Lu Tai
Cervus nippon Temminck / Cervus elaphus Linnaeus
โฏ TCM Properties
Tonifies Kidney Yang; Nourishes Blood and Generates Essence; Regulates menstruation and stops bleeding; Warms the Uterus and Promotes Fertility; Warms and Tonifies the Lower Origin
Botanical Description
Lu Tai is the dried fetus and associated placental tissue of sika deer (Cervus nippon) or red deer (Cervus elaphus), obtained from gravid does processed in the deer farming industry. The intact preparation appears as a small curled mammalian embryo or fetus with attached placenta and umbilical structures, dried, and traditionally either used whole, powdered, or steeped in spirits. The colour ranges from dark reddish-brown to nearly black with a leathery surface. This material is rich in proteins, peptides, hormones, and growth factors retained from late-gestation tissue. This is an animal product, not a plant, and is one of several deer-derived materials catalogued in the Chinese materia medica alongside velvet antler and ossified antler.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-30g | Daily | โ | โ | โ |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Lu Tai (deer placenta) is a warm, precious substance used in Chinese medicine as a profound Kidney Yang and Essence tonic. It is used for severe Kidney and Spleen deficiency โ particularly postpartum exhaustion, infertility, and conditions of premature aging โ where deep nourishment of Jing, Qi, and Blood are required simultaneously. As a flesh-like substance rich in growth factors and hormonal precursors, it is categorized among the most restorative animal tonics, comparable to human placenta (Zi He Che) in its depth of action.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.