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Kingdom: Animal

Origin in unofficial sources: Panthera tigris L.

Use: Medicinal

Properties: Acrid; warm; nontoxic.^✽

Channel entry: Liver and kidney channels.

Actions and indications: Chases wind and settles pain; fortifies the bones, and settles fright. Treats joint-running wind (lì jié fēng) pain; hypertonicity of the limbs; limp lumbus and knees; fright palpitation; epilepsy; hemorrhoids and fistulas; prolapse of the rectum.

Dosage and method: Oral: Decoct (9–15g), steep in wine, or use in pills and powders.

Warnings: Contraindicated in exuberant blood vacuity fire.

Product description: Distinction is made between the limb bones and the skull and spine. The limb bones and skull are preferred, and the patella of the male animal, called tiger's Hǔ jìng gǔ (虎胫骨 Tigris Patella, tiger’s kneecap), is considered the best. On the forelimbs, close to the socket at the lower end of the humerus is a slit called the phoenix eye. On the hind limbs, the fibula is characteristically very thin. The limb bones are yellow brown in color with longitudinal markings, are smooth to the touch. On the transverse section, the bones are blackish yellow in color and hollow, with reticulate fiber stuck to the cavity wall.

Quality: Heavy solid bones that saw smoothly, and reveal a small cavity containing luffa-like tissue are the best. The absence of any attached flesh is also a mark of good quality.

Production area: Manchuria and southern China.

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