Membrana Follicularis Ovi
Aliases：Jī Luǎn Zhōng Bái Pí (White Skin from Inside Chicken Egg), Jī Zǐ Bái Pí (Chicken Seed White Skin), Fèng Huáng Tuì (Phoenix Shedding), Jī Dàn Mó Yī (Egg Membrane Garment), Jī Dàn Yī (Egg Garment), Fèng Yī (Phoenix Garment).
Fèng Huáng Yī is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the membrane found inside the eggshell of the domestic fowl Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson (family Phasianidae), obtained after the chick has hatched. The product appears as a crumpled, folded thin membrane, broken with irregular edges. One side is white and lusterless, while the other side is pale yellow with a slight sheen and is often attached with brownish linear blood stains. It is loose in texture, somewhat flexible but fragile, with a faint odor and a bland taste. The name “Fèng Huáng Yī” (Phoenix Garment) is rich in legendary symbolism: the phoenix is the mythical king of birds, used here as a poetic substitute for the common domestic fowl, emphasizing the preciousness and uniqueness of this medicinal material, while “yī” (garment) vividly describes its thin, folded appearance. This herb was first recorded in Mingyi Bielu (Records of Famous Physicians).
Efficacy & Actions
Nourishes Yin and clears the Lung; astringes sores; removes corneal opacities; promotes bone healing.
Indications
Indicated for chronic cough and wheezing, sore throat and loss of voice, tuberculous lymphadenitis, non-healing ulcers, corneal opacity, dizziness and vertigo, and traumatic fractures. In modern clinical practice, it is also used for chronic pharyngitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, corneal ulcer, and nasal mucosal ulcer. Mingyi Bielu (Records of Famous Physicians) states that it "mainly treats chronic cough with Qi stagnation"; Zhejiang Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine records that it can "clear Lung fire, transform dry phlegm, and treat sore throat with loss of voice".
Modern Pharmacology
Wound healing promotion: Being thin, soft, with strong space-occupying properties and weak antigenicity, Fèng Huáng Yī serves as a good natural biological dressing. When applied to a properly debrided wound, it provides a new protective membrane and barrier, temporarily sealing the wound, reducing water evaporation, and minimizing the risk of contamination and infection. This allows the natural healing process to proceed without interference, resulting in a smooth and flat wound surface with reduced scar formation. Semipermeable membrane properties: Fèng Huáng Yī acts as a semipermeable membrane, allowing small molecules such as water to pass through while blocking larger molecules such as glucose and proteins. Anti-inflammatory and cartilage-protective effects: Animal studies have shown that oral administration of Fèng Huáng Yī hydrolysate can reduce inflammatory cytokine expression in rats with knee osteoarthritis and increase the content of proteoglycan and Collagen-II in articular cartilage. Fèng Huáng Yī is rich in precursors that can synthesize proteoglycan in cartilage matrix. Antitussive effects: Oral administration of Fèng Huáng Yī has shown therapeutic effects on chronic cough. Tissue engineering applications: Fèng Huáng Yī also shows potential applications in the field of tissue engineering.
Ingredients
Fèng Huáng Yī mainly contains keratin, with small amounts of mucin fibers interspersed. Further modern research has shown that the eggshell membrane (Fèng Huáng Yī) contains over 90% protein with a well-balanced amino acid composition, making it a high-quality protein source. The proteins in the shell membrane mainly include keratin, collagen, ovalbumin, lysozyme, and osteopontin. It also contains hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, among other components.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 3–9 g; or take in powder form. Some sources also document a usual dosage of 6–15 g. For external use: apply an appropriate amount as a patch, or grind into powder and sprinkle on the affected area.
Contraindications
Use with caution in cases of Spleen-Stomach weakness with dampness stagnation. Not suitable for wind-cold cough and wheezing, or lung-heat cough and wheezing.
Selected Formulas
For chronic cough (Meng Shen, Bixiao Fang) Take 14 pieces of chicken egg white membrane (stir-fried) and 3 liang of Mahuang (Ephedra, roasted). Grind into powder. Take one square-cun spoonful each time with water, twice daily. For persistent cough (empirical formula) Take 30g each of Fenghuangyi (chicken egg membrane) and Mahuang. Grind into powder. Take 3g each time, twice daily. For diphtheria (Jingyan Gezhong Mifang Jiyao, Fenghuang San) Take 5 fen of Fenghuangyi, 2 qian of Qingguo carbon (olive charcoal), 1 qian of Huangbai (Phellodendron), 1 qian of Chuanbeimu (Fritillaria, core removed), 1 qian of Ercha (catechu), and 1 qian of Bohe (Mint). Grind each ingredient separately into fine powder, mix evenly in a mortar, add 5 fen of Bingpian (Borneol), and grind together. Blow into the throat. For mouth ulcers and sore throat (empirical formula) Take an appropriate amount of fresh Fenghuangyi, apply to the affected area, and change twice daily. For mouth sores, oral aphthae, tonsillitis, and throat fungal infections (empirical formula, Fengyi San) Take 15g each of Fenghuangyi (lightly roasted until yellow), Renzhongbai (calcined human urine sediment), Ganlianhe (olive pit, calcined on a tile while retaining its properties), and Haiercha (catechu). Grind into fine powder. For each 5g of the powder, add a little Bingpian, and blow or apply to the affected area. For corneal opacity (empirical formula) Take equal parts of Fenghuangyi, Shetui (snake slough), and Chantui (cicada slough). Grind into very fine powder. Apply to the eyes twice daily. For wind-induced eye swelling (Shengji Zonglu, Chuibi San) Take equal parts of chicken egg white membrane and Gouqi baipi (Lycium root bark). Grind into fine powder. Blow into the nostrils three times daily. For chancre sores with swelling and pain (Yixue Rumen, Fengyi San) Take equal parts of calcined Fenghuangyi and Huanglian (Coptis), plus a small amount of Qingfen (calomel) and Piannao (borneol). Grind into powder and apply directly, or mix with duck egg white and apply.
Daily Consumption
Decoction for oral administration: Take 3–9 g of Fèng Huáng Yī, decoct in water, and drink. This is the most common method of administration.
Medicinal Parts
Dried eggshell membrane.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry container in a ventilated, dry place. Protect from mold and insects.
