Canitis Os
Aliases：Quǎn Gǔ, Jiā Quǎn Gǔ.
Gǒu Gǔ is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the bone of Canis familiaris Linnaeus, an animal belonging to the genus Canis of the family Canidae. The limb bones are considered to be of the best quality for medicinal use.
Efficacy & Actions
Tonifies the Kidneys and strengthens the bones; dispels wind and alleviates pain; stops bleeding and checks dysentery; astringes sores and promotes tissue regeneration.
Indications
Indicated for rheumatic joint pain, weakness of the lower back and legs, numbness of the limbs, abnormal uterine bleeding and leukorrhea, chronic dysentery, traumatic bleeding, infantile sutural diastasis (delayed closure of fontanelles), carbuncles, sores, and frostbite. It may also be used for wind-dampness arthralgia and soreness and weakness of the lower back and legs.
Modern Pharmacology
Promotes fracture healing: Dog bone gelatin promotes osteoblast proliferation, accelerates bone union, shortens healing time, and improves bone strength. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects: Dog bone exhibits anti-inflammatory, sedative, and analgesic effects, reducing joint swelling and pain. Treatment of arthritis: Dog bone gelatin wine shows a 92.7% total effective rate in treating rheumatoid and rheumatoid arthritis.
Ingredients
The chemical composition of Dog Bone varies depending on the type of bone. Fresh bone contains approximately 50% water, 16% fat, 12% bone collagen, and 22% inorganic matter. Among the inorganic matter, more than half is calcium phosphate, followed by calcium carbonate (approximately 10%) and magnesium phosphate (approximately 2%), along with small amounts of calcium fluoride. In addition, Dog Bone contains 16 types of amino acids as well as trace elements including barium, phosphorus, manganese, and copper.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: steep in wine, or burn to preserve properties and grind into powder, 3–5 qian (approximately 9–15 g) each time. Some sources also document 1.5–3 g each time. For external use: burn to ash and grind into powder, then mix with a suitable base and apply to the affected area; or calcine until yellow, grind into powder, and apply topically.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with spontaneous sweating and night sweating due to debility—Dog Bone has diaphoretic effects and may aggravate symptoms in those with debility. Contraindicated in patients with Yin deficiency and Yang hyperactivity. Contraindicated in patients with deficient-type wheezing.
Selected Formulas
For postpartum restlessness and poor appetite (Qianjin Yifang, Baiquangu San) Take white dog bone, burn it, crush and sieve. Take one square-cun spoonful with water. For chilblains (Fuzhou Taijiang District Empirical Prescription Collection) Take dog bone, bake to ash, grind into powder, mix with sesame oil, and apply to the affected area. For rheumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (clinical empirical formula, Dog Bone Glue Wine) Take an appropriate amount of dog bone glue, soak in white liquor to make medicinal wine. Take 20–30 ml each time, three times daily.
Daily Consumption
Wine infusion for oral administration: Take Dog Bone, burn it to preserve its properties and grind into powder, or prepare it into dog bone glue. Then steep it in white wine to make a medicinal wine and consume in moderation. Powder for oral administration: Burn Dog Bone to preserve its properties, grind into fine powder, and take with warm wine or warm water. External application: Burn Dog Bone to ash, grind into powder, mix thoroughly with sesame oil or lard, and apply to the affected area.
Medicinal Parts
Dried bone.
Selection & Storage
Store the dried product in a dry place, protected from moisture.
