The Curious Afterlife of Human Fingernails in Traditional Chinese Medicine

     In an era defined by advanced pharmaceuticals, laboratory precision, and strict medical standards, it may come as a surprise that something as mundane as human fingernails can still command attention—and even value—in certain corners of China. Reports suggest that fingernails, historically known as jin tui in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have at times been purchased for as much as 300 yuan (over 40 USD) per half kilogram.

    The practice may appear unsettling to modern sensibilities, yet it carries a long historical lineage. Texts dating back to the Tang dynasty, such as Qianjin Yaofang by the eminent physician Sun Simiao, describe the use of fingernails to treat ailments in children. The idea, rooted in TCM’s holistic philosophy, was that the body itself produced substances capable of restoring balance when illness disturbed it. Through processes such as burning nails into ash and administering them in carefully prepared remedies, practitioners sought to harness what was perceived as a latent healing potential.

    During the mid-20th century, fingernails had not disappeared entirely from medical practice. Senior physicians recall prescriptions involving jin tui being issued into the 1960s. However, with the development of modern biochemistry and synthetic drugs, reliance on such remedies waned. Safer, more standardized substitutes were readily available, and fingernails gradually shifted from being a recognized materia medica to a curious cultural footnote.

    Even so, fingernails did not vanish entirely from pharmacological use. As recently as the past decade, pharmaceutical companies in China were reported to collect nails in bulk from schools and communities. After rigorous sterilization and processing, these were ground into powders used in patented formulas, such as Hou Yan Wan, a throat medicine that briefly drew public attention when consumers learned of its unconventional ingredients.

    From a scientific standpoint, the justification for using fingernails is tenuous. Composed largely of keratin—a fibrous protein also found in hair and animal hooves—fingernails are biologically inert once clipped. While trace minerals may exist, there is little evidence that they provide unique therapeutic benefits when ingested. More concerning are questions of hygiene, contamination, and sourcing. The very qualities that make nails durable also allow them to harbor dirt, bacteria, and chemicals, making proper sterilization a necessity.

    Yet the persistence of jin tui is not merely a medical matter. It reflects the enduring cultural weight of traditional practices and the deep respect for remedies transmitted across centuries. In societies where modernity and tradition frequently coexist, fingernails serve as a reminder of how the human body has long been regarded not only as a vessel for life but also as a potential source of medicine.

    Today, the use of human-derived substances in medicine has become exceedingly rare, constrained by both scientific scrutiny and ethical concerns. Still, the story of fingernails in TCM is valuable—not because they are likely to re-emerge as mainstream cures, but because they illustrate the evolving relationship between cultural heritage and modern science. What was once considered an accessible form of healing now serves as a historical artifact, revealing how medicine continually negotiates the boundary between belief, tradition, and empirical evidence.

Chatle