Forest Frog

Forest Frog

　　The meat of the Chinese forest frog is tender and easily digested and absorbed by the human body. It is suitable for people of all ages, especially those who are weak, sickly, or elderly, and has high nutritional and tonic value. When cooked, it releases a large amount of muscle-soluble protein and amino acids, among other nitrogenous extractives, giving it a rich and savory flavor. The Chinese forest frog, known for its delicious taste and abundant nutrients, became a tribute during the Ming and Qing dynasties and was listed among the palace’s “Eight Treasures” (ginseng, shark fin, bone, tripe, artemisia selengensis, bear paw, forest frog, and tendon), the “Four Mountain Delicacies” (bear paw, forest frog, hazel grouse, and monkey head mushroom), and the “Three New Treasures of the Northeast” (forest frog, rhodiola rosea, and immortality herb). The Chinese forest frog is considered the living ginseng of the wild ginseng in the Changbai Mountain region.

　　How to Consume Forest Frog Oil: Forest frog oil refers to the fallopian tubes of female forest frogs, processed using traditional techniques and modern advanced technology. It is named for its fat-like appearance, and its main components are free amino acids and trace amounts of animal hormones.

　　According to the "Chinese Pharmacopoeia": Toad oil is the dried placenta of mature female Chinese forest frogs and can be used medicinally. It has a greasy luster, an irregular brownish lump shape, and a slightly fishy smell.

　　The main components of forest frog oil are: 56.3% protein, of which 40.7% is pure protein, along with bufotenine, polysaccharides, phospholipids, vitamins, fatty acids, amino acids, trace elements, and various hormones.

　　Forest frog oil also contains 17β-estradiol, 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cholesterol, vitamin A, and small amounts of carotene. Its trace elements include iron, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and selenium. The essential amino acids it contains are three times those found in 30-year-old wild ginseng, and its economic value is 13 times that of northeastern red ginseng. 　　

　　Dried forest frog oil must be soaked in cool or warm water until it expands and softens before consumption. The soaking time required is 8–12 hours. High-quality forest frog oil will expand to 10–15 times its dry volume after soaking, becoming snow-white, swollen, soft, and elastic. Traditional methods of consuming forest frog oil include raw consumption and cooked consumption.

　　Raw consumption method: After soaking, the forest frog oil is consumed without steaming or cooking. The advantage is that certain components such as hormones and vitamins are not destroyed by high temperatures, thus preserving the full nutritional value of the frog oil. Cooked consumption method: The soaked forest frog oil is steamed and cooked before eating, which is the most commonly used method. Place the soaked frog oil in a bowl, and you may add a few dates or a few drops of alcohol to reduce the fishy smell. Rock sugar is generally added for flavor, though it can also be consumed without sugar. 　　

　　Forest frog oil dietary therapy methods include: 　　

　　(1) Treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis with coughing blood: 5 grams of forest frog oil, 2 grams of white fungus, an appropriate amount of white sugar, soaked in water and steamed for consumption, twice a day. 　　

　　(2) Treatment of neurasthenia: 5 grams of forest frog oil, an appropriate amount of white sugar, soaked in water and steamed for consumption, twice a day. 　　

　　(3) Treatment of post-illness weakness or consumptive diseases: 6 grams of forest frog oil, an appropriate amount of white sugar, steamed with water, taken on an empty stomach every morning. 　　

　　(4) Treatment of chronic bronchitis in the elderly: 10 grams of forest frog oil, steamed with water, taken once a day, with one course consisting of 10–15 days. 　　

　　(5) Forest Frog Great Tonic Tablets: The prescription includes forest frog oil, red ginseng, etc. The forest frog oil is processed and ground, mixed with red ginseng powder, then combined with excipients, and compressed into tablets following standard procedures, with each tablet weighing 0.5 grams. It has the effects of nourishing kidney essence, moistening lungs and yin, enriching blood and generating essence, greatly tonifying vital energy, and calming the spirit. 　　

　　(6) Cordyceps Forest Frog Capsules: The prescription includes forest frog oil, cordyceps sinensis, etc. The forest frog oil and cordyceps sinensis are ground and made into capsules. They have the functions of nourishing kidney essence, moistening lungs and yin, and are especially beneficial for regular smokers when taken over a long period.