Leopard Bone is the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It consists of the bones of the leopard (Panthera pardus Linnaeus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa Griffith), and snow leopard (Uncia uncia Schreber). It is effective in dispelling wind and dampness, strengthening tendons and bones, and calming the mind and relieving anxiety.It is primarily used to treat wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, pain in the tendons and bones, stiffness and numbness in the limbs, soreness in the lower back and knees, and convulsions in children.
Leopard Bone
Leopard Bone is the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It consists of the bones of the leopard (Panthera pardus Linnaeus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa Griffith), and snow leopard (Uncia uncia Schreber). It is effective in dispelling wind and dampness, strengthening tendons and bones, and calming the mind and relieving anxiety.It is primarily used to treat wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, pain in the tendons and bones, stiffness and numbness in the limbs, soreness in the lower back and knees, and convulsions in children.
Chinese Name : 豹骨
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Taste: pungent and salty; nature: warm; enters the Liver, Kidney, and Spleen meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Dispels wind-dampness, strengthens tendons and bones, and calms convulsions and soothes the mind.
Indications
Wind-cold-damp bi syndrome; pain in tendons and bones; stiffness and numbness in the limbs; soreness in the lower back and knees; convulsions and spasms in children.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Decocted as a soup, 9–15 g; or burned to ash, ground into powder, and mixed with water, 3 g per dose, 9 g daily; or steeped in wine; or incorporated into pills or powders. External use: Apply an appropriate amount; burn to ash, apply the liquid, and wash the affected area.
Precautions
Use with caution in cases of blood deficiency with excessive heat.
Chemical Constituents
The bones of leopards, clouded leopards, and snow leopards contain calcium phosphate, protein, and other components. Clouded leopard bones contain large amounts of collagen, as well as high levels of calcium and phosphorus.
Pharmacological Actions
1. Anti-inflammatory effects: Ethanol extracts of leopard bones at doses of 30 g (raw herb)/kg and 60 g (raw herb)/kg, administered via gastric lavage once every 12 hours for a total of three doses, exhibited a highly significant inhibitory effect on xylene-induced ear swelling in mice; although they also showed some inhibitory effect on carrageenan-induced paw swelling in mice, there was no significant difference compared to the control group.A dose of 60 g/(kg·d), administered orally for 8 consecutive days, significantly inhibited cotton-ball-induced granulomas in rats; however, the 30 g/kg dose group showed no significant effect. Additionally, leopard bone exhibited a marked anti-inflammatory effect on egg-white-induced arthritis in rats, similar to that of tiger bone. 2. Analgesic Effects: An ethanol extract of leopard bone at 60 g (raw herb)/kg, administered via gavage, significantly prolonged the pain latency period in the mouse hot plate test; doses of 60 g/kg and 30 g/kg, administered via gavage once every 12 hours for a total of three doses, significantly inhibited the acetic acid writhing response in mice.Furthermore, it has been reported that the analgesic effects of leopard bone are similar to those of tiger bone and dog bone. 3. Sedative effects: An 80 g/kg oral dose of leopard bone alcohol extract significantly increased the number of mice falling asleep following an intraperitoneal injection of a subthreshold dose of sodium pentobarbital, whereas the 40 g/kg dose group showed no significant increase.The 80 g/kg dose group also prolonged the sleep duration in mice administered suprathreshold doses of sodium pentobarbital. There were no significant differences in the sedative effects among leopard bone, tiger bone, and dog bone. 4. Anticonvulsant Effects: A 60 g/kg oral administration of leopard bone alcohol extract, followed by a second dose 4 hours later, slightly prolonged the onset time of pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice, though this effect was not statistically significant, indicating no marked anticonvulsant effect against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Dietary Therapy Materia Medica*: “Skull: burn to ash, strain the liquid, and remove the white residue.”
2. *Chronicle of Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine* (1960 edition): “Dispels wind and relieves pain; strengthens tendons and bones. Treats pain in tendons and bones, wind-cold-dampness arthralgia, and spasms of the limbs resulting in inability to flex or extend.”
3. *Medicinal Animals of Guangxi*: “Dispels wind, disperses cold, and calms convulsions.”
4. *Medicinal Animals of Inner Mongolia*: “Treats numbness.”
5. *Common Medicinal Animals*: “Treats infantile convulsions and spasms.”
Applications
Related Compatibility
1. Dispels wind and dampness; strengthens tendons and bones: Simmer leopard bone to make gelatin, dissolve it in water, and mix with wine before drinking. Take 1–2 times daily, 3–9 g per dose.
2. To treat chronic rheumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: 9 g each of leopard bone, papaya, and Achyranthes root; 6 g of Cinnamomum twig. Decoct in water and drink. Alternatively, steep 500 g of white liquor for one month; take twice daily, 9 g each time. (Formulas 1–2 are from *Medicinal Animals of Guangxi*)
3. For palpitations and forgetfulness: Take equal parts leopard bone, dragon bone, and polygala. Grind them together into a fine powder. Take 3g three times daily. (*Chinese Animal Medicines*)
4. For dandruff caused by a “head wind”: Burn leopard skull bones to ash, extract the liquid, and use it to wash the hair. (*Dietary Therapy Materia Medica*)
Processing & Preparation
Processing Methods
1. Leopard Bone: Take the raw material, soak in water to remove residual flesh and tendons, wash thoroughly, air-dry, saw into sections, and crush.
2. Vinegar-treated leopard bone: Place sand in a pot and roast over medium heat. Add the cleaned leopard bone segments and stir-fry until yellow. Remove, sift out the sand, and soak in vinegar until crisp. Remove and air-dry. Crush into powder. Use 25 kg of rice vinegar for every 100 kg of leopard bone.
3. Oil-Processed Leopard Bone: Place the cleaned leopard bone segments in a pot of boiling oil. Heat over low heat and fry until crisp. Remove and drain off the oil. Alternatively, coat the cleaned leopard bone with sesame oil and roast over a smokeless fire until golden and crisp. Crush into powder. Use 25 kg of sesame oil for every 100 kg of cleaned leopard bone.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container, seal tightly, and keep in a cool, dry place. Protect from insect infestation.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The skull is oblong in shape, with relatively thin bone; the frontal bone is prominent, the snout is relatively long, and the parietal bone lacks a groove. The maxilla bears 3 pairs of incisors, 1 pair of canines, and 4 pairs of premolars;the mandible bears 3 pairs of incisors, 1 pair of canines, and 3 pairs of molars; the canines are vertical, slightly smaller than those of a tiger, and dark in color with a rusty patina. The vertebral column consists of 24 vertebrae, and the tail vertebrae are relatively long, numbering approximately 36. There are 13 ribs on each side, all of which are round. The bones of the limbs are similar to those of a tiger, but slightly slender and elongated;The medial fossa of the ulna (phalangeal fossa) on the forelimbs is strip-shaped; the patella is oval, thick at the front and thin at the back, with a central protrusion on the outer surface and a steep outward slope on both sides; the fibula is relatively thick and roughly comparable in size to the tibia. The paw pads are slender, retaining fur that is grayish-yellow mottled with black rings; the claws curve inward, with a greater curvature than those of tigers.Bones from the limbs are most commonly used in the market, while other bones are rarely seen. The long bones are a dull white in color and dry, lacking the lustrous sheen of tiger bones; the fracture surface is white, and the medullary cavity occupies about half the bone’s diameter. The reticular bone marrow within the cavity is less abundant than in tiger bones and is also paler in color.
The best specimens are those with heavy, sturdy limb bones from which all flesh and tendons have been thoroughly removed.
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.