Shenjingzi is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It consists of bladder stones from animals of the Bovidae family: the domestic cattle (Bos taurus domesticus Gmelin), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalia Linnaeus), or domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica Brisson). Domestic cattle are raised throughout the country. Water buffalo are raised in most regions of the country, particularly in the southern rice-growing areas. Domestic pigs are raised nationwide. It has the therapeutic effects of dissolving stones and promoting urination. It is used to treat urinary tract stones.
Kidney Essence
Shenjingzi is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It consists of bladder stones from animals of the Bovidae family: the domestic cattle (Bos taurus domesticus Gmelin), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalia Linnaeus), or domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica Brisson). Domestic cattle are raised throughout the country. Water buffalo are raised in most regions of the country, particularly in the southern rice-growing areas. Domestic pigs are raised nationwide. It has the therapeutic effects of dissolving stones and promoting urination. It is used to treat urinary tract stones.
Chinese Name : 肾精子
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Taste: sweet and bland; nature: neutral. Enters the Bladder Meridian
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Dissolves stones and promotes urination.
Indications
Used for urinary tract stones.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Decocted as a soup, 1–3 g.
Relevant Discussions
*Compendium of Medicinal Animals of China*: “Promotes urination and relieves dysuria. Primarily used to treat urinary tract stones.”
Applications
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
When slaughtering cattle or pigs, inspect the bladder; if stones are found inside, remove them, wash them thoroughly, and air-dry them.
Processing Methods
Take the raw material, remove impurities, and sift out ash and debris.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The stones are oval or spherical in shape, varying in size. The surface is off-white, dark yellow, or golden brown, smooth and lustrous. They are light in weight and firm in texture.
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
1. Yellow cattle: Body length 1.5–2 m; average weight around 280 kg. They have a robust and sturdy build, with a large head and broad forehead, a wide nose, and a large mouth. The upper lip features two large nostrils; the skin between them is hard, smooth, and hairless, known as the nasal mirror. The eyes and ears are both relatively large.They have a pair of horns on their head, set apart on either side. The length and size of the horns vary by breed; they are curved, unbranched, hollow, and contain bony horn marrow. The limbs are well-proportioned, with four toes, each equipped with a hoof; the rear two toes do not touch the ground and are called “suspended hooves.” The tail is relatively long, with a tuft of hair at the tip. The coat is mostly yellow, without any mixed hair.2. Water buffalo: Their bodies are larger and stouter than those of domestic cattle, reaching lengths of over 2.5 meters. Their horns are long, large, and flat, with numerous grooves on the surface. They have short necks and prominent loins and abdomens. Their limbs are relatively short, and their hooves are large. Their skin is thick and lacks sweat glands; their coat is coarse and short, denser on the front of the body and sparser on the back, chest, and abdomen. Their coat is mostly grayish-black, though some are yellowish-brown or white.3. Pigs, also known as: shǐ, xī, tún, or zhì. There are numerous pig breeds—more than 150—with varying physical characteristics. Their basic features include a stocky body and a large head. Both the nose and snout are long and curve slightly upward.The eyes are small. Some have large, drooping ears, while others have smaller, forward-pointing ears. The limbs are short, with four toes; the front two have hooves, and the rear two have dewclaws. The neck is thick, with sparse mane-like hair on the nape and back. The tail is short, with a tuft of hair at the tip. Coat colors include solid black, solid white, or a mix of black and white.