A gelatin is also known as "pen cover glue" or "donkey skin glue". It is made from the skin of donkeys, a member of the horse family, after the hair is removed and boiled. It is mainly produced in Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and other regions.
Health benefits of gelatin
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, gelatin has a sweet and mild nature, and it is sticky and astringent. It can not only nourish the blood and stop bleeding but also nourish Yin and moisturize the lungs. It is used to treat various bleeding diseases such as coughing up blood, bleeding in the stool, and vomiting blood, as well as to improve symptoms such as dizziness and weakness after blood loss. It is also used to treat conditions such as cough due to lung deficiency, insufficient Yin and blood, and restlessness. According to Western medical research, gelatin has a good blood-nourishing effect. In experimental observations on animals, gelatin has been found to be more effective in increasing hemoglobin and red blood cell growth rate than iron supplements. It has a counteracting effect against shock caused by blood loss and can prevent and treat progressive nutritional myopathy. It can also promote calcium absorption and maintain calcium balance. Gelatin has a stimulating effect on the transformation of lymphocytes in healthy individuals. It can dilate blood vessels, especially veins, and has compensatory expansion effect. It significantly increases platelet count and has a role in preventing leakage of blood vessels with increased permeability.
Consult a doctor for proper supplementation
The reported effects of gelatin in Western medical research are sometimes limited to animal experimentation. For patients with diabetes, if they have symptoms such as anemia, palpitations, dry cough, coughing up blood, and postpartum blood deficiency, it is recommended to use gelatin under the guidance of a physician. A traditional Chinese medicine dietary formula can be prepared using 3 grams of coptis, 6 grams of white peony root, 5 grams of gelatin, and 1 egg. Boil coptis and white peony root in 500 milliliters of water, remove the residue, add gelatin to dissolve, and mix well with the egg yolk. Take it before bedtime for 7 consecutive days. It is used for diabetes complicated with insomnia, characterized by hyperactivity of heart fire and deficiency of heart blood; it has the effects of nourishing blood, calming the mind, clearing heat, and eliminating fire. If a diabetic patient does not have the above symptoms, gelatin does not need to be used. Traditional Chinese medicine refers to diabetes as "Xiao Ke" disease, which is divided into three types: upper, middle, and lower. Treatment methods often involve nourishing fluids, clearing heat, moisturizing the lungs, clearing the stomach, nourishing Yin, and tonifying the kidneys. Therefore, the choice of Chinese medicine and dietary therapy should be based on the specific syndrome and not blindly supplemented. When necessary, it is advisable to seek advice from a nutritionist.
