Source Lurong is the young pilose antler of maleCervus nippon Temminck orC. elaphus L., (Fam. Cerridae).
Producing Areas Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Qinghai, etc.
Properties Sweet, Salty, Warm
Channels Liver, Kidney
Action
Invigorates kidney-yang, supplements essence and blood and strengthens the tendons and bones
- For deficiency ofkidney-yang manifested as cold limbs, fatigue, backache, impotence, emission and frequent micturition, enuresis, sterility, metrorrhagja or leucorrhagia.
- For hypofunction of kidney with shortness of breath and dyspnea.
- Foryang-deficiency and insufficiency of essence and blood manifested as flaccidity of extremities, or maldevelopment, delayed walking, delayed teeth growth and delayed closure of fontanel in infants, or unhealed skin lesion.
- For dizziness, tinnitus, palpitation and forgetfulness.
Usage and Dosage
1.5 – 3g of powder is swallowed 3 times daily, or soaked in spirit for drinking, or used in pills or powder. Stewed Lurong can be used, 0.9 – 1.5g for each time.
Notes Contraindicated for febrile disease due to exogenous pathogenic factors, excessive heat in lung and stomach, deficiency ofyin and hyperactivity ofyang. The dosage should gradually increase from small to large.
Jurong
- One-branch-fork antler
It is cylinder-shaped with one lateral branch. The main horn orDating is 17 – 21cm long. The diameter of the cut is 4 – 5cm. The lateral branch is thinner, 9 – 15cm long with a spherical top and slightly curved upper part customarily calledHuitou. The surface is reddish brown or brown. Most of them are smooth and glossy, covered by dense reddish yellow or tan fine velvet. The saw-cut is yellowish white with dense honeycomb-shaped eyelets. It is hard, slightly fishy and salty, and light in weight. - Two-branch-fork antler
- Three-Branch Pilose Antlers
It has two branches. TheDating is thinner than one-branch-fork antler’s, 23 – 33cm long, slightly arch-shaped. The tops of the branches are slightly pointed. There are longitudinal sinews and lumps on the lower part. The surface of skin is orange but not fine.
The regrowth is similar to the first crop but itsDating is longer and not rounded. The skin is grey yellow, not fine. It is heavier, not fishy, with ossified periphery around the cut.
Kanrong
It is cut with skull. The distance between two Datings is about 7 cm. The rear has a pair of arc bones called Huya.
Description of Quality Herb
The good antler of Sika is short, round and thick in size, light in weight and tender, with sphere-topped Huitou and fine soft glossy reddish brown velvet.
This includes East Ma Lurong and West Ma Lurong. They have more lateral branches, with one branch calledDanmen, with two calledLianhua, with three branches calledSancha, and so on. The most common areLianhua andSancha.
East pilose antlers of the red deer
TheDating ofDanmen is 24 – 27cm long, about 3cm in diameter. Its skin is ash black with dark blue or grey yellow fur. The skin part in the saw cut is thick and ash black. The centre is tender, with dense eyelets. TheDating ofLianhua can be 33cm long with sinews on the lower part and bigger honeycomb-shaped eyelets on the cut.Sancha is tougher with dark colour skin. The fur ofSicha is sparse and not fine and there is no fur on the top of the branches.
West pilose antlers of the red deer
Jurong: It is bigger and thicker, 30 – 100cm long. The surface is shrunken and withered with edges. The lateral branches are longer and curved with grey or grey black, long but not fine fur. There is usually ossification appearing on the dark colour cut. It is fishy and salty.
Kanrong: The distance of the twoDatings is more than 7cm. There is noHuya.
Storage
Keep in a wooden crate with camphor powder (the camphor should be wrapped with paper) or Chinese Prickly-ash. Cooking wine can also be sprayed around it. Put in a dry place. Protect it from moisture and moths.
Description of Quality Herb
The good antler of red deer is thick in size, tender and light in weight with thick skin, grey brown glossy fur, no sinews and lumps on the lower part. Hua Lurong is better than Ma Lurong.
Professional Advice
Lurong is classified according to how it is gathered. There are two main types, sawn and chopped.
Sawn antlers are harvested from deer three years old and older.
Chopped antlers are taken from old, sick or injured deer. The top of the skull is removed together with the antler and excess flesh scraped off before the whole piece is boiled, dried and processed.
The males of sambar, white-lipped deer, reindeer, moose, fallow deer, etc. have tender horn with velvet. In some areas, they are used as Lurong.
Fakes
Artificial Lurong is made from covered deer horn, plastic or sawdust, covered by the skin of mice, deer or sheep. It is heavier and does not look natural. Soaked in hot water, the parts combined will break up and peel.
Mutton Soup with Szechuan Lovage and Pilose Antler
Effects
It is beneficial to the health of those who suffer from migraines related to a lack of warmth in the kidneys. It warms the kidneys, supplements the vital essence and the blood, and relieves headaches.
Ingredients
Mutton 150g, pilose antler (sliced) 8g, Szechuan lovage 12g, cynomorium 15g, red dates 6.
Preparation
- Wash and blanch the mutton. Cut it into pieces. Rinse the various herbs separately, removing the date pits.
- Place all the prepared ingredients in a pot with an adequate amount of water. Bring to a rolling boil, then stew for 3 hours. Remove the dregs, season and serve.
Pig Kidney Soup with Pilose Antler and Wolfberry
Effects
This soup can relieve a variety of symptoms, and is a preferred medicine for treating ailments associated with insufficient warmth in the kidneys.
Ingredients
Pilose antler 10g, wolfberry 25g, pig kidneys 2.
Preparation
- Wash the pig kidneys thoroughly and chop them. Stir-fry them with fresh ginger.
- Add the hairy deerhorn and wolfberry with an adequate amount of water, and stew till all the ingredients are cooked. Season and serve.