Dog Hair

Dog Hair, a name for a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It consists of the fur of the dog (Canis familiaris Linnaeus), a member of the Canidae family. Dogs are raised throughout the country. It has the effects of arresting malaria and promoting wound healing. It is primarily used to treat malaria and burns and scalds.

Chinese Name : 狗毛

Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Taste: pungent and salty; nature: neutral; enters the Heart and Liver meridians

Benefits & Efficacy

Benefits

It stops malaria and promotes wound healing.

Indications

Mainly used to treat malaria and burns and scalds.

Usage and Dosage

Internal use: Roast until charred, grind into powder; take 3g. External use: Apply an appropriate amount; roast until charred, grind into powder, and apply as a poultice.

Precautions

Patients requiring treatment with Chinese herbal medicine should first consult a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital to receive a prescription following a professional TCM differential diagnosis.

Relevant Discussions

1. *The Supplement*: “Treats difficult childbirth.”

2. *Supplement to the Materia Medica*: “The hair beneath the neck treats night crying in children. Place it in a crimson pouch and tie it to the child’s hands.”

3. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Take one qian of ash mixed with hot water to treat malignant malaria; apply ash from the tail (hair) to dog bites.”

Applications

Clinical Applications

For unbearable pain from burns caused by hot oil, boiling water, or fire: Finely chop dog hair, mix it with melted animal glue, and apply the mixture to the wound; the pain will gradually subside as the scab falls off. (*Mei Shi Fang*)

Notes

References: 1. *Encyclopedia of Chinese Materia Medica* 2. *Chinese Materia Medica* 3. *Yulin Traditional Chinese Medicine: Local Medicinal Herbs Volume*

Processing & Preparation

Harvesting & Processing

After slaughter, scrape off the dog’s hair, wash it thoroughly, and air-dry it.

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.

Dog Hair, a name for a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It consists of the fur of the dog (Canis familiaris Linnaeus), a member of the Canidae family. Dogs are raised throughout the country. It has the effects of arresting malaria and promoting wound healing. It is primarily used to treat malaria and burns and scalds.