Ingredient Animal — part (动物部分 dòng wù bù fèn)

Xiang Pi

Elephant Skin · 象皮

Elephas maximus Linnaeus (or Elephas africanus Blumenbach) · Corium Elephatis

Also known as: Elephant Hide

Xiàng Pí (Elephant Skin) is a traditional animal-derived remedy used externally to stop bleeding and promote the healing of stubborn wounds and ulcers. It works by encouraging new tissue growth and closing sores that fail to heal on their own.

Category Herbs that draw out toxins, resolve putrefaction, and generate flesh (拔毒化腐生肌药) Substances for external application (外用药)
Therapeutic focus Wound healing Skin health Burn recovery Ulcer care

TCM Properties

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Salty (咸 xián)

Channels entered

Spleen, Urinary Bladder

Parts used

Animal — part (动物部分 dòng wù bù fèn)

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Ingredient Does

Every ingredient has a specific set of actions — here's what Xiang Pi does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Xiang Pi is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Wound healing Skin health Burn recovery Ulcer care

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Xiang Pi performs to restore balance in the body:

Stops bleeding Generates flesh and closes wounds Astringes sores and reduces exudate

How these actions work

“Stops bleeding” means Xiàng Pí has a direct astringent and hemostatic effect when dusted onto a bleeding wound, helping to form a protective seal and reduce oozing. This action is especially valuable in cuts, surgical incisions, and raw wound surfaces that continue to seep.

“Generates flesh and closes wounds” (生肌 shēng jī) is the herb's signature function: it actively stimulates the formation of healthy granulation tissue and accelerates the closure of indolent ulcers and chronic wounds that have resisted healing. The sweet and warm properties provide the nutritional impetus for new tissue to fill the defect.

“Astringes sores and reduces exudate” addresses the dampness common to many long-standing wounds. Xiàng Pí dries and tightens the wound edge, reducing weeping and creating a clean environment for new skin to grow across the surface.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Xiang Pi is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Xiang Pi addresses this pattern

Xiàng Pí directly addresses the failure of tissue repair inherent in Spleen Qi Deficiency, where the Spleen's governing function over flesh and limbs is compromised. Its sweet taste tonifies the Spleen, and its warm nature stimulates the generative process, promoting the formation of healthy granulation tissue and closure of chronic wounds that would otherwise remain open and weeping.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Chronic non-healing wound

ulcers that fail to close or keep reopening

Fatigue

underlying fatigue and weakness

Poor Appetite

poor appetite and loose stools

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Xiang Pi is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Spleen Qi Deficiency Qi and Blood Deficiency

TCM Interpretation

From a TCM perspective, a chronic wound that refuses to heal reflects a local exhaustion of Qi and Blood, often driven by Spleen Qi Deficiency. The Spleen is responsible for transforming food into the nutrients that build flesh and muscles. When Spleen Qi is weak, the raw materials for new tissue are lacking, and the wound bed remains pale, stagnant, and unable to close.

Why Xiang Pi Helps

Xiàng Pí acts directly on the wound to supply the impetus for flesh regeneration. Its sweet taste tonifies the Spleen and nourishes the local tissue, while its salty and warm nature astringes weeping and stops minor bleeding. By creating a film over the wound, it protects the area and guides the formation of healthy granulation, effectively bridging the gap where systemic Qi and Blood are insufficient to close the injury.

Also commonly used for

Diabetic Foot Ulcer

speeds healing of diabetic foot wounds and reduces infection risk

Burn wound

used in ointments to promote skin regeneration after burns

Anal Fissure

promotes closure of chronic anal fissures and reduces pain

Hemorrhoids

helps resolve thrombosed external hemorrhoids when applied topically

Ingredient Properties

Every ingredient has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Salty (咸 xián)

Channels Entered

Spleen Urinary Bladder

Parts Used

Animal — part (动物部分 dòng wù bù fèn)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Xiang Pi — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

External use only. Apply an appropriate amount of the powder or ointment to the wound surface. Typically, 0.5–1g of fine powder sprinkled evenly over the wound area, or a layer of ointment, changed once daily or as needed.

Maximum dosage

External only; no formal maximum established. Excessive application may cake and impede wound drainage; use only enough to lightly cover the wound.

Dosage notes

This herb is for external use only; there is no safe or established internal dosage. The amount used is determined by wound size, generally enough to cover the wound lightly. When using as an ointment, a thin layer is applied. Frequency: once daily or as prescribed. It must never be taken orally.

Preparation

Xiang Pi is never decocted. It is used externally as a powder or in ointment form. To prepare the powder, the dried skin is traditionally fried with talc or sand until puffed and yellow, then ground. For ointment, the skin is boiled in sesame oil with other ingredients to form a thick paste. For the charred form (煅象皮), the skin is calcined in a sealed container until carbonized but still retaining its shape, then ground, to enhance astringent and hemostatic actions.

Processing Methods

In TCM, the same ingredient can be prepared in different ways to change its effects — here's how processing alters what Xiang Pi does

Processing method

The fresh elephant hide is thoroughly cleaned, any residual fascia and fat are removed, and the skin is cut into large pieces and dried in the sun. It is then cut into smaller blocks or thick slices.

How it changes properties

In this raw form, the skin retains its full collagen structure and moisture content. Its properties are warm, sweet, and salty; it generates flesh and closes wounds. It is suitable for making slow-cooked ointments where the whole skin is boiled in oil.

When to use this form

Primarily used to prepare traditional ointments (ointments such as 生肌象皮膏), where the raw skin is simmered in sesame oil to extract its wound-healing components.

Common Ingredient Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Xiang Pi for enhanced therapeutic effect

Hai Piao Shao
Hai Piao Shao 1:1, often finely powdered and mixed into ointment base

Xiàng Pí generates flesh while Hǎi Piāo Shāo astringes and dries dampness. Together they form a balanced pair for wet, oozing ulcers: Hǎi Piāo Shāo dries the wound bed so Xiàng Pí can better adhere and promote tissue growth.

When to use: Chronic ulcers with clear or serous exudate that hinder wound closure.

Ru Xiang
Ru Xiang Rǔ Xiāng 3g : Xiàng Pí 6g (ointments)

Rǔ Xiāng invigorates Blood and reduces swelling, while Xiàng Pí stops bleeding and promotes flesh generation. The pair combines healing with mild pain relief, making it ideal for traumatic wounds with residual swelling and discomfort.

When to use: Lacerations or surgical wounds that are healing slowly and still painful.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Bai Ji
Xiang Pi vs Bai Ji

Bái Jí also stops bleeding and generates flesh, but it is cold and better suited for Heat-type lesions with a yellow coating. Xiàng Pí is warm and targets chronic, cold-type ulcers that are pale and stagnant, making it the first choice for non-healing sores with underlying Qi deficiency.

Xue Jie
Xiang Pi vs Xue Jie

Xuè Jié is stronger at invigorating Blood and treating traumatic injuries with Blood stasis and sharp pain, while Xiàng Pí's primary strengths are closing gaping wounds and generating flesh in weak, undernourished tissue.

Identity & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Xiang Pi

Because authentic elephant skin is now banned from international trade, historically encountered commercial samples are often adulterated or entirely substituted with other thick animal skins such as pig skin, cowhide, or even rhinoceros skin. However, true authenticated elephant skin has not appeared in legal commerce for decades. In modern practice, intended therapeutic effects are replaced by medical-grade collagen dressings, processed porcine skin matrix, or herbal wound-healing formulas.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any ingredient.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Xiang Pi

Non-toxic

Xiang Pi is traditionally classified as non-toxic and is safe for external use when applied to clean wounds. Because it is an animal protein, allergic reactions (itching, redness, rash) are possible in sensitive individuals. No systemic toxicity is expected from topical application. Modern conservation laws, not toxicity concerns, have led to its withdrawal from use.

Contraindications

Situations where Xiang Pi should not be used or requires extra caution

Avoid

Wounds with unresolved pus or infection (脓毒未尽): using this astringent herb too early can trap pathogens inside and worsen the infection.

Avoid

Known allergy to animal-derived proteins: risk of contact dermatitis or systemic allergic reaction.

Caution

Deep or heavily contaminated wounds: astringent action may seal in debris and bacteria; thorough debridement must precede application.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

External application on small, clean wounds during pregnancy is likely low risk, but there are no formal safety studies. Due to its animal origin and potential for unknown systemic absorption, avoid use on large denuded areas or extensive burns. Practitioners generally advise against using any animal-derived wound products during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.

Breastfeeding

Topical use on intact skin is unlikely to result in significant systemic absorption or transfer into breast milk. However, avoid applying near the nipple or on areas that the infant might contact directly. As with pregnancy, there is no formal safety data, and some authorities recommend caution with animal-derived external remedies during lactation.

Children

Xiang Pi is not recommended for infants or young children except under strict professional guidance. There is minimal data on its safety in pediatric populations. If used, it must be limited to external application on small, clean wounds, with close monitoring for allergic reactions or skin irritation.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Xiang Pi

No known drug interactions with topical external use. Because the skin acts as a barrier, systemic absorption of active compounds is negligible, making interactions with oral or injectable medications unlikely. If applying over large areas of broken skin, theoretical absorption could interact with systemic medications, but no such cases are documented.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Xiang Pi

While using this herb externally for wound healing, traditional dietary advice includes avoiding spicy, greasy, fried, and strongly flavored foods, as well as 'fa wu' (发物) such as seafood, lamb, and alcohol, which are believed to provoke inflammation and slow wound healing. A bland, nutritious diet rich in protein and vitamins is encouraged to support tissue repair.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Xiang Pi source animal

This is not a botanical substance. Xiang Pi (象皮) is derived from the skin of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) or the African elephant (Elephas africanus). The Asian elephant is a massive land mammal reaching up to 2.5 metres in height and weighing 3.5–6 tons. It has a large head with a concave forehead, a long flexible trunk, small eyes, and large ears that drape over the sides of the neck. The skin is thick, grayish to brown, and deeply folded, with sparse coarse hair. Elephants inhabit tropical forests and grasslands, living in social herds with no fixed territory. They are native to South and Southeast Asia (Asian elephant) and sub-Saharan Africa (African elephant).

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Xiang Pi is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

No specific season; the hide was traditionally collected after the natural death of an elephant, or historically through hunting, in any season.

Primary growing regions

Asian elephant range: Yunnan Province in China, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Indonesia. African elephant range: various countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Historically, skins were obtained from these regions.

Quality indicators

Authentic elephant skin pieces should be dry, large, and thick (0.5–2 cm). The outer surface is light gray-black with fine granular protrusions and sometimes coarse brown-black hairs. The inner surface is gray-white to gray-brown with fibrous texture and wrinkles. The cross-section is gray-white to yellow-brown; thin slices are semi-transparent. The material has a faint animal odor. Good quality is indicated by thick pieces, gray-white cross-section, absence of insect damage, and freedom from residual flesh or fat. (Note: trade is now illegal, so this description is historical only.)

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Xiang Pi and its therapeutic uses

《医学入门》(Medical Entry, Ming Dynasty):
“煎膏药，去腐生新，易于敛口。”
“Boiled into a paste, it removes putrefaction, generates new tissue, and readily closes wounds.”

《本草纲目》(Compendium of Materia Medica, 1593):
“治下疳，烧灰和油敷之。又治金疮不合。”
“Treats genital ulcers: burn to ash, mix with oil and apply. Also treats metal-wound (sharp injury) that will not close.”

《本草新编》(New Compilation of Materia Medica, Qing Dynasty):
“专能生肌长肉，定狂，止呕吐。”
“Specially capable of generating flesh and promoting tissue growth, calming mania, and stopping vomiting.”

《本草再新》(Further New Materia Medica, Qing Dynasty):
“治湿痹。”
“Treats damp impediment.”

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Xiang Pi's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Xiang Pi was first recorded as a medicinal substance in the Kai Bao Ben Cao (开宝本草, 973 AD), an official Song Dynasty pharmacopoeia, and later elaborated by Li Shizhen in the Ben Cao Gang Mu (1593). The name simply means “elephant skin,” reflecting its straightforward origin as the dried hide of the Asian or African elephant. In classical surgery, elephant skin was prized for its remarkable ability to promote wound closure and tissue regeneration, becoming a mainstay in pastes and powders for chronic, non-healing ulcers, burns, and traumatic injuries. Famous imperial and military surgeons valued it for battlefield wounds. Because elephant skin contains abundant collagen and trace minerals, when processed into ash or powder it forms a protective astringent layer over wounds while stimulating granulation. In the 20th century, preparations such as “生肌象皮膏” (Flesh-Generating Elephant Skin Ointment) achieved high cure rates in diabetic foot ulcers, bedsores, and burns. However, since the late 20th century, international CITES restrictions and China’s domestic ban on elephant product trade have made authentic elephant skin virtually unavailable in modern practice. Today, ethically acceptable substitutes such as specially processed pig skin, medical collagen dressings, and herbal analogues have largely replaced elephant skin in clinical wound care.

Modern Research

A published study investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Xiang Pi

1

A retrospective study on the clinical efficacy and economic benefits of Xiangpi Ointment and Pressure Ulcer Powder in the management of stages II and III pressure injuries (2025)

Peng Y, Huang XQ, Song D, et al. Journal of Clinical Personalized Medicine, 2025, 4(6): 28-36.

This retrospective analysis of 58 hospitalized patients with stage II–III pressure injuries compared Xiangpi Ointment alone, Xiangpi Ointment plus Pressure Ulcer Powder, and recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor gel (Beifuxin). All three treatments achieved significant improvements in PUSH scores and wound healing rates without statistical differences between groups (P>0.05). Notably, the Xiangpi Ointment was the most cost-effective, with significantly lower medication costs (P<0.001), suggesting comparable efficacy at reduced expense.

Link

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.