Huàn yóu, also known as badger oil, is a type of oil derived from the fat of the badger (Meles meles Linnaeus), a member of the mustelid family. It is mentioned in the book "Bencao Shi Yi". During winter, the badgers are captured, slaughtered, and then skinned. The subcutaneous fat and the fat on the intestinal mesentery are extracted and placed in a pot, where they are boiled down into a pale yellow-colored oil, with the oil residues filtered out.
[Processing Method] Take the raw material, remove impurities, place it in a boiling pot, heat it, melt it, filter it, and let it cool.
[Medicinal Properties] It is a thick, oily liquid. It has a pale yellow or brownish-yellow color and a semi-transparent, greasy texture. It is insoluble in water and has a distinctive odor and a mild taste.
[Processing Effects] Huàn yóu has a sweet and mild taste and is considered neutral in nature. It has the functions of tonifying the middle energizer, nourishing the Qi, moisturizing the skin and promoting tissue regeneration, as well as detoxifying and reducing swelling. It is used for conditions such as deficient Qi, uterine prolapse, anemia, hemoptysis, gastric ulcers, hemiplegia, joint pain, hemorrhoids, scrofula, scabies, alopecia areata, burns, scalds, and frostbite. For example, it is used in a burn ointment for treating scalds and burns (as stated in "Drug Standards: Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulations"); it is used in combination with eggs to treat uterine prolapse ("Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine"); and it is used externally for treating frostbite ("Guangxi Medicinal Animals").
