Ta Gan 獭肝 — Chinese Herbal Medicine

Ta Gan (獭肝) At a Glance

• Herb: Ta Gan
• Chinese name: 獭肝 (Ta Gan)
• Latin name: Hepar Lutrae (Lutra lutra L.)
• Nature: Warm
• Taste: Sweet, Salty
• Meridian: Lung
• Category: Nourish KD LIV Yin

Ta Gan (獭肝), the dried liver of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), has been recorded since the Tang dynasty as a primary remedy for deep consumptive wasting — the classical lao zhai that maps broadly onto pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic Yin depletion. Its warm yet moistening character is exceptional among animal-source medicines: it enters the Lung without drying and its salty flavour descends to anchor Kidney essence while supporting Liver Blood. Classical physicians reserved it for bone-steaming fever, ghost-parasite transmission diseases, and haemoptysis that persisted after lighter medicinals had failed.

Actions & Therapeutic Effects

• Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin — replenishes essence and Blood in deep deficiency patterns marked by emaciation, dizziness, and lumbar weakness.
• Clears bone-steaming vacuity heat — cools Yin-fire of chronic deficiency, resolving afternoon fever, drenching night sweats, and five-centre heat.
• Kills parasites and relieves consumptive cough — classically addresses chuan shi zhu (ghost-transmission) disease; clinically maps to mycobacterial-pattern lung consumption with persistent dry cough.
• Arrests bleeding — restrains Lung-collateral bleeding in haemoptysis driven by Yin-deficiency fire flaming upward.
• Calms the spirit and steadies the will — salty-sweet nourishment of the Kidney root supports Zhi and reduces agitation in states of severe depletion.
• Supplements essence and marrow — animal-organ richness directly replenishes Jing, supporting bone density and cerebral nourishment in advanced deficiency.

Clinical Applications in TCM

• Bone-steaming fever with night sweats and progressive emaciation: combine with Bie Jia (Carapax Trionycis) and Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii) following the structure of Qin Jiao Bie Jia San.
• Pulmonary consumption with haemoptysis: pair with E Jiao (Colla Corii Asini) and Bai Ji (Rhizoma Bletillae) to nourish Yin and stanch Lung bleeding.
• Parasitic or ghost-transmission consumptive disease (chuan shi zhu): classical Ta Gan Wan uses the dried liver alone as powder; may be combined with She Gan (Rhizoma Belamcandae) for throat involvement.
• Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency with dizziness and tinnitus: combine with Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii) and Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata).
• Night sweats and seminal emission from Kidney Yin depletion: pair with Sang Piao Xiao (Ootheca Mantidis) and Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae) to astringe and consolidate.
• Chronic cough with blood-streaked sputum in consumptive presentation: use as powder 1–2 g with Bai He (Bulbus Lilii) decoction as vehicle to moisten the Lung.

Precautions & Safety

• Dosage: 1.5–3 g dried powder, taken directly or encapsulated; one whole fresh liver may be prepared as food-medicine by steaming or simmering in broth; decoction is less efficient due to protein degradation.
• Contraindications: avoid in excess-type conditions, active exterior invasion, or Spleen-Stomach weakness with loose stools — warm supplementing nature may aggravate damp-heat accumulation or worsen digestive insufficiency.
• Interactions: use cautiously alongside strongly warming Yang-tonics such as Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti) or Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi) in patients with concurrent Yin deficiency fire; no classical pharmaceutical drug interactions documented.

Classical TCM Formulas

• Ta Gan San (獭肝散): historical formula for chronic consumptive disease — NOT recommended in modern practice.
• Modern alternatives: Liver extracts, vitamin A, iron, and Dang Gui + Shu Di Huang provide equivalent or superior benefit without conservation concerns.

Herb Combinations

• Ta Gan (獭肝) + Dang Gui (当归) + Shu Di Huang (熟地黄): nourishes Liver Blood for chronic deficiency with night blindness and weakness.
• TA Gan is an obscure medicinal of primarily historical interest.
• Modern alternatives: animal liver extracts (from sustainable sources) and iron-B12 supplements.
• Conservation status: otters are protected in most jurisdictions; this medicinal is not recommended.

Pharmacology & Research

Vitamins: extremely high hepatic vitamin A and D concentrations support mucosal integrity, immune modulation, and bone metabolism, correlating with Yin-nourishing and marrow-supplementing actions.
Cobalamin (B12): dense vitamin B12 content promotes erythropoiesis and neurological repair, underpinning classical Blood-nourishing and spirit-calming effects.
Fatty acids: omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids exert anti-inflammatory activity consistent with clearing vacuity heat and reducing tissue catabolism in consumptive states.
Minerals: high zinc and iron concentrations support immune competence and haematopoiesis, reinforcing the haemostatic and Yin-consolidating actions.
Organ peptides: organ-specific bioactive peptides and a dense amino acid profile provide direct nutritional repletion in consumptive wasting, explaining the classical preference for Ta Gan over plant-source tonics in severe depletion.

Classical Descriptions

• “獭肝，甘，主鬼疰蛊毒，止久嗽，治传尸劳瘵。” — Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shi-zhen, 1578 CE, Scroll 51 (Otter,獭).