Canis familiaris Linnaeus
Aliases：Quǎn Ròu (Dog Meat); Dì Yáng Ròu (Ground Mutton).
Gǒu Ròu (Dog Meat) is a Chinese medicinal substance. It is the meat of Canis familiaris Linnaeus, an animal of the Canidae family. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, it is a warming and nourishing food ingredient, and is not considered a traditional medicinal substance in the strict sense.
Efficacy & Actions
Tonifies the spleen and warms the stomach, warms the kidneys and strengthens yang, and fills essence and supplements marrow.
Indications
Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold: Epigastric and abdominal distension, edema. Kidney Yang Deficiency: Lumbar pain and weakness of the knees, impotence, and cold-type malaria (alternating chills and fever with cold predominance). Others: Chronic non-healing ulcers (sores that do not close over a long period).
Modern Pharmacology
Modern research has shown that dog meat has nourishing, strengthening effects and can enhance the body's resistance. Some studies suggest that it may increase androgen-like hormones in the body. Dog meat is rich in protein, especially with a high proportion of globulin, which helps enhance the body's disease resistance and cellular vitality.
Ingredients
Basic nutrition: Contains proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Minerals: Contains calcium, phosphorus, potassium (0.325%), sodium (0.049%), chlorine (0.028%), copper, magnesium, zinc, cobalt, iodine, etc. Other constituents: Contains carnosine 0.109%, creatine 0.266%–0.472%, purines 0.027%. Each gram of dog meat contains vitamin A 8–10 IU and vitamin D 2–3 IU.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Cooked or decocted as a soup, in appropriate amounts. As a medicinal diet, the commonly used dosage is 50-200g.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with yin deficiency and internal heat: Those presenting with dry mouth and tongue, hot palms and soles, tidal fever, and night sweats should not consume it. Contraindicated after febrile illness: The Compendium of Materia Medica warns that “consuming it after a febrile illness can be fatal,” meaning it should not be eaten after heat-related diseases. Use with caution in patients with excess heat or phlegm-fire constitution: Those with a robust constitution and a tendency toward excessive internal heat should not consume it. Use with caution in patients with specific conditions: Those with coughs, colds, fever, diarrhea, or other non-deficiency-cold diseases should avoid consumption. Patients with cerebrovascular disease accompanied by arteriosclerosis or hypertension should not consume it in large amounts. Should not be consumed together with specific foods: Avoid eating with garlic, Phytolacca acinosa (Shāng Lù), apricot kernels, water chestnut (Líng Jiǎo), loach, or eel. Not suitable for consumption in summer: Dog meat is warm in nature and should not be eaten in large amounts at one time. Food safety precautions: Avoid eating undercooked dog meat to prevent parasitic infections. Do not consume meat from rabid dogs.
Selected Formulas
For Spleen-Stomach Weakness with Cold, Cold Accumulation in the Intestines, and Distending Stabbing Pain (from Shi Yi Xin Jing) Take half a jin (approximately 250g) of fatty dog meat, and cook it with rice, salt, fermented soybeans (douchi), and other ingredients to make a congee. Consume it frequently for one or two meals. For Edema with Distension Due to Qi and Water Retention (from Shi Yi Xin Jing) Take one jin (approximately 500g) of dog meat, finely chop it, and cook with rice to make a congee. Consume on an empty stomach. It may also be made into a soup and consumed. For Weakness in the Elderly, Lower Back Pain, and Cold Feet (from Food Medicinal Materials and Convenient Prescriptions) Take dog meat from the twelfth lunar month and cook it for consumption. For Chronic Malaria with Deficiency Cold (Dog Meat and Aconite Soup, from Guangxi Medicinal Animals) Take 240g of dog meat and 12g of prepared aconite root (Shú Fù Piàn). Stew until cooked, add an appropriate amount of oil, salt, and other seasonings, and consume warm. For Anal Fistula (from Shi Yi De Xiao Fang) Take cooked dog meat, dip it in concentrated indigo (Lan) juice, and consume on an empty stomach.
Daily Consumption
Dog Meat Congee (for Weakness of the Spleen and Stomach with Cold) Recorded in the Shi Yi Xin Jing (Mirror of Medicinal Diet): Take half a jin (approximately 250g) of fatty dog meat, and cook it together with rice, salt, fermented soybeans (douchi), and other ingredients to make a congee. Consume it frequently for one or two meals. Yang-Strengthening Dog Meat Soup Ingredients: 200g dog meat, 5g Dodder Seed (Tù Sī Zǐ), 3g Prepared Aconite Root (Fù Piàn), and 5g each of scallion and fresh ginger. Stew them together into a soup and consume. This soup helps warm the spleen and kidneys, replenish essence, and dispel cold.
Medicinal Parts
The meat of the dog (Canis familiaris Linnaeus).
Selection & Storage
Store in a refrigerator or freezer.
