E Jiao

English Name: ass-hide gelatin

Pharmaceutical Name: Colla Corii Asini

Medica Category: Blood-Tonifying Herbs

Properties: E Jiao enters the Lung, Liver, and Kidney channels; it is sweet in nature and neutral in temperature.

What is E Jiao?:

The Chinese Herb E Jiao is gelatin comprising collagen and proteins present in the skin and bones of various animals. Traditionally E Jiao was obtained by boiling down the hide of an ass (Equus asinus L.) but in modern times is derived from cooking down the hides, bones, and tissues of various animals.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of E Jiao:

E Jiao tonifies blood and stops bleeding and is used to address various gynecological disorders (such as irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and uterine bleeding) as well as more general presentations of blood deficiency (such as anemia) which present clinically with sallow/pale complexion, brittle/pale nails, dizziness, and vertigo.

E Jiao stops bleeding caused by yin deficiency and is used to address such clinical conditions as hematemesis, hematochezia/bleeding hemorrhoids, hematuria, uterine bleeding, bleeding during pregnancy, epistaxis, and bleeding gums. The charred form of E Jiao is preferred for this action.

E Jiao is sweet in nature and neutral in temperature travels to the Lung channel where it is quite effective in its action to tonify Lung yin to address dryness caused by chronic respiratory disorders (e.g. chronic cough and asthma) and other environmental factors.

E Jiao moistens the intestines and promotes bowel movement when deficient body fluids/yin causes dry stools and constipation (e.g. in anemic or elderly persons, or those recovering from a long illness).

–safety/clinical notes:

Use with caution in persons with Spleen/Stomach deficiency patterns.

Not suitable for persons with phlegm or damp accumulations.