Ursae Caro
Xióng Ròu (Bear Meat) is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the meat of Selenarctos thibetanus G.Cuvier (Asiatic Black Bear) or Ursus arctos Linnaeus (Brown Bear), animals belonging to the family Ursidae. It was first recorded in Mingyi Bielu (Records of Famous Physicians).
Efficacy & Actions
Supplements deficiency and strengthens the sinews and bones.
Indications
Indicated for beriberi, wind-dampness numbness (numbness of the limbs due to wind pathogens), limb immobility (difficulty in moving the hands and feet), and muscle spasms (spasmodic contraction of the sinews and vessels).
Modern Pharmacology
Currently, specific modern pharmacological research on bear meat is relatively limited. Bear meat is rich in protein and fat, with the fat containing special unsaturated fatty acids that are related to its traditionally recognized warming and tonic effects. In addition, the mineral elements in bear meat may promote metabolism and immune function to a certain extent. The gallbladder of bears (bear bile) has been shown to have extensive pharmacological activities, but systematic pharmacological research on bear meat itself remains insufficient.
Ingredients
Canned bear meat (species unspecified) contains: moisture 63.85%, crude protein 7.27%, crude fat 26.79%, and ash 1.09%. Bear meat contains relatively high proportions of protein and fat, providing essential energy and nutrients for the body. It also contains minerals such as iron and zinc, which play positive roles in hemoglobin synthesis and immune function. Brown bear meat has a higher fat content, while Asiatic black bear meat is relatively tender. Bear meat contains beneficial metal elements including Ca, K, Na, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Ti.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: cook and eat in an appropriate amount.
Contraindications
Bencao Jingjizhu (Collected Commentaries on the Materia Medica): "Those with chronic diseases should not eat bear meat, as it may prevent lifelong recovery." Qianjin Shizhi (Essential Formulas for Emergencies - Dietetic Therapy): "If there are abdominal masses with alternating chills and fever and emaciation, eating bear meat will mean the disease is never cured."
Selected Formulas
For wind‑stroke with heart‑lung wind‑heat, limb dysfunction, wind‑impediment with numbness, flaccidity of sinews, and mental confusion with irritability (Shiyi Xinjing) Take 1 jin of bear meat, cut into pieces, season and cure as usual, and eat on an empty stomach. For wind‑impediment with numbness and sinew contracture with flaccidity (Qianjin Fang) Take an appropriate amount of bear meat, cook and eat.
Medicinal Parts
Meat.
Selection & Storage
Use fresh or store refrigerated. Store dried products in a cool, dry place, protected from insects and mold.
