Individual Herbs Notebook

E Jiao

Pharmaceutical: Colla Corii Asini

Other names: Donkey-Hide Gelatin / Ass-Hide Glue

Category: Herbs that Tonify Blood



Properties: Sweet, neutral

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung, Liver, Kidney and Heart
Extraordinary Vessels: Ren


Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Tonifies the Blood
    Blood Deficiency with dizziness, sallow or pale complexion and palpitations
  2. Nourishes the Blood and stops bleeding
    Any kind of bleeding, especially consumptive disorders with hemoptysis, hemafecia, menorrhagia or metrorrhagia
  3. Nourishes and moistens Yin
    Yin Deficiency with irritability and insomnia in the aftermath of a Warm febrile disease
  4. Moistens the Lungs and Large Intestine
    Dry Lung coughs due to Yin Deficiency or consumption

Suggested Daily Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.


Cautions: It should be used with cautions for spleen and stomach deficiency, poor appetite, loose stool due to spleen deficiency because it is greasy and will produce indigestion.

Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It may be substituted with a variety of Blood and Yin tonics depending on the formula, or gelatin from other animal sources such as pigs or cows included as dietary advice, provided it is not supplied by the herbalist as part of the prescription.


Appears in 29 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)