Pufferfish liver oil is the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is oil extracted by boiling the livers of the bow-spotted pufferfish (Fugu ocellatus (Osbeck)), the worm-patterned pufferfish (F. vermicularis (Temminck & Schlegel)), the dark-patterned pufferfish (F. obscurus (Abe)), and various other species of the same genus. It has the effects of reducing swelling, detoxifying, dispersing nodules, relieving pain, and killing parasites.It is primarily used to treat scrofula, boils, unexplained swellings and abscesses, and chronic skin ulcers.
Pufferfish Liver Oil
Pufferfish liver oil is the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is oil extracted by boiling the livers of the bow-spotted pufferfish (Fugu ocellatus (Osbeck)), the worm-patterned pufferfish (F. vermicularis (Temminck & Schlegel)), the dark-patterned pufferfish (F. obscurus (Abe)), and various other species of the same genus. It has the effects of reducing swelling, detoxifying, dispersing nodules, relieving pain, and killing parasites.It is primarily used to treat scrofula, boils, unexplained swellings and abscesses, and chronic skin ulcers.
Chinese Name : 河豚鱼肝油
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Sweet in taste, warm in nature
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Reduces swelling and detoxifies; disperses nodules and relieves pain; kills parasites.
Indications
Scrofula, boils, unexplained swellings and abscesses, and chronic skin ulcers.
Usage and Dosage
External use: Apply an appropriate amount topically.
Precautions
Do not take internally.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Qingdao Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine*: “Warm in nature, sweet in taste. Highly toxic.”
2. *Qingdao Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine*: “Detoxifies, reduces swelling, relieves pain, and kills parasites. Used to treat cervical lymph node tuberculosis, boils, and unexplained swellings.”
Applications
Related Compatibility
1. For cervical lymph node tuberculosis: Extract oil from the (pufferfish) liver and apply externally to the affected area.
2. For boils, abscesses, and unexplained swellings: Extract oil from the (pufferfish) liver and apply to the affected area. (Recipes 1–2 are from *Qingdao Manual of Chinese Herbal Medicine*)
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
After catching a pufferfish, extract the oil from its liver.
Crude Drug Identification
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
1. Arched-spotted Oriental Pufferfish: Body length is generally 10–15 cm. The head, dorsal, and ventral surfaces are covered with fine, weak spines; the dorsal spine region is distinct from the ventral spine region. The snout, both sides of the head and body, and the tail are smooth.The dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head and body are grayish-brown with a slight greenish tint. On each side of the body, just above and behind the pectoral fins, there is a large blackish-green spot with an orange border. There is also a large, blackish-green, saddle-shaped mark that arcs across the back, with an orange border. On either side of the base of the dorsal fin, there is a large, circular black spot. The ventral surface is white, and all fins are grayish-yellow.2. Worm-spotted Oriental Pufferfish: This species differs from the Bow-spotted Oriental Pufferfish in that it has numerous round and elongated, worm-like white spots.3. Dark-striped Oriental Pufferfish: This species differs from the Bow-spotted Oriental Pufferfish in that it is brownish-gray, with 4–6 indistinct dark brown transverse stripes on the dorsal and lateral sides, separated by 3–5 narrow white stripes. There is a large, round black spot on the side of the body, just above and behind the pectoral fin, with a white border.
Distribution Area
1. Bow-spotted Oriental Pufferfish: Found along the coasts of China. 2. Worm-patterned Oriental Pufferfish: Found along all coasts of China. 3. Dark-patterned Oriental Pufferfish: Found in the Yellow Sea, Bohai Sea, and East China Sea.