Snow Pig Bone
Snow pig bone is a traditional Chinese medicine. Himalayan marmots are found in Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet and other regions. Gray marmots are distributed in the northern part of Xinjiang. Steppe marmots are found in eastern Inner Mongolia and the northern part of Xinjiang. Long-tailed marmots are found in western and southern Xinjiang. Snow pig bone has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, and promoting blood circulation. It is commonly used for rheumatism and numbness in the limbs.
Animal Morphology
1. Himalayan Marmot
The Himalayan marmot is a large ground-dwelling squirrel. It has a body length of 46-58cm and weighs 3-6kg. It has a thick and short neck, short and round ears. The tail is flat and short, about 13cm long, not exceeding twice the length of the hind limbs. The limbs are strong, with the thumb of the front paws degenerated and small claws, and the other 4 toes have long and curved claws, with shorter claws on the hind paws. The side of the snout is light brown with black whiskers.
The back of the nose has black or dark brown spots. There is a distinct black stripe above the eye socket. The top of the head is a mixture of black and brown, and the sides to the base of the ear are light yellow.
The back is a mix of brown and irregular black stripes, with the middle part of the fur pale and the tip black. The throat, chest, abdomen, and limbs are all light yellow, and the underfur is all gray-black. The buttocks are dark brownish-yellow. The tail fur is similar in color to the body, with the tip being black. Juveniles have lighter colors than adults.
2. Gray Marmot
The gray marmot is similar in size and morphology to the Himalayan marmot, but the ventral side has a darker tone, appearing dark brownish-yellow or slate brown. It has a body length of 46-54cm and weighs 4-6kg. It has short and small ears and thick short claws. The tail is shorter, 13-15cm long, less than 1/3 of the body length. The back of the body is light yellow or sandy yellow, mixed with black or dark brown. The snout, cheeks, and under the ears are deep brownish-brown. The ears are sandy yellow. The tail is similar in color to the body, but the tip of the tail is blackish-brown.
3. Steppe Marmot
The steppe marmot is small, with a length of about 36-49cm and weighs 3-4kg. The tail is 11-12cm long, about twice the length of the hind limbs. The back of the body is light brown or light rust color, mixed with light white, without any blackish-brown. The forehead and top of the head are pure brown. The ears are light orange-yellow. The ventral side is brownish-brown, with the base of the fur being dark brown. The tail is dark brown, with a rusty brown tip.
Applications of Snow Pig Bone
1. Treatment of Rheumatism
① 50g of snow pig bone, 20g of Qinjiao, 15g of Songjie, and 10g of Weilingxian. Soak them in 1000ml of rice wine, and drink 15ml of the wine twice a day after one month. (From "Common Medicinal Animals")
② 25g of snow pig bone, 15g of Qinjiao, 15g of Sangjisheng, 12g of Qianghuo, 12g of Niuxi, 12g of Baizhu, 12g of Bajitian, 10g of Mugua, and 10g of Gouteng. Soak them in wine and take them orally. (From "Chinese Animal Materia Medica")
2. Treatment of Numbness in Limbs
Grind 20g of snow pig bone into powder and soak it in wine. Drink it daily. (From "Common Medicinal Animals")
