Tonify Yang: Ge Jie

蛤蚧 ge jie

ge = clam
jie = red spotted lizard used in medicine

gecko

NEUTRAL
SALTY

Lung and Kidney

low dosage: 1 - 2 grams

The Gecko is an animal that is farmed or captured and killed for use as a yang tonic. This is less disturbing to me than Lu Rong, because I think the Gecko probably suffers less in the process. Still, as a former vegan, and future acupuncturist, I feel that we should try to solve our problems by way of doing as little harm as possible - to all creatures.

Gecko is also very expensive, but not as pricey as Lu Rong. Being that the prime indication for Ge Jie is asthma (tonifies Lung qi and assists the Kidney yang - when Kidneys are failing to grasp Lung qi), and not impotence, it makes sense that Ge Jie would be cheaper.

Still, through assisting the Kidney yang, and augmenting the essence and blood, Ge Jie can also be used for impotence, and other problems of Kidney yang deficiency, such as daybreak diarrhea and urinary frequency.

Ge Jie is used with Ren Shen for asthma. Ren Shen tonifies the qi, and Ge Jie reinforces the grasping of the qi (because it functions in both the Lung and Kidney meridians).

Ge Jie is contraindicated in external cough.

(on a side note to the cruelty lecture, there is something called "Dui Ge Jie" -- this is "coupled Gecko." In other words the medicine is made from two Geckos murdered while mating, which is said to be the "best medicine for enhancing sexual function.")