Wuzhou Gecko (fixed on bamboo strips, flat, triangular head, large sunken eyes, dense fine teeth along the jaw edge, gray-brown spots on the back, shiny fine scales, slender and firm bony tail joints)

【Naming】

Gecko

 【Source】

Song Kaibao

 【Frequency of Use】

E

 【Botanical Origin】

Dried product of Gecko Gecko gecko L. of the Gekkonidae family, with internal organs removed.

 【Characteristics】

It is the dried whole body, fixed on bamboo strips in a flat shape. The head and trunk are 10~15㎝ long, and the tail is 10~14㎝ long; the abdomen is 6~10㎝ wide. The head is large, flat and long, the eyes are large and sunken, and the distance between the eyes is concave and groove-shaped. Fine keratinous teeth are densely grown on the edge of the jaw, and there are no large teeth on the jaw edge. The back is gray-black or silver-gray, with gray-brown or gray-green spots. The vertebrae and ribs on both sides are peak-shaped protrusions. The whole body is densely covered with circular, elliptical, and polygonal fine scales with a slight luster. Each limb has 5 fingers and toes, except for the first finger and toe, all have claws, and the soles of the toes have suction cups. The tail is slender and firm, thick at the top and thin at the bottom, with bony joints visible in the middle. The color is the same as the back, with silver rings and a slender tail. The body and tail are silvery-gray and almost equal in length. The texture is firm and tough, the smell is fishy, and the taste is slightly salty.

 【Preparation】

1. Remove the head, feet, and scales from the original medicinal material before use. 2. Stir-fry for use. 3. Wine-Gecko

 【Identification】

“[Li Xun said] If you hold a little in your mouth and run without panting, it is the real thing.” 《Compendium of Materia Medica》. “Geckos born in Western Yue are the best, and those that make eight or nine sounds at night are the best.” 《New Compilation of Materia Medica》. “Geckos with mottled patterns that emit light are genuine.” 《Compilation of Experience Prescriptions》.
The best are those with a bluish back, fine scales, a pointed head, a grayish-white belly, a large and complete body, a complete tail, fat and strong, five toes, no insect damage, and no breakage. Smaller ones with broken tails are second best.

 【Identification Terminology】

1. Pearl scales: refers to the gray circular small scales on the body surface of Gecko.
2. Remove the five needles: refers to the Gecko with the head, feet, and scales removed.
3. Suction cup (modern term): It has functions such as adsorption, feeding, and movement. In vertebrates, the skin folds on the ventral surface of the toes of Gecko form suction cups.

 【Chapter】

Vertebrates