Leopard meat, a name for a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It refers to the meat of the leopard (Panthera pardus Linnaeus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa (Griffith)), and snow leopard (Uncia uncia Schreber), all members of the Felidae family. It is believed to nourish the five internal organs, tonify qi and blood, and strengthen tendons and bones. It is primarily used to treat qi deficiency and physical weakness, flaccid tendons and bones, and timidity and mental exhaustion.
Leopard Meat
Leopard meat, a name for a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It refers to the meat of the leopard (Panthera pardus Linnaeus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa (Griffith)), and snow leopard (Uncia uncia Schreber), all members of the Felidae family. It is believed to nourish the five internal organs, tonify qi and blood, and strengthen tendons and bones. It is primarily used to treat qi deficiency and physical weakness, flaccid tendons and bones, and timidity and mental exhaustion.
Chinese Name : 豹肉
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Taste: sweet and sour; nature: warm; enters the Liver, Kidney, and Gallbladder meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
It nourishes the five viscera, tonifies qi and blood, and strengthens tendons and bones.
Indications
Qi deficiency and physical weakness; flaccid tendons and bones; timidity and mental exhaustion.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Boil and eat in appropriate amounts.
Relevant Discussions
1. *The Supplementary Records*: “It stabilizes the five viscera, heals severe injuries, lightens the body, and boosts qi.”
2. *Thousand Gold: Dietary Therapy*: “Beneficial for the kidneys. Long-term use is beneficial to the person.”
3. *Dietary Therapy Materia Medica*: “It nourishes the body; consuming it strengthens tendons and bones and enables one to withstand cold and heat.”
4. *Rihua Zi*: “Strengthens tendons and bones, bolsters willpower, and makes one vigorous and robust.”
5. *Comprehensive Compendium of Materia Medica Properties*: “Bolsters courage and resolve.”
Applications
Processing & Preparation
Crude Drug Identification
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
1. Leopard: Resembles a tiger but is smaller. It measures 1–1.5 m in length and weighs up to 50 kg. It has a robust build with sturdy limbs; the forelimbs are slightly broader than the hindlimbs. The front feet have five toes, while the hind feet have four. It is plantigrade, with sharp, curved, retractable claws at the tips of its toes.Its head is round and its ears are short. Its summer coat is brownish-yellow, while its winter coat is yellow, with a darker shade on the back. The head and face feature small, dense black spots that extend to the neck and back, forming black rings on the back and sides of the body that resemble coins, hence the name “leopard.” The underside of the neck, chest, abdomen, and inner sides of the limbs are white, with only a few black spots.The outer sides of the limbs have dark brown spots, and the tail also bears black spots of varying sizes, with a black tip. 2. Clouded Leopard: Small in size, with a body length of 75–110 cm, a tail length of 70–92 cm, and a weight of 15–20 kg.Its limbs are relatively short, and its tail is longer than half its body length. The coat on its back is grayish-yellow or yellow, featuring irregular, patchy black markings that resemble clouds, hence the name “Clouded Leopard.” The neck has dense small black spots; there is an incomplete black ring around the eyes; a distinct vertical black stripe runs behind the eyes; and there are four black stripes on the back of the neck, with the two central ones ending at the shoulders, while the two outer ones are thicker and extend to the base of the tail.Its limbs are yellow with elongated black spots. The tail is the same color as the back, with several non-circular black rings toward the tip, which is black. 3. Snow Leopard: Its body is similar to that of the leopard but smaller, measuring 1–1.2 m in length, weighing 30–50 kg, with a tail nearly 1 m long. The head is small and round, covered with small, dense black spots.Its entire body is grayish-white and covered with black ringed spots, which become larger toward the rear of the body. The backs of the ears are grayish-white with black edges. The whiskers are black and white. There is a large black spot at the base of the tail, and the tip of the tail is black. The front feet have five toes, and the hind feet have four. The front feet are broader and larger than the hind feet. The tips of the toes have keratinized, hard claws that are slightly curved and have sharp tips. There is little difference in coat density or color between the winter and summer coats.
Distribution Area
1. Leopard: Found in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Qinghai, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Tibet. 2. Clouded Leopard: Found in Shaanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan.3. Snow Leopard: Found in Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Tibet, and other regions.