☯ TCM Properties
Removes Wind and disperses Cold; Promotes the movement of Qi and controls pain; Fortifies Jing and controls urination; Removes Phlegm
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ci Wei Pi (Corium Erinacei) is the dried, prepared spiny skin of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus and related species such as the Chinese E. amurensis/Hemiechinus). Bitter and astringent and neutral, entering the Stomach, Large Intestine (and Kidney) channels, it directs Qi downward to relieve pain, cools the Blood and stops bleeding, and, after processing, secures Essence and restrains urination. Its most characteristic use is for bleeding hemorrhoids and anal fistula, where the powdered skin is combined with Dang Gui; it is also used for Stomach and epigastric pain and reflux from Blood stasis or Qi stagnation, and for seminal emission.
This is an animal-derived material. Hedgehogs are legally protected in many jurisdictions and populations are declining, so historical descriptions do not endorse present-day sourcing; plant-based astringent and Blood-cooling alternatives should be preferred where possible.
Botanical Description
Ci Wei Pi is the dried prepared skin of the hedgehog, principally Erinaceus europaeus L. or Hemiechinus dauricus Sundevall (Erinaceidae). The drug consists of pieces of dorsal skin bearing the characteristic densely packed sharp banded spines, typically curled, gray-brown to yellowish, with the spines hard, smooth, and pointed. Animals are collected in autumn and winter, killed, the spiny dorsal skin removed, scraped free of fat, and sun-dried; processed forms include scorched or sand-roasted preparations. In traditional Chinese medicine the substance is bitter and neutral, entering the Stomach and Large Intestine channels; it descends qi, stops pain, harmonizes the stomach, and is the classical drug for hemorrhoidal bleeding, anal prolapse, hematochezia, gastric pain with vomiting, and seminal emission. Use is limited in modern practice given conservation concerns surrounding wild hedgehog populations.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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