Ē Jiāo (阿胶), known in English as Donkey hide gelatin (Equus asinus (hide gelatin)), is a neutral, sweet Chinese herb from the Tonify blood category. It enters the Lung, Liver and Kidney channels. Its main action: nourishes Blood and Yin — strong Blood tonic.
| Pinyin | Ē Jiāo (E Jiao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 阿胶 |
| English | Donkey hide gelatin |
| Botanical name | Equus asinus (hide gelatin) |
| Category | Tonify blood |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels | Lung, Liver, Kidney |
| Dosage | 3–9g (dissolved in hot strained decoction — do not boil) |
| Cautions | Spleen deficiency with Damp-Phlegm; indigestion |
Actions
- Nourishes Blood and Yin — strong Blood tonic
- Stops bleeding — Blood deficiency with Heat or dryness
- Moistens Lung, stops cough
Indications
- Blood deficiency
- Yin deficiency with internal Wind
- Uterine bleeding
- Haemoptysis
- Dry Lung cough
How to remember Ē Jiāo
Tonify blood herbs are mostly warm or hot and sweet, and most enter the Liver, Spleen, Heart and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Sweet, Liver and Kidney channels: like most Tonify blood herbs
- Lung channel: from its action “Moistens Lung”
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: unusual for Tonify blood herbs (most are warm or hot)
Formulas containing Ē Jiāo
Other Tonify blood herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Ē Jiāo?
Ē Jiāo is neutral and sweet.
Which channels does Ē Jiāo enter?
Ē Jiāo enters the Lung, Liver and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Ē Jiāo?
Nourishes Blood and Yin — strong Blood tonic; Stops bleeding — Blood deficiency with Heat or dryness; Moistens Lung, stops cough.
What is Ē Jiāo used for?
Blood deficiency; Yin deficiency with internal Wind; uterine bleeding; haemoptysis; dry Lung cough.
Which formulas contain Ē Jiāo?
Qīng Zào Jiù Fèi Tāng, Wēn Jīng Tāng, Dà Dìng Fēng Zhū, Huáng Tǔ Tāng, Jiāo Ài Tāng and Zhì Gān Cǎo Tāng.
Practise Ē Jiāo and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.