Goatskin is the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the skin of the mountain goat (Capra hircus Linnaeus) or the sheep (Ovis aries Linnaeus), both members of the Bovidae family. It has the effects of tonifying deficiency, removing blood stasis, and reducing swelling. It is primarily used to treat debility and weakness due to deficiency, deficiency of lung and spleen qi, swelling and pain from trauma, and bleeding caused by poisonous insects.
Goatskin
Goatskin is the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the skin of the mountain goat (Capra hircus Linnaeus) or the sheep (Ovis aries Linnaeus), both members of the Bovidae family. It has the effects of tonifying deficiency, removing blood stasis, and reducing swelling. It is primarily used to treat debility and weakness due to deficiency, deficiency of lung and spleen qi, swelling and pain from trauma, and bleeding caused by poisonous insects.
Chinese Name : 羊皮
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Sweet in taste, warm in nature
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Tonifies deficiency, removes blood stasis, and reduces swelling.
Indications
Consumptive weakness and emaciation; deficiency of lung and spleen qi; swelling and pain from trauma; and bleeding caused by poisonous insects.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Take an appropriate amount to make a soup; or burn until charred, grind into powder, and take 6–9 g per dose. External use: Apply an appropriate amount as a poultice.
Chemical Constituents
Goat or sheep skin contains water, protein, fat, and inorganic substances, with the latter two present in very small amounts. The protein constituting the epidermis is primarily keratin; the dermis is mainly composed of collagen and reticulin, and also contains elastin, albumin, globulin, and mucoprotein, among others. The epidermis often contains melanin, which is a metabolic product of tyrosine.Reticulin is the primary protein constituting the reticular tissue; together with collagen, it forms the majority of the skin. The fat content of goatskin is comparable to that of other animals (such as cattle), but sheepskin has a particularly high fat content.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Dietary Therapy Materia Medica*: “Remove the hair and boil it into a soup to treat debility and exhaustion. Boil it into a stew and eat it to dispel all types of wind and treat wind-induced weakness in the legs.”
2. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Lie on damp skin to disperse swelling caused by blows or injuries. Burn dry skin and ingest the ash to treat poison from witchcraft and bloody diarrhea.”
Applications
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
The skin is removed when the sheep is slaughtered and used fresh or dried.
Crude Drug Identification
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
1. Goat: Body length 1–1.2 m, weight 10–35 kg. Long head, short neck, large ears, and a narrow, elongated muzzle. Both males and females have a pair of horns on the forehead, with males having larger horns; the base of the horns is slightly triangular, the tips curve slightly backward, and the horns are hollow with a horny texture, featuring ring-like patterns on the surface or tubercles on the front. Males have a long, tufted beard under the jaw.The limbs are slender, and the tail is short and does not hang down much. The entire body is covered with coarse, straight, short hair, and coat colors vary widely, including white, black, gray, and black-and-white patterns. 2. Sheep: Sheep were among the earliest domesticated livestock. Their body weight varies by breed, ranging from a minimum of 20 kg to a maximum of 150–200 kg. Physical characteristics also vary widely. In some breeds, both males and females have horns; in others, neither has horns;in others, only the males have horns. Horn shape and tail structure also vary by breed. The coat of breeds closer to their wild ancestors consists of two layers: an outer layer of coarse hair that repels rain, and an inner layer of fine undercoat that retains heat. However, improved breeds retain only the inner undercoat. There is a gland between the two toes of the front and hind limbs, opening toward the front. They also possess tear glands.
Distribution Area
1. Goats: Found throughout the country. 2. Sheep: Found almost everywhere in the country, with the highest concentrations in the northern and northwestern regions.