Dog’s Teeth

Canine Teeth: A name for a traditional Chinese medicinal material. These are the teeth of the dog (Canis familiaris Linnaeus) from the Canidae family. They have the effects of relieving spasms, dispelling wind, and detoxifying. They are primarily used to treat epilepsy, wind-induced rashes, boils on the back, and smallpox.

Chinese Name : 狗齿

Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Taste: sweet and salty; nature: neutral

Benefits & Efficacy

Benefits

Antispasmodic, wind-dispelling, and detoxifying.

Indications

Epilepsy, wind-induced prickly heat, boils on the back, and smallpox.

Usage and Dosage

Internal use: Grind into juice or burn until charred and grind into powder. External use: Apply an appropriate amount of the charred and ground powder mixed with a carrier.

Chemical Constituents

Contains 10.97%–11.89% moisture, 25.99%–27.60% calcium, 0.73%–0.78% magnesium, 0.17%–0.19% chlorine, 0.15% potassium, 0.94%–1.05% sodium,phosphate 38.94%–39.21%, carbonate 4.50%. The fluoride content ranges from a maximum of 0.3% to a minimum of 0.022%.

Relevant Discussions

1. *The Supplementary Records*: “Treats epilepsy, fever and chills, and sudden stroke; take it on the hottest day of summer.”

2. *Rihua Zi*: “Treats transient abdominal distension in children; use as ash.”

3. *Introduction to Medicine: Materia Medica*: “Treats smallpox.”

4. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Grind into juice to treat canine epilepsy. Burn, grind, and mix with vinegar; apply as a poultice to treat boils on the back and saddle sores. Burn together with human teeth to make ash; take with hot water to treat sunken smallpox lesions.”

Applications

Related Compatibility

Treatment for boils on the back: Roast a dog’s large canine tooth until charred black, then grind into a powder. First, wash the affected area with a decoction of green onions, then apply the roasted tooth powder to the wound. (*Eight Notes on Nourishing Life*, Tooth-Dissolving Powder)

Processing & Preparation

Harvesting & Processing

After slaughter, knock out the teeth, wash them clean, and air-dry them.

Crude Drug Identification

Botanical Information

Morphological Characteristics

The dog is a domestic animal. Body size and coat color vary by breed. Generally, dogs have a well-proportioned build. The muzzle is relatively long, the eyes are oval-shaped, and the ears may be erect or drooping. The limbs are robust; the front limbs have five toes, and the hind limbs have four. They possess claws, but these are not retractable. The tail is ring-shaped or sickle-shaped.

Distribution Area

They are raised throughout the country.

Canine Teeth: A name for a traditional Chinese medicinal material. These are the teeth of the dog (Canis familiaris Linnaeus) from the Canidae family. They have the effects of relieving spasms, dispelling wind, and detoxifying. They are primarily used to treat epilepsy, wind-induced rashes, boils on the back, and smallpox.