According to Eastern medicine, nutrition plays a key role in maintaining male vitality and reproductive health. A well-known traditional physician in Hanoi, Dr. Bui Dac Sang, from the Vietnam Oriental Medicine Association, has recently emphasized the remarkable health benefits of a very common yet underrated ingredient — the pig’s tail.

A Traditional Remedy for Male Vitality

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), conditions such as impotence, premature ejaculation, and fatigue are often linked to “kidney deficiency.” To restore balance, herbalists often recommend foods that “nourish the kidneys” (bổ thận). According to Dr. Sang, everyday ingredients such as duck meat, prawns, and especially pig tails, can be used to prepare tonics that improve stamina, boost energy, and enhance sexual function.

“The pig’s tail is one of the most valuable parts of the animal,” Dr. Sang explained. “It contains connective tissue and natural collagen that help strengthen the kidneys, blood, and overall vitality.”

The pig’s tail is not always easy to find — each pig has only one — but it is prized for its chewy texture, rich flavor, and restorative qualities.

Traditional Recipes Using Pig’s Tail

Recipe 1:

• Ingredients: 250g pig’s tail, 250g tuc doan (Dipsacus asperoides), and 250g do trong (Eucommia bark).

• Instructions: Clean and simmer all ingredients together until tender. Consume daily for one week.
  This traditional tonic is said to replenish energy, enhance kidney function, and treat nocturnal emissions.

Recipe 2:

• Ingredients: 100g pig’s tail, a slice of dried tangerine peel (tran bi), 10 almonds, 10 peanuts, and a pinch of salt.

• Instructions: Cut the tail into small pieces, boil gently with the other ingredients until soft. Serve hot.
  This nourishing dish supports blood circulation, relieves fatigue, and strengthens the body.

Other popular variations include pig tail soup with peanuts, pig tail stew with chestnuts, and pig tail soup with walnuts, all believed to relieve back pain, joint weakness, and dizziness.

Two Notable Benefits for Women

1. Promotes Firm and Youthful Breasts

For women, the high protein content in pig’s tail helps improve muscle tone and elasticity. According to Medical News Today, adequate protein intake supports the body’s ability to build and repair tissues — including breast muscles — leading to firmer and more youthful contours.

2. A Natural Source of Collagen for Radiant Skin

Pig tails are rich in collagen, found in their skin, tendons, and cartilage. This structural protein is known to enhance skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles, and promote joint health (Healthline, 2024). Regular consumption, in moderate amounts, can help slow aging and maintain supple, glowing skin.

Interestingly, collagen also strengthens hair and nails, making pig-tail broth a traditional beauty food in East Asia (Harvard Health Publishing, 2022). Despite its fat content, the proportion of saturated fat is lower than that of pork belly, so moderate portions do not significantly increase weight.

Caution: Not for Everyone

Doctors warn that people with high blood pressure, heart disease, or obesity should limit consumption. The fatty layer of pig’s tail contains cholesterol, which may worsen cardiovascular conditions (Mayo Clinic, 2023).

Experts recommend eating pig-tail dishes no more than once a week. Overconsumption provides diminishing benefits and may increase lipid levels.

As Dr. Sang emphasizes, traditional remedies should be tailored to each individual’s body constitution (cơ địa). For optimal results, these tonics should be used under the guidance of a qualified herbal practitioner, rather than self-prescribed.

---

Modern Perspective

While traditional medicine values the pig’s tail for its restorative effects, modern nutritionists remind that no single food can act as a “miracle cure” for sexual performance or youthfulness. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate rest remain the most reliable ways to maintain vitality and hormonal balance.

Still, when enjoyed occasionally as part of a healthy diet, pig-tail dishes can serve as a nutritious comfort food rich in collagen and protein — connecting centuries of culinary wisdom with modern science.