Ge Jie – Gecko – Gecko

Ge Jie

English Name: gecko

Pharmaceutical Name: Gecko

Medica Category: Yang-Tonifying Herbs

Properties: Ge Jie enters the Lung and Kidney channels; it is salty in nature and neutral in temperature.

What is Ge Jie?:

The Chinese Herb Ge Jie is the dried body of the Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) with the internal organs removed.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Ge Jie:

Ge Jie tonifies Lung qi and is used to address chronic respiratory disorders that are characterized by both Lung and Kidney deficiencies. Clinically this can present as chronic cough, wheezing/labored breathing (esp. difficulty on inhalation), consumptive cough (w/blood-streaked sputum), spontaneous sweating, gasping for breath while trying to talk, weakness of lower back and knees.

Ge Jie tonifies Kidney yang and jing (essence) and tonifies blood to address impotence, daybreak diarrhea and urinary frequency due to Kidney yang deficiency.

–safety/clinical notes:

Contraindicated for those with wheezing and coughing due to external wind invasion or due to excess heat.