Can eating Crocodile meat cure asthma, according to TCM?

Many asthma sufferers have attested to eating crocodile meat as a cure of asthma.

Crocodile is popularly farmed in Thailand, Australia, Malaysia and China. Downloading of this image constitutes Fair Use under Section 107 of the Copyright Act commented for educational purpose and news reporting. Picture credit by delrigorita/Shutterstock.com

It is a popular belief that eating crocodile meat will cure eczema, allergies, and other diseases.

But the crocodile’s use in traditional Chinese medicine dates back to at least the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century, when it was regarded as a highly nutritional meat that can cure respiratory illnesses like asthma caused by the prevalence of disease-causing “feng,” or wind, according to the Compendium of Materia Medicine (link in Chinese) written by Li Shizhen, a Chinese pharmacologist.

Cleaned crocodile meat ready for cooking. Downloaded image shall constitute Fair Use under Section 107 of the Copyright Act commented for educational purpose and news reporting. Picture credit by chefspencil.com

Crocodile meat as sold in wet market. Downloaded image shall constitute Fair Use under Section 107 of the Copyright Act commented for educational purpose and news reporting. Picture from Unsplash, credit by iStock patrisyu.

Health Benefits of Crocodile Meat — cure asthma

The main reason of eating crocodile meat is to get the medicinal benefits. People in China has regularly consume crocodile meat and it has also been substitute of some other types of meat like beef and pork. Here are the list of health benefits of crocodile meat: