Greenlife chinese herb database

Greenlife Chinese herb database - Pangolin Scales

Latin Name

Squama Manitis

Chinese Name

Picture

Origin

The drug consists of the scale of the vertebrate Manis Pentadactula L. (family Manidae). The scale is heated with not sand till it vecomes loose and turens brown for medication.

Distribution

It is mainly produced in Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan, Guizhong, Hunan, Zhejiang, Sichuan.

Nature and Affinity

This drug is salty in taste and slightly cold in nature, and is distributed to the Liver and Stomach Channels.

Caution

This drug is contraindicated in pregnant women.

	ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
	1.Subduing swelling and evacuating pus This drug can be used to treat initial swelling or pus without diabrosis, etc. This drug is characterized by ever moving and therefore the drug effect may run along the channels to reach the diseased area. In treating initial swelling, the drug can subdue swelling and in treating pus, the drug can cause diabrosis and evacuation of pus. The drug is often used in combination with Spina Geditsiae, Flos Lonicerae,Resina Boswelliae Carterii, Resina Commiphorae Myrrhae, etc. 2.Restoring menstrual flow and promoting milk secretion In treating Galactostasis, the drug powder can be taken with millet wine (6g as a dose, twice a day), or the drug can be used in combination with Semen Vaccariae, Herba Dianthi, etc. In treating amenorrhea due to stasis of blood, the drug can be used in combination with drug for removing blood stasis and restoring menstrual flow, such as Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Flos Carthami, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, ect. In addition, the drug can also be used to treat arthralgia due to wind-dampness and contracture of limbs, and is often used in combination with Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Rhizoma seu Radix Notopeteygii, Radix Ledebouriellae,etc..
	ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
	Usually, 5--9g of the drug is used in decoction. The drug can also be ground into powder and taken orally (1--1.5g as a dose). The drug powder taken orally is better in effect.
	REMARKS
	The drug promotes growth of white blood cells, which have been shown to produce the potent curative agent interferon.