Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads

Chinese
炒山甲珠
Pinyin
Chao Shan Jia Zhu
Latin
Squama Manitis Praeparata
Scientific specimen plate of Prepared Anteater Scales, Manis pentadactyla, showing processed scale material and diagnostic preparation details.
Botanical plate by Kodi .

Known in TCM as Chao Shan Jia Zhu (炒山甲珠), this salty, slightly cold herb enters the Liver and Stomach. Traditionally, it activates blood and opens the channels in processed form for amenorrhea, fixed obstruction, and deep collateral blockage, most often applied for insufficient lactation, mastitis, and amenorrhea. Modern research has identified Keratin among its active constituents.

Part used: Scale

Also Known As

Prepared pangolin scales Processed pangolin scale beads

Latin: Squama Manitis Praeparata | Pinyin: Chao Shan Jia Zhu | Chinese: 炒山甲珠

TCM Properties

Taste
salty
Temperature
slightly cold
Channels
Liver, Stomach

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Activates blood and opens the channels in processed form for amenorrhea, fixed obstruction, and deep collateral blockage.
  • Promotes lactation and opens the breast channels when milk flow is blocked by blood or qi obstruction.
  • Reduces swelling and helps suppuration in unruptured abscesses, mastitis, and hard painful swellings.

Secondary Actions

  • This processed-bead form sits between the darker fried scale lane and the more expanded puffed processed lane, but the therapeutic family remains the same Chuan Shan Jia tradition.
  • Any meaningful modern discussion must foreground illegality, conservation, and substitution rather than routine clinical use.

Classic Formulas

  • Tong Ru Dan for obstructed lactation.
  • Tou Nong San and related abscess lineages for suppuration and drainage.

Classical References

  • Processed forms of pangolin scale were historically prepared to improve brittleness, powdering, and internal use while preserving blood-moving and channel-opening actions.
  • Modern conservation law overrides historical use.

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Keratin matrix
  • Minor cyclic dipeptides and fatty-acid fractions described in older analyses
  • Trace mineral fractions

Studied Effects

  • Indexed modern clinical evidence remains weak and ethically constrained, and current scientific relevance centers more on conservation, substitution, and fraud detection than on renewed clinical deployment of pangolin-derived materials.

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Pregnancy
  • Active bleeding or severe deficiency without blood stasis
  • Any attempted modern clinical use of genuine pangolin material

Cautions

  • Pangolin-derived medicinals are illegal or ethically unacceptable in modern practice and were removed from the Chinese Pharmacopoeia in 2020.
  • Validated substitutes should be used instead for lactation support, abscess management, or blood-stasis indications.

Drug Interactions

  • Anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs ... additive bleeding risk in historical-use contexts

Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads used for?

Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads is traditionally used to Activates blood and opens the channels in processed form for amenorrhea, fixed obstruction, and deep collateral blockage., Promotes lactation and opens the breast channels when milk flow is blocked by blood or qi obstruction., Reduces swelling and helps suppuration in unruptured abscesses, mastitis, and hard painful swellings.. Research has investigated its effects on: Indexed modern clinical evidence remains weak and ethically constrained, and current scientific relevance centers more on conservation, substitution, and fraud detection than on renewed clinical deployment of pangolin-derived materials..

What are other names for Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads?

Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads is also known as Prepared pangolin scales, Processed pangolin scale beads. In TCM: 炒山甲珠 (Chao Shan Jia Zhu); Squama Manitis Praeparata.

Is Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads safe during pregnancy?

Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads is not recommended during pregnancy.

What are the contraindications for Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads?

Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads should not be used in: Pregnancy; Active bleeding or severe deficiency without blood stasis; Any attempted modern clinical use of genuine pangolin material. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.

Does Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads interact with any medications?

Prepared Pangolin Scale Beads may interact with: Anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs ... additive bleeding risk in historical-use contexts. Always inform your healthcare provider of any herbal supplements you are taking.