Pig Hoof Shell (Sus scrofa) — Dried Pig Trotter Nail for Traditional Herbal Decoction

Pig Hoof Shell (Sus scrofa) is the dried hoof nail of the domestic pig, known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Zhū Tí Jiǎ (猪蹄甲). For centuries, this humble animal-derived ingredient has been prized in folk herbal practice as a blood-quickening, swelling-reducing, and wind-extinguishing material, traditionally used to relieve numbness, ease joint stiffness, and support the movement of qi and blood. Its nature is sweet, neutral, and slightly balancing, making it a gentle yet persistent ingredient for simmering into long decoctions.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional animal-derived TCM ingredient
• Dried pig hoof shell (Zhū Tí Jiǎ)
• Sourced from Anhui, China
• 500g bulk pack for decoction use
• Food agricultural product grade

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is carefully cleaned and sun-dried to preserve its pale amber to ivory color, hard keratinous texture, and faintly earthy, neutral aroma. When simmered in a long decoction, the shells slowly soften and release a mild, slightly gelatinous character into the broth, contributing body without a strong taste of its own.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Traditional herbal decoction
• Folk soup and stew formulas
• Herbal soak and external wash preparations
• Bulk ingredient for herbal workshops
• Traditional wellness pantry staple

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Pig Hoof Shell is simmered into long decoctions and medicinal soups, often paired with blood-quickening and wind-extinguishing herbs such as safflower, angelica, and notopterygium. It is traditionally prepared in slow-cooked broths for supporting joint comfort and smooth movement of the limbs, and is also used in external wash formulas in some regional traditions. As a daily ingredient, it is placed back into the kitchen as a humble addition to nourishing winter soups.

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