The efficacy and side effects of fish bladder

Fish maw is what we call fish bubble in spoken language. In the early years, we would not eat fish maw when eating fish. When cleaning the fish, the fish maw would be thrown away directly together with the fish scales, or saved for cats to eat. But now more and more people like to eat fish maw, because they think fish maw tastes chewy. They will go to the vegetable market specifically to buy fish maw, and then come back to stir-fry or braise it. What are the benefits and side effects of eating fish bladders?

[Other names] sturgeon, seven-grain float, Chinese sturgeon, sturgeon, eel, bitter wax, tuna, yellow croaker

[Source] Acipenser schrencki Brandt, Acipenser schrencki Brandt; Chinese sturgeon A. sinensis Gray, the swim bladder is used as medicine.

【Habitat distribution】Heilongjiang and Yangtze River basins.

【Functions and indications】Nourish and strengthen. It is mainly used to treat spermatorrhea due to kidney deficiency, hematemesis, leucorrhea and malignant tumors.

【Usage and Dosage】3 to 5 cents.

[Additional recipe] To treat leucorrhea: 2 qian of fish maw and 1 pig's trotter, put them in a casserole, add appropriate amount of water, and simmer over low heat until cooked.

For the treatment of malignant tumors: 3 qian of fish maw, 4 qian of (fried) Fuluo liver, grind them into fine powder, take 2 qian each time, 3 times a day.

[Note] The sources of fish maw vary. The maws of Acipenser and Huso of the Acipenser family are both used as medicine.

【Excerpt】National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicines

[Source] "Compendium of Materia Medica"

[Other names] anchovy (Qimin Yaomu), fish milt, fish maw (Bencao Shiyi), fish glue (Sanyin Fang), white fish maw (Puji Fang), fish bladder, fish glue (Compendium of Materia Medica), fish maw (Yilin Zuanyao).

[Source] The swim bladders of large yellow croaker and small yellow croaker from the family Sciaenidae, or Chinese sturgeon and locust fish from the family Acipenseridae. After obtaining the fish maw, cut it open, remove the blood vessels and mucous membrane, wash it, flatten it, and dry it in the sun; or wash it and use it fresh. After melting, the condensed jelly is called "swim bladder jelly".

[Original form] The animal forms are detailed in the entries for "stonefish", "sturgeon" and "shad".

[Habitat distribution] Produced in Zhejiang, Fujian, Shanghai and other places.

[Properties] Dried swim bladder is mostly pressed into oblong thin slices, which are light yellow, horny and slightly shiny. The swim bladder of yellow croaker is smaller, while the swim bladder of sturgeon and locust is larger and has two vertical bands. It is tough and not easy to tear, and the broken parts are fibrous; it swells easily in water and almost dissolves completely when boiled. The thick solution solidifies into a jelly after cooling, which is very viscous. It has a slightly fishy smell and a light taste. The commodities are collectively referred to as fish maw. The swim bladder of sturgeon and whitebait is called "yellow lip belly" or "yellow sturgeon glue". The fish glue cut into lines is called "line fish glue".

"Ben Jing Feng Yuan" states: "When using swim bladder glue to make pills, cut it into small pieces, fry clam powder into beads, then grind it into powder. Mix it with refined honey, and wait until it is cool before use. Do not pound it, as pounding it will make it sticky and tough, making it difficult to make pills."

【Nature and flavor】Sweet, neutral.

Side effects of fish maw: People with poor stomach and excessive phlegm should not take it.