Therapeutic uses of animal biles in traditional Chinese medicine: An ethnopharmacological, biophysical chemical and medicinal review

Figure 3 Four pages from Li Shi-Zhen’s Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu) published in 1596 CE in the Ming Dynasty. A: Goat (top left), pig (top right), Procapra przewalskii (Przewalskii’s gazelle) (bottom left) and dog (bottom right); B: Crow (top left) and raven (bottom right); C: Python (top right) and black snake (bottom left); D: Common carp (top right). The biles of these animals were introduced into traditional Chinese medicine as important drugs to treat various diseases as discussed in the text.