History of the Chinese Medicinal Gelatin

Abstract This article discusses the history of animal glue (gelatin) used in medical practice in China. In ancient times, gelatin was widely made from cowhide and has been found in excavations and wall paintings older than 2000 years in Egypt, Greece, and China. However, it has been used medicinally almost exclusively in China and other East Asian countries influenced by Chinese medicine. Since 11th century, donkey-hide has gradually been replaced with cowhide in medicinal gelatin. Currently, donkey-hide gelatin is widely used medicinally in China. During the Edo period, medicinal gelatin was imported to Japan from China. Owing to the distaste for eating animal flesh in traditional Japanese culture, the production of gelatin and its medicinal use is not widespread in Japan.