VARIANT NAMES: Dan, Huangdan, Danyu, Sea Snake, Ricefield Eel
ORIGIN: The flesh or the whole of Monopterus albus [Symbranchidae].
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: In every 100g of the edible part of an eel, there are 18.8g of protein, 0.9g of fat, 38mg of calcium, 150mg of phosphorus and 1.6mg of iron.
NATURE, FLAVOR AND CHANNEL TROPISM: Sweet in flavor and warm in nature, acting on the channels of the liver, spleen and kidney.
EFFICIENCIES AND INDICATIONS: Treating deficiency syndromes, expelling pathogenic wind and dampness, strengthening the muscles and bones. It is used to treat impairment due to consumptive diseases, arthralgia caused by pathogenic wind-cold-dampness, postpartmu stranguria, dysentery with pus and blood in the stools, Boils on Hand and Foot and Herpes Simplex.
DIRECTIONS: To be boiled in clear soup or steamed, or made into medicated diet. Its flesh can be made into small balls and quick-boiled in boiling clear water. When used externally, it is to be pounded for application to, or sliced to stick on, the affected part.