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Other Common Names
Gejie

Page Number In Radiant Health
209

Pinyin
Gejie

Treasures
Jing and Qi

Treasure Rating
****1/2

Atmospheric Energy
Neutral

Organ Meridian Systems
Kidney and Lung

Part Used and Form
The spine and tail, and usually the flesh of the back

Primary Functions
Tonifies Yang of the Kidney, replenishes Yin essence of the Kidney, nourishes Yin of the Lung, enhances breathing and internal respiration, and builds blood.

Qualities
Gecko is used to tonify the Lung and Kidney functions. It is extremely effective and is very highly prized as a tonic. It is the lead herb in many patent formulations, and is regarded to be in the same league as Deer Antler and Cordyceps as a yang tonic to the Kidney. Like Cordyceps, it builds both Yang and Yin, and is therefor considered to be highly nourishing. It is considered to be an excellent blood and yin essence tonic.

Gecko is very commonly used in men's sexual potency-enhancing tonic formulations. Taken consistently for a period of time, Gecko is extremely reliable as a tonic to the male sexual functions. Though it is not considered aphrodisiac, it does have very long lasting results once they kick in, somewhere between a week and a month after you start taking it. Like all Yang Kidney tonics, Gecko strengthens the lower back.

Gecko is a powerful Lung tonic. It is traditionally used as in a great many lung tonic formulations, as it is said to enhance the extraction of Qi (energy) from the air. Used with Ginseng and/or Astragalus, it empowers breathing enormously and builds endurance. No more powerful energy building combination exists in Chinese tonic herbalism. That is why Gecko formulas have always been a favorite of Chinese Gung Fu masters and is now a favorite of athletes around the world. Gecko is also used for coughs due to cold and to relieve asthma that is stimulated by cold.

Preparation and Utilization
It may be cooked as a decoction (a soup) or even ground into powder and consumed raw. Generally, consuming the equivalent of 4-7 grams a day as a decoction and 1-3 grams a day as a powder is quite effective and safe.

Primary Combinations
Gecko may be used alone to tonify the Kidney. But most often it is combined with other herbs. Combine with:

1. Ginseng, Deer Antler, Astragalus, Lycium and Schizandra to tonify the whole body
2. Ginseng, Astragalus and Atractylodes as a superb qi tonic
3. Ginseng Root, Deer Antler and Epimedium for impotence or to further tonify the Kidney yang
4. Lycium, Morinda and Drynaria, to strengthen the back
5. Astragalus, Asparagus root, Ophiopogon and Schizandra as a Lung tonic
6. Ginseng Root (or American Ginseng Root) Apricot Seed and Fritillary bulb to relieve cough and asthma due to Lung and Kidney deficiency

Varieties and Grading
There are many varieties of Gecko. The main characteristic to look for, as always, is the freshness of the dried Gecko. If you compare samples from several places, you will note that some appear to be more firm and newer than others. Obviously, select the newest ones. I generally prefer larger Geckos, but smaller ones have equivalent potency (just less because they are smaller). Geckos are always sold in pairs---one male and one female. You must remove the head and legs---they are slightly toxic and do not possess the tonic components anyway . Have your herbalist remove them for you. Use both Geckos together to make you soup.

Contraindications
: Do not use if you are suffering from an acute hot condition, such as the acute (feverish) stage of the flu.