The efficacy and function of ox horn (horn)

For any kind of medicinal material, only when we understand its main ingredients can we bring its efficacy and function into better play. Here I recommend a very popular Chinese medicinal material - ox horn (Jiao Si).

【English name】 osteoid marrow in ox horn, osteoid marrow in buffalo horn

[Other names] Ox horn embryo, ox horn bamboo shoot

[Source] Medicinal material source: The bone horn marrow in the horns of cattle or buffalo.

[Original form] 1. Yellow cattle, body length 1.5-2m, weight generally around 280kg. It has a strong and solid physique, a large head and forehead, a wide nose and mouth, two large nostrils above the upper lip, and the skin between the bases is hard, smooth and hairless, which is called the nose. The eyes and ears are relatively large. There is a pair of horns on the head, separated to the left and right. The length and size of the horns vary with the species. The horns are curved and have no branches. They are hollow and contain bony horn marrow. The limbs are symmetrical, four-way, and all have hoofs. The two hind toes do not touch the ground and are called hanging hooves. The tail is relatively long, with a tuft of hair at the end. The hair is mostly yellow without any other hair mixed in.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: 1. It has a docile character and grows quickly. Eats plant-based feed.

[Properties] Identification of properties: This product is conical in shape, slightly curved, with a thick base and gradually pointed upper part, 15cm long and about 5cm in bottom diameter. The surface is rough, grayish white or grayish yellow, covered with bone pores, and has a few shallow longitudinal grooves. Hard texture. The cross section is hollow, the outer wall is about 6mm thick, grayish white, relatively delicate, and the inner layer has coarse medullary tissue. It has a slightly fishy smell and a light taste.

【Chemical composition】 Contains calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, etc.

[Preparation] Raw ox horn gills: Wash the ox horn gills, cut them into small strips, dry them in the sun and dew until there is no fishy smell, and then dry them in the sun. Stir-fried ox horn gill: first fry the sand in a pan until hot, then add the raw ox horn gill and stir-fry until it turns yellow, take it out, sieve out the sand, and let it cool.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; must be warm

【Meridian】 Liver; Kidney

【Functions and indications】Removing blood stasis and stopping bleeding; astringing and stopping dysentery. Mainly used for pain caused by blood stasis; vomiting blood; epistaxis; bloody stool caused by intestinal wind; metrorrhagia; leucorrhea; dysentery with red and white stool; watery diarrhea; edema

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 6-15g; or made into pills or powder. For external use: apply appropriate amount and mix with burnt ash.

[Discussions by various schools] 1. "Ben Jing": blood retention, blood stasis and pain, and leucorrhea in women.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above introduces some basic knowledge about Niu Jiao (Jiao Si). I believe many people will have a better understanding of Niu Jiao (Jiao Si) after reading it. There are many other medicinal herbs that we often come into contact with in our daily lives. If you have time, you might as well learn more about them.