An Introduction to the Benefits, Effects and Common Ways to Consume Deer Penis

Deer penis is the dried product made from the penis and testicles of sika deer or red deer. It has traditionally been classified as a tonic Chinese medicinal herb, and is also known among the public as lucong or lushen. Chinese medicine holds that it is warm in nature and sweet-salty in taste, mainly entering the liver and kidney meridians. It has long been regarded as a yang-tonifying medicinal material, often used for winter tonification or for making medicinal liquor. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, deer penis is often used to address soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, aversion to cold and fear of chilliness, poor spirits and reduced energy caused by insufficient kidney yang, and it is also believed to help replenish essence and blood and strengthen the tendons and bones. These understandings mainly come from long-term traditional medicinal experience; its specific components and mechanisms of action still lack sufficient modern research, and actual effects vary from person to person, so it should be viewed rationally. In daily use, the most common way to consume deer penis is to make deer penis liquor, and some people also stew it in soup or simmer it into a paste together with medicinal materials such as ginseng, goji berry and cistanche. Dried deer penis generally needs to be fully soaked and cleaned before use; it can be sliced or cut into sections and then simmered slowly for a long time, and the dosage should start small rather than taking too much at once. It should be noted that deer penis is warm and hot in nature and is not suitable for everyone; those with yin deficiency and hyperactive fire, those prone to internal heat, or those with a hot constitution should use it with caution, and people with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure had best consult a Chinese medicine practitioner first. When purchasing, choose legitimate channels and take care to distinguish genuine from fake products. Dried products should be sealed and stored in a cool, dry place to prevent dampness and mold, and once they have spoiled they should no longer be consumed.