The pangolin, also known as the scaly anteater, is a second-class protected animal in China. The medicinal part of the pangolin is its scales, which have the functions of promoting blood circulation, relieving blood stasis, regulating menstruation and promoting lactation, reducing swelling and draining pus, and unblocking meridians and collaterals. It is commonly used to treat various conditions such as blood stasis, postpartum insufficient lactation, rheumatic pain, stroke paralysis, and common skin ulcers.
Promoting Blood Circulation
The pangolin can effectively reduce whole blood viscosity and significantly reduce platelet adhesion. It can also improve red blood cell deformability, enhance red blood cell electrophoretic velocity, and has anticoagulant effects.
Promoting Lactation
The pangolin can regulate qi and blood circulation and is good at promoting lactation. It is very effective in treating postpartum insufficient lactation.
Relieving Rheumatic Pain
The pangolin has the ability to move through the organs and meridians, activate blood circulation, and remove blood stasis. It can be used to treat joint discomfort, numbness, and spasms caused by meridian blockages and rheumatic conditions.
Reducing Swelling and Draining Pus
The pangolin can promote blood circulation, dissolve abscesses, and reduce swelling and drain pus. It can disperse abscesses that have not yet formed and speed up the rupture of formed abscesses, making it a commonly used medicine for treating ulcers and swelling.
Improving Cardiovascular Function
The pangolin can significantly increase coronary blood flow, reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, and increase myocardial contractility. It has a good effect on maintaining the vitality of myocardial cells. Additionally, the pangolin can effectively reduce vascular resistance and dilate blood vessels.
Anti-inflammatory Effects
The pangolin contains volatile oils, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which have excellent anti-inflammatory effects. It has a certain effect in eliminating acute and chronic inflammation.
Improving Tolerance to Hypoxia
The pangolin has a certain inhibitory effect on lethal doses of potassium cyanide. It has a protective effect on tissue hypoxia caused by potassium cyanide and can help improve tolerance to hypoxia under decompression and normal pressure.
Nutritional Value of Pangolin
Pangolin scales contain 17 trace elements including stearic acid, cholesterol, zinc, sodium, titanium, and calcium. The aqueous solution contains 16 free amino acids, as well as volatile oils and water-soluble alkaloids.
1. The decoction of pangolin scales can significantly prolong blood clotting time and reduce blood viscosity.
2. The aqueous-alcoholic extract of pangolin scales has a direct vasodilating effect, reducing peripheral resistance and significantly increasing blood flow in the femoral artery.
3. Both the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of pangolin scales have significant anti-inflammatory effects. The aqueous extract also has anti-myocardial hypoxia and white blood cell enhancing effects.
Methods of Consuming Pangolin
Treating Postpartum Insufficient Lactation
The pangolin is effective in promoting lactation. Take 30 grams of pangolin scales, 15 grams of Herba Epimedii (a traditional Chinese herb), wash them, wrap them in gauze, and stew them with a pair of pig trotters until well-cooked. Season with ginger, scallions, and salt before consumption.
Treating Hot Toxic Red Swelling and Pain
The pangolin has the function of promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling, while Honeysuckle Flower has the ability to clear heat and detoxify. When used together, they complement each other in clearing heat and detoxification, as well as promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling. It can be used to treat early-stage hot toxic abscesses, redness, swelling, and pain.
Treating Amenorrhea
The pangolin can promote blood circulation and resolve blood stasis, while Peach Kernel, which also has the function of promoting blood circulation, can work on long-standing amenorrhea caused by blood coagulation and stagnation, when other medicines are not effective.
Treating Anal Abscess
The pangolin can promote blood circulation, reduce swelling, and drain pus, while Zaojiaoci (a traditional Chinese herb) has the function of detoxification and reducing swelling. When used together, they can promote the rupture of abscesses, working synergistically. It is used for abscesses that have formed but have not yet ruptured, as in the case of Toulousan.
Precautions for Consuming Pangolin
Suitable Population
1. Pangolin can promote blood circulation, resolve blood stasis, and regulate menstruation, suitable for use in patients with blood stasis and amenorrhea.
2. Pangolin has a strong lactation-promoting effect, suitable for use in postpartum women with insufficient lactation.
3. Pangolin can reduce swelling and drain pus, suitable for use in the early stage of ulcers and swelling, before abscess rupture.
4. Pangolin is good at unblocking meridians and collaterals, suitable for use in patients with stroke paralysis and rheumatism.
Contraindications
1. Pangolin has a good effect in reducing swelling and draining pus, but it is not suitable for use when abscesses have already ruptured.
2. Pangolin has a strong blood-activating effect and is not suitable for use in pregnant women and children.
