Ge Jie - 蛤蚧 - Gecko

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Gecko
Common English:	Gecko Toad-Headed Lizard Tokay

Category

Herbs that Tonify the Yang

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Salty	Neutral (Cold) (Slightly Toxic)	Lung Kidney	3-18g Powder: 1-7g 3-6g (d), 1-2g (p) (Secondary source)

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Tonifies the Kidneys and Lungs, relieves cough and dyspnea and strengthens Yang	Kidney and Lung Deficiency when Kidneys are unable to grasp Lung Qi with wheezing Consumptive cough or cough with blood-streaked sputum
Tonifies Jing and Blood, controls and stabilizes Kidney Qi and stabilizes Ming Men Fire	Impotence, daybreak diarrhea and urinary frequency due to Kidney Yang Deficiency

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen Sm. Juglandis Hu Tao Ren Fr. Schisandrae Wu Wei Zi	Rx. Rehmanniae Sheng Di Huang	Bul. Fritillariae Cirrhosae Chuan Bei Mu
Cough and wheezing from Deficient Lungs and Kidneys, especially when inhalation is more difficult. (Inability to grasp Qi) Kidney Yang Deficiency impotence, decreased sexual function, daybreak diarrhea and frequent urination.	Coughing and wheezing with hoarseness or Blood-streaked sputum from severe Deficiency of the Kidneys and Lungs.	Chronic coughing and wheezing due to Lung Deficiency with Phlegm Heat.
Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum Lu Rong Hb. Epimedii Yin Yang Huo (Rz. Dioscoreae) (Shan Yao)	Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen	Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen Fr. Psoraliae Bu Gu Zhi Sm. Juglandis Hu Tao Ren
Impotence due to Kidney Yang Deficiency.	Tonifies both Lungs and Kidneys to treat wheezing and coughs due to Deficiency of both the Lungs and Kidneys and disorders of Kidney Qi such as impotence and premature ejaculation.	Chronic respiratory disorders with Deficiency and Cold signs.
Rx. Panacis Quinquifolii Xi Yang Shen Rz. Picrorhizae Hu Huang Lian Rx. Scrophulariae Xuan Shen Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang	Cx. Eucommiae Du Zhong Rx. Dipsaci Xu Duan Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis Du Huo	Fr. Psoraliae Bu Gu Zhi Sm. Myristicae Rou Dou Kou Fr. Schisandrae Wu Wei Zi
Chronic respiratory disorders with Yin Deficient signs of tidal fever and steaming bone sensations.	Weakness and soreness of the bones and joints.	Daybreak diarrhea.

Notes

1. The tail is regarded as the most potent part.
2. Ge Jie invigorates the Yang without causing Dryness and Heat.
3. Combined with Qi Tonics, it makes an excellent general tonic for Qi.
4. It is effective for wasting and thirsting as well.
5. It is reported to cure paralysis from apoplexy and abdominal masses from Blood Stagnation.
6. Research has shown it to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
7. It is also reported to reduce Blood Stasis and cure tumors.
8. For scrofula, calcine it and pound it into powder; take 0.3g with wine per dose.
9. For pestilence, calcine one Gecko and mix it with 75g of Faeces Bombycis Can Sha (washed twice in water and sun-dried) and 2-2.5kg of wheat flour. Dry the mixture and grind it into powder to be taken orally. Take 15-30g before each meal with a decoction of Cacumen Platycladi Ce Bai Ye.
10. Compared with Hippocampus Hai Ma, Hb. Epimedii Yin Yang Huo and Fr. Cnidii She Chuang Zi, Ge Jie is weaker at fortifying Yang, but it alone has the special ability to calm wheezing and stop coughs by helping the Kidneys grasp Qi and by strongly tonifying the Lung Qi.
11. Ge Jie and Cordyceps Dong Chong Xia Cao both tonify the Lungs and Kidneys, warm the Yang, augment Jing, and settle coughs and wheezing. Ge Jie is salty and neutral; it calms wheezing and stops cough by helping the Kidneys grasp Qi, and it also strongly tonifies the Lung Qi. Dong Chong Xia Cao calms wheezing and stops cough by descending rebellious Qi. It also transforms phlegm, stops bleeding, and stops sweating by reinforcing Wei Qi.
12. Oil-crisped Gecko You Su Ge Jie has a more pleasant smell and breaks into pieces more easily. It is the best form for tonifying the Lungs, augmenting Jing, grasping Qi and settling wheezing.
13. Wine-fried Gecko Jiu Chao Ge Jie is stronger at tonifying the Kidneys and fortifying the Yang, and it is frequently used for impotence from Kidney Yang, Jing and Blood Deficiencies.