Greenlife chinese herb database

Greenlife Chinese herb database - Hairy Antler

Latin Name

Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum

Chinese Name

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Origin

Medicinal pilose antlers are the un-ossified pilose young horns of the male deer, sika or red deer (Cervus Nippon Temminck or Cervus Elaphus Linnaeus), Cervidae. Pilose antlers can be classified into two kinds: the pilose antlers of the sika (deer) and the pilose antlers of the red deer.

Distribution

Pilose antlers o fthe sika (Cervus nippon Temminck) are mainly produced in Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei provinces and Tianjin Municipality; the pilose antlers of the red deer (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus) are chiefly produced in Heilongjiang, Qinghai provinces and Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous regions.

Nature and Affinity

The medicine is sweet and salty in taste and warm in nature. Its therapeutic action is related to the Channels of the Kidney and Liver.

Caution

Start with small dosage of this medicine, increase the dosage slowly thereafter, so as to avoid side-effects manifested as dizziness and conjunctival congestion or symptoms of impairment of yin. Do not prescribe this medicine for those who have excess of yang due to deficiency of yin, excess of yang due to deficiency of yin, excess heat in the blood system, excessiveness of stomach-fire, accumulation of phlegm and heat in the lung, exopathic and febrile diseases

	CHARACTERISTICS
	1.Pilose Antlers of the Sika These pilose antlers have a cylinder-shaped main trunk with one branch (usually called "one-branch fork") or two branches (usually called two-branch fork). Those that are bulky, round in the cross section of the main trunk, full-grown at the tip, tender in texture, fine and close in pilose, brownish-red in colour, plump and glossy in the surface are better. (1)One-branch-fork antler Its main trunk is 17-20cm in length, 4-5cm in diameter (at the amputation section). The branch is thinner than the main trunk at the point from which it is 2cm to the amputation section of the main trunk. Its surface is brown or reddish-brown in colour, smooth and glossy, yellowish-red or yellowish-brown in pilose, with finer and closer fur in the upper part of the antler. There is a greyish-dark fascia at the junction of the main trunk and the branch. The amputation section is whitish-yellow in colour, not ossified in periphery, and has many fine holes in the centre. The one-branch-fork antler is light in weight, slightly salty in taste. (2)Two-branch fork antler. The main trunk is 13-33cm in length, thinner in diameter than that of the one-branch fork antler, slightly bow-shaped and flat. The upper end of the main trunk is much thinner while the lower part has ridges and lumps. The two branch fork antlers are yellowish-red in the surface and have sparse, rough hair. 2.Pilose Antlers of the Red Deer These pilose antlers are bulkier with more branches. Special names are given to the pilose antlers of the red deer: the one having one branch is called Dan Men; the one having two branches, called Lian hua; the one having three branches, called San Ca; the one having four branches, called Si Ca. Those produced in the north-east provinces are called east pilose antlers of the red deer, while those produced in the northwest provinces, called west pilose antlers of the red deer. Those which are fuller in appearance, lighter in weight, greyish-brown in hair, and have no ridges in the lower part are better. (1) East pilose antlers of the red deer a.One-branch pilose antlers:The main trunk is 25-27cm in length, 3cm in diameter. The skin is greyish-black, and the pilose is greyish-brown or yellowish-grey. The periphery of the amputation section is thicker and greyish-black in colour, and there are fine holes in the central part of the section. It is tender in texture. b.Two-branch pilose antlers: The main trunk, with longitudinal ridges in the surface of the lower part, is about 33cm in length. The holes on the amputation section are bigger than those of the one-branch pilose antlers. c.Three-branch pilose antlers: These antlers are darker in colour and tougher in texture. d.Four-branch pilose antlers: The hair is rough and sparse, th elower part of the main trunk has ridges and lumps, the upper ends of the branches have no hair. (2)West pilose antlers of the red deer The main trunk is 30-100cm in length, the section of which is often not round. The surface, with ridges clearlly seen, is usually dry and shrunk. The branches are long and curved. The hair is longer and rougher, grey or greyish-black in colour. The amputation section, in which bony structure is seen, is darker in colour. West pilose antlers of the red deer are stench in odor, salty in taste. Most of the pilose antlers are amputated when the deer is still alive. Such pilose antlers are called amputated pilose antlers. Some pilose antlers are chopped off, with the skull attached, this is done when the deer is already dead. Such pilose antlers are called chopped pilose antlers. The shape of these pilose antlers is the same as that of amputated pilose antlers. It is smooth on the front part of the cranial bone. On both sides of the hinder part of the cranial bone, there are a pair of arc bones, which are customarily called Hu Ra. There are cerebral cortices attached outside with dense hair.
	ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
	1.Replenishing the kidney-yang. The medicine is used to treat syndromes of insufficiency of the kidney-yang manifested as intolerance of cold, cold extremities, impotence, premature ejaculation, sterility due to cold uterus, frequent micturition, sore in the loins and legs, dizziness, tinnitus, mental fatigue, etc. 2.Replenishing the vital essence and blood, strengthening the bones and muscles. It is efficacious in the treatment of insufficiency of essence and blood, weakness of muscles and bones, maldevelopment of children infantile metopism, etc. 3.Regulating chong and ren channels and reinforcing the dai channel. It is efficacious in the treatment of insufficiency-type cold of the chong and ren channels and run away of the dai channel manifested as metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, abundant leukorrhea, etc. 4.Warming and promoting pus discharge. It is efficacious in the treatment of protracted skin and external diseases, deep seated abscess of yin type etc.
	ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
	Pure powder for oral use, 1-2 grams daily, there times a day. It can be mixed with other drugs and prepared into pills or powder.
	REMARKS
	This is one of the most renowned and popular sexual tonics in the ben cao; the best is tender new horn still in velvet with the dried blood still visible in the cartilage; the most potent essence is obtained by drinking the fresh blood and secretions directly from the freshly cut horn.