相宜。若有火
热者用之，何异抱薪救火？其角亦然，麋者更甚。夫麋冬至解角，则属阳，鹿夏至解角，则
属阴，其性热，所以其功捷。大凡含血之物，肉易长，角难长，惟二茸不两月长大至一十二
斤，其坚如石，生长神奇，莫过于此。且诸兽之角，终身不易，惟此种一年一易，盖其性热，
生生不已，旧者未去，新者随之，气化脓密，孰能与京，诸贤盛述其功，良有以也。
雷公云∶凡使先以天灵盖作末，然后锯解鹿茸作片子，以好羊脂拌天灵盖末，涂之于鹿
茸上，慢火炙之，令内外黄脆了，用鹿皮裹之，安室中一宿，其药魂归也。至明则以慢火焙
之，令脆，方捣作末用之。每五两鹿茸，用羊脂三两，炙尽为度。又制法用黄柏，自然汁浸
两日夜，漉出焙令干，捣漉免渴人也。鹿角使之，胜如麋角，其角要黄色紧重大好者，缘此
鹿食灵草，所以异于众鹿也，其麋角顶根上有黄色毛，若金线，兼旁生小尖也，色苍白者上。
注干宁记云∶其鹿游龙相戏，乃生此异耳。采得角了，须金戴者，并长三寸，锯解之，以物
盛，于急水中浸之一百日满，出用刀刮去粗皮一重，以物盛，水治令净。然后用酽醋煮七日，
旋旋添醋，勿食少歇，成时不用煮火，只从子时至戌七日足，其角白色软如粉，即细捣作粉
，却以无灰酒煮，其胶阴干了，重重研筛过用。
凡修事十两，以无灰酒一盏煎干为度也。孙真人云∶鹿肉解药毒，不可久服，盖服解毒
草也。孟诜云∶主益气，不可以鼻嗅，其茸中有小白虫，视之不见，入人鼻必为虫颡，药不
及也。
味甘、咸，性温，无毒，归入肾经。主要功效为益气滋阴，增强意志并补肾，调理身体虚弱消瘦，坚固牙齿，停止腰部和膝盖的酸痛，破除因瘀血引起的疼痛，治疗类似疟疾的虚劳病，治疗女子崩漏和胎动不安，男子尿血和遗精滑泄，小儿惊风抽搐，消散石淋（尿路结石）和痈肿，清除骨中热邪及皮肤瘙痒。鹿茸形状像玛瑙和红玉，长三四寸，剖开中间有朽木状纹理的为佳品。使用时需连同顶部的骨头一起使用。长城地区的鹿角，主要功效为驱逐鬼邪，补充神气，接续断裂损伤，强壮筋骨，消除痈肿，治愈恶疮，以及治疗妇人梦见与鬼交合的病证。麋鹿的茸和角，功效相似但药性更热。专门主治补阳，麋鹿的角和茸共有四种，均以杜仲作为引经药，畏惧大黄。
按语：鹿茸是咸温性质的药物，除了肾经还能去哪里呢？虽然功效宏大，但必须用于脉象沉细的患者。只有相火衰弱的人，才适合使用。如果有火热症状的人使用它，这和抱着柴草去救火有什么区别呢？鹿角的情况也是如此，麋鹿的角更是如此。麋鹿在冬至时脱角，所以属阳；鹿在夏至时脱角，所以属阴。它们的性质热，所以药效迅速。大凡有血气的生物，肉容易生长，角难生长，只有这两种茸不到两个月就能长到十二斤重，坚硬如石头，生长的神奇之处没有能超过它的。而且各种野兽的角，终身不换，只有这种鹿一年换一次，大概是因为其性质热，生生不息，旧的未脱落，新的就随之生长，气化脓密，谁能与之相比？各位贤人极力推崇其功效，确实是有原因的。
雷公说：凡是使用鹿茸，先取天灵盖（人头顶骨）磨成粉末，然后锯解鹿茸成薄片，用好羊脂拌上天灵盖粉末，涂抹在鹿茸上，用慢火炙烤，直到内外变黄且脆，用鹿皮包裹，放在室内一夜，让药的“魂”回归。到了第二天再用慢火焙干，使其变脆，然后捣碎成粉末使用。每五两鹿茸，用三两羊脂，炙烤至尽为止。另一种制法是用黄柏的自然汁浸泡两天两夜，捞出焙干，捣碎后过滤，可以避免口渴。鹿角的使用，胜过麋鹿角，鹿角以黄色、紧密、沉重者为佳，因为这种鹿吃灵草，所以不同于普通的鹿。麋鹿角的顶部根上有黄色的毛，像金线一样，旁边还有小尖刺，颜色苍白的为上品。注疏引用干宁记说：这种鹿游动时龙与之嬉戏，才产生这种异象。采得角后，需用金饰佩戴者（指特定来源或标记），并长三寸，锯解开，用容器盛放，在急水中浸泡一百天满，取出用刀刮去一层粗皮，用容器盛放，用水清洗干净。然后用浓醋煮七天，随时添加醋，不要让它少停歇，煮成时不用煮火，只从子时到戌时共七天足，角变成白色且软如粉，就细细捣碎成粉，再用无灰酒煮，制成胶阴干后，层层研磨筛选过使用。
凡是修整十两鹿茸，用一盏无灰酒煎干为止。孙真人说：鹿肉能解药毒，不可久服，因为它本身是服用解毒草的动物。孟诜说：鹿茸主要功效为益气，不能用鼻子嗅，因为其茸中有小白虫，肉眼看不见，进入人的鼻腔必导致“虫颡”（鼻中生虫），药效也就没有了。
Sweet and salty in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic, entering the Kidney Meridian. It primarily benefits Qi and nourishes Yin, strengthens willpower and tonifies the Kidney, regulates deficiency emaciation, consolidates teeth, stops soreness and pain of the waist and knees, resolves blood stasis causing pain, treats consumptive disease resembling malaria, addresses metrorrhagia and fetal restlessness in women, hematuria and seminal emission in men, pediatric convulsions, dissipates stone stranguria (urinary calculi) and carbuncles, clears heat from bones, and relieves itching. Its appearance resembles agate and red jade, three to four cun in length; those with a rotten wood-like texture inside when broken are considered superior. Use it together with the top bone. The antler of the Great Wall deer primarily expels evil influences, enriches Shen (Spirit), reconnects severed injuries, strengthens sinews and bones, eliminates carbuncles, heals malignant sores, and treats women dreaming of intercourse with spirits. The velvet and antler of the elk have similar effects but are hotter in nature. They specifically tonify Yang. There are four types involving elk antlers and velvet, all using Eucommiae Cortex (Duzhong, 杜仲) as a guiding herb, and they are incompatible with Rheae Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang, 大黄).
Commentary: Lu Rong is a salty and warm substance; where else would it go but the Kidney? Although its efficacy is profound, it must be used for patients with a deep and fine pulse. It is only suitable for those with deficient and declining Ministerial Fire. If used by those with excess heat, what difference is there from carrying firewood to put out a fire? The same applies to the antler, especially that of the elk. The elk sheds its antlers at the Winter Solstice, thus belonging to Yang; the deer sheds its antlers at the Summer Solstice, thus belonging to Yin. Their nature is hot, hence their action is rapid. Generally speaking, among blood-bearing creatures, flesh grows easily while horns grow with difficulty. Only these two types of velvet can grow to twelve jin in less than two months, becoming hard as stone. No other growth is as miraculous. Moreover, the horns of most beasts do not change throughout life, whereas this type changes once a year. This is likely because its nature is hot, promoting endless generation; as the old does not fall off, the new follows. The transformation of Qi into dense marrow is unparalleled. The sages' enthusiastic description of its merits is well-founded.
Lei Gong stated: When processing, first grind Tian Ling Gai (Calvaria Humana, human skull cap) into powder. Then saw the Lu Rong into slices. Mix the Tian Ling Gai powder with good Mutton Fat (Yangzhi, 羊脂) and coat it onto the Lu Rong slices. Roast slowly over low heat until both inside and outside turn yellow and brittle. Wrap in Deer Skin and leave in a room overnight to allow the "spirit" of the medicine to return. The next day, bake slowly over low heat until brittle, then crush into powder. For every five liang of Lu Rong, use three liang of Mutton Fat, roasting until fully absorbed. Another method involves soaking in the natural juice of Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai, 黄柏) for two days and nights, draining, baking dry, crushing, and filtering to prevent thirst. Deer Antler is superior to Elk Antler. Choose deer antler that is yellow, tight, and heavy. This is because such deer eat spiritual herbs, distinguishing them from ordinary deer. The root of the Elk Antler has yellow hairs like golden threads and small lateral spikes; those with a pale white color are superior. An annotation citing Gan Ning Ji states: This occurs because the deer plays with dragons. After harvesting, select antlers marked with gold ornaments and three cun long. Saw them open, place in a container, and soak in fast-flowing water for one hundred days. Remove, scrape off the rough outer layer with a knife, wash thoroughly with water. Then boil in strong vinegar for seven days, adding vinegar continuously without stopping. Do not apply direct fire at the end; simply process from Zi hour to Xu hour over seven days. The antler becomes white and soft like powder. Crush finely into powder, then boil in Non-fermented Wine (Wuhui Jiu, 无灰酒) to make glue. Dry the glue in the shade, grind repeatedly, and sieve before use.
For ten liang of processed material, boil in one cup of Non-fermented Wine until dry. Sun Simiao stated: Deer meat can resolve drug toxicity but should not be taken for a long time, as it consumes detoxifying herbs. Meng Shen stated: It primarily benefits Qi. One should not smell it, as there are tiny white insects within the velvet, invisible to the naked eye. If inhaled into the nose, they cause nasal myiasis ("worm throat"), rendering the medicinal effect useless.