☯ TCM Properties
Stops bleeding; Promotes diuresis; Removes nebula
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ren Zhi Jia (Unguis Hominis) is a human-derived material of the classical materia medica, consisting of cleaned, processed human fingernail clippings. It is recorded as sweet and salty in flavour and neutral in nature, entering the Liver and Lung channels, and is described as stopping bleeding, promoting urination, and removing nebula (corneal opacity). Traditional texts such as the Bencao Gangmu list it among human-source medicinals used for epistaxis and other bleeding, haematuria and difficult urination, sore throat, and eye disorders with clouding of vision, often calcined and powdered for use.
This is presented for historical and reference purposes. Human-body substances are essentially obsolete in contemporary practice, raise clear ethical and hygiene concerns, and have no place in modern clinical prescribing; the entry documents traditional usage only and is not a recommendation to obtain or use the material.
Botanical Description
Ren Zhi Jia (人指甲), also called Unguis Hominis or Ren Jia in classical sources, is the human fingernail used as a traditional Chinese medicinal substance. The keratinous nail clippings are collected, cleaned, soaked in alkaline water, washed, and dried before use, sometimes calcined to a fine ash. Composed chiefly of fibrous keratin, the material is classified in TCM as sweet and salty, neutral, entering the Liver and Lung channels. Classical indications include bleeding from external wounds, sore throat, ear discharge, and difficult labor, where it has been used topically or in small ground or charred doses. Modern practice rarely employs Ren Zhi Jia due to ethical, hygienic, and biosafety concerns surrounding human-derived substances, and it is omitted from most contemporary materia medica.
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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