Donkey-hide gelatin is a good thing, but only for those who are blood-deficient or have both qi and blood deficiency. To be more precise, even people with a so-called balanced constitution who are neither deficient nor excessive can consume it. Conversely, people with excess pathogens in their bodies should not take it. Not only will it be of no benefit, but it will also be a waste of money and cause suffering.
I. Who Should Not Take Donkey-hide Gelatin
1. People with heavy Dampness in their bodies
Symptoms can include a dry, bitter, or sticky mouth, fatigue, dizziness or a muddled head, abdominal bloating, and poor bowel movements. Most importantly, the tongue coating will be thick and greasy, either white or yellow.
2. People with Blood Stasis in their bodies
Signs include a dull complexion, hyperpigmentation, a tendency to bruise, dark lips, a dusky tongue with possible ecchymosis (purple spots), purplish or thickened sublingual veins, and a choppy pulse. Women often have menstrual issues, such as delayed periods, blood clots, abdominal pain, a dark color, and a short duration.
3. People who are prone to "heatiness" or "fire"
For example, those with Heart fire, Liver fire, or Lung fire, or even those with yin deficiency and fire. If they only take donkey-hide gelatin, it can lead to a condition where the body cannot accept the nourishment, and the fire will only grow stronger.
II. A Brief Explanation of the Functions of Donkey-hide Gelatin
1. Donkey-hide gelatin tonifies the blood. Taking it can promote the growth rate of hemoglobin and red blood cells, with better efficacy than iron supplements. It can effectively improve symptoms of blood deficiency such as pale lips, nails, and eyelids; a sallow complexion; dizziness; and palpitations.
2. Donkey-hide gelatin stops bleeding. It can be used to treat bleeding conditions such as hemoptysis (coughing up blood), hematemesis (vomiting blood), hematuria (blood in urine), melena (blood in stool), and bleeding during pregnancy.
3. Donkey-hide gelatin nourishes yin and moistens dryness. During the dry seasons of spring and autumn, respiratory diseases like coughs are common. Donkey-hide gelatin can be used to nourish the lung fluids to treat coughs. It can also be used for conditions caused by insufficient body fluids, such as vexation, restlessness, and insomnia.