Gecko
Aliases：Há Jiě (Gecko); Há Xiè (Gecko Crab); Xiān Chán (Immortal Toad); Jiè Shé (Gecko Snake); Dà Bì Hǔ (Large Wall Tiger); Dà Shǒu Gōng (Large House Gecko); Duō Gé (Many Patterns).
Gecko (Há Jiè) is a Chinese medicinal substance. It is the dried body of Gekko gecko Linnaeus, an animal of the Gekkonidae family. It is mainly produced in Guangxi and Guangdong provinces in China, while imported geckos are primarily sourced from Vietnam. They can be captured throughout the year. After capture, the internal organs are removed, the body is wiped clean, and then spread open with bamboo strips to make the whole body flat and straight, and finally dried at a low temperature.
Efficacy & Actions
Tonifies the lungs and kidneys, promotes qi reception to relieve wheezing, and assists yang and benefits essence.
Indications
Used for lung-kidney deficiency with deficient wheezing and shortness of breath, consumptive cough with hemoptysis, impotence, and spermatorrhea. It is also used for lung atrophy with qi counterflow, hemoptysis and cough, and wasting-thirst disorder.
Modern Pharmacology
Antiasthmatic: Exhibits significant antiasthmatic effect. Immunomodulatory: Enhances immunity and regulates immune function. Antitumor: Possesses antitumor activity. Hormonal effect: Exhibits hormonal-like activity; tonifies kidney yang and replenishes essence and blood. Anti-inflammatory: Has anti-inflammatory effect. Anti-aging: Delays aging. Anti-fatigue: Combats fatigue. Antidepressant: Recent studies show active components have antidepressant effects. Hepatoprotective: Has certain liver-protective effects. Anti-stress: Shows significant protection against stress stimuli such as low temperature, high temperature, and hypoxia.
Ingredients
Phospholipids: Lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, etc. Phosphatidylethanolamine has the highest content (about 71%), followed by phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine. Fatty acids: Lauric acid, myristic acid, arachidic acid, linoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, arachidonic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, linolenic acid, etc. Linoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid are relatively abundant. Proteins and amino acids: Rich in protein and contains 18 amino acids. Trace elements: Contains 18 trace elements including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium. Other constituents: Carnosine, choline, carnitine, guanine, cholesterol, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 3–6g; mostly prepared in pills, powder, or wine.
Contraindications
Used for lung-kidney deficiency with deficient wheezing and shortness of breath, consumptive cough with hemoptysis, impotence, and spermatorrhea. It is also used for lung atrophy with qi counterflow, hemoptysis and cough, and wasting-thirst disorder.
Selected Formulas
For consumptive cough and lung congestion with qi counterflow (Taiping Shenghui Fang, Gejie Wan) Take one pair of Gejie (gecko, with head and tail intact, brush with butter and roast until yellow), 1 liang of Beimu (Fritillaria, simmer until slightly yellow), 1 liang of Ziyuan (Aster, remove stems and roots), 1 liang of Xingren (Apricot seed, soaked in hot water, peeled, tip removed, stir-fried with bran until yellow), 2 liang of Biejia (Turtle shell, vinegar-brushed and roasted until yellow, remove the edge), 1 liang of Zaojiao ren (Gleditsia seed, stir-fried until yellow), and 1 liang of Sangbaipi (Mulberry root bark, chopped). Grind into powder, mix with honey to make pills the size of wuzi (about 4mm). Take 20 pills each time with red date decoction, 3-4 times daily. Avoid amaranth greens. For lung cough with facial and limb edema (Shengji Zonglu, Dusheng San) Take one pair of Gejie (male and female, intact, clean, brush with wine and honey, roast until cooked) and 1 zhu of Renshen (Ginseng, purple cluster type). Grind into powder. Melt 4 liang of wax, filter out impurities, mix with the powder, and form into 6 cakes. On an empty stomach, take one cake with a bowl of thin glutinous rice congee, sip hot slowly.
Daily Consumption
Gecko Wine: Take one pair of geckos (Gecko), remove the head and feet, and soak in 500 ml of white liquor (50% alcohol by volume). Seal and store for 2–3 months before drinking. Take once nightly, 2–5 ml each time. Suitable for those with kidney deficiency with impotence, or deficient wheezing and shortness of breath.
Medicinal Parts
Dried body (with internal organs removed).
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry, airtight container in a cool, well-ventilated, dry place, protected from insects.
