strengthen kidneys, tonify lungs – help kidney grasp lung Qi – wheezing
assists kidney yang, strengthen essence and blood – impotence, day break diarrhea, urinary frequency

Origin

Medicinal gecko is the viscerated and dried body of Gekko gecko Linnaeus, Gechonidae.

Distribution

It is mainly produced in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Guangdong Province. Small quantity can be seen in Yunnan Province.

Nature and Affinity

The medicine is salty in taste and neutral in nature. Its therapeutic action is related to the Channels of the Lung and Kidney.

Characteristics

Medicinal gecko is a dried flat one. Generally, the length of the head and neck I s3-6cm, that of the trunk is 6-12cm, that of the tail is 6-12cm. The width of the back and abdomen is 6-11cm. The head is triangular in shape, the eyes are usually concave. Its teeth are small and closely arranged with no canine teeth. The proboscis is semi-circular in shape.

Proboscis scales are connected with nose scales but do not shut the nostrils. There are two nose scales, one is on the right, the other on the left, separated by the frontal scale. There are 24(12pairs) upper lip scales and 21 lower lip scales (including chin scale). The stretched abdomen and back is elliptic in shape, with the abdomen being thinner, back being grayish-black or silver-grey in colour. There are also whitish-yellow or greyish-green dots or unmarked veins on the back. The vertebrae and ribs are projecting. Gecko has four legs, each leg has five toes between which there are only vestiges of webs. There are sucking discs on the toe soles. The tail is thin and solid, with coccyxes seen outwardly, and has the same colour as that of the back. There are seven silver-grey annular rings round the tail. The whole body is covered with fine, close scales which are circular or polyangular in shape and have faint luster. Dried gecko has a smell of seafood, and is a bit salty in taste.  

Actions and indications

Invigorating the lung-qi and relieving cough and asthma.
It is efficacious in the treatment of cough due to deficiency of the lung, and cough and dyspnea due to failure of the kidney in receiving air, or consumptive diseases.
Restoring the kidney-yang and replenishing the vital essence and blood.
It is efficacious in the treatment of impotence due to insufficiency of kidney-yang and deficiency of vital essence and blood.  

Adminstration and dosage

Gecko is usually made into the forms of decoction, pill, powder or tincture. 3-6 grams are decocted as in a dose, to be taken daily. If powder is prescribed, take 1-2 grams of powder with water, three times a day.  

Caution

It is contraindicant in those who have syndromes characterized by dyspnea and cough due to wind and dampness or heat of excess type.

Articles

Acupuncturetoday: "Tell me about gecko."
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