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As is well known, Money Maw is hailed as the "king of fish maws", ranking first among them. It is extremely rare and the most precious variety of fish maw, often described as "as valuable as gold". An American media once published 9 of the world's most expensive foods, and Money Maw was among them.

Money Maw has always been highly regarded in regions such as Chaoshan, Fujian, and Hong Kong. It possesses extremely high medicinal value, being excellent for staunching bleeding, especially effective in treating postpartum hemorrhage in pregnant women and severe gastrointestinal and pulmonary hemorrhages, and showing significant results in post-operative buyback for critically ill patients. In eras when medical technology was less developed, the miraculous hemostatic effects and other medicinal benefits of Money Maw were widely known among the populace.

The most distinctive feature of Money Maw is its two long "whiskers". Chaoshan people categorize them into "Small Whiskered Money Maw" and "Large Whiskered Money Maw" based on the size of these "whiskers".

Money Maw has always been highly regarded. Compared to other fish maws, its most important characteristic is its ability to quickly stop severe bleeding and various internal organ hemorrhages. Its efficacy in this regard is supported by many examples in traditional medicine, and modern scientific research shows its hemostatic effect is comparable to Yunnan Baiyao.
1. Small Whiskered Money Maw

Small Whiskered Money Maw, also known as local Money Maw, is the most valuable and highest quality variety among all fish maws. Its numbers were abundant in the 1960s and 1970s but almost disappeared by the mid-to-late 1980s. Most existing Small Whiskered Money Maws are over 30 years old. Due to its rarity and extremely high medicinal value, its price has appreciated more than 3000 times in the last two to three decades, and most are now collected by connoisseurs.
Small Whiskered Money Maw has two small, long "whiskers". Some of these "whiskers" are as fine as silk threads, earning them the name "Silk Thread Money Maw". The heaviest Small Whiskered Money Maw can weigh up to 3 catties. Following the saying "one catty of maw for a hundred catties of fish", the fish could weigh over 300 catties.
From its appearance, Small Whiskered Money Maw has the following characteristics:

1. The "whiskers" are straight from head to tail, with no serrated edges on either side.
2. In the middle of the maw's head, there is a V-shaped vertical gelatinous line, known in the trade as the "Money Tongue". If the maw is cut down the middle, the "Money Tongue" is distributed on both sides of the maw.
3. The surface of the maw's head is not smooth, with some protruding gelatinous matter on both sides, commonly known as "Bagua Ears".
4. In the middle of the upper half of the maw, there is a naturally formed small hole, called the "Money Hole".
5. When viewed against light, the front of the Small Whiskered Money Maw shows "water ripple" patterns, while the back is relatively smooth.
6. Male maw (i.e., male Small Whiskered Money Maw) taken from male fish has a pair of nasolabial folds, especially visible on the back, and the flesh has a "thick-and-thin" texture, meaning the maw is "thick in the middle and thin on the sides" or "thin in the middle and thick on the sides"; female maw from female fish has no nasolabial folds, and the entire maw is uniform in thickness.
The fish species of Small Whiskered Money Maw - Yellow Croaker

The fish species of Small Whiskered Money Maw is scientifically known as the Yellow Croaker, belonging to the Sciaenidae family. It is a rare, precious, large marine fish unique to China. Yellow Croaker can grow up to 2 meters long and weigh over 100 kilograms, making it the largest species of Sciaenidae in the South China Sea and one of the largest Sciaenidae species worldwide.
Yellow Croaker is an endangered species. Due to severe overfishing driven by profit and the deterioration of water quality due to economic development, the Yellow Croaker is on the brink of extinction. Since the early 1980s, the number of Yellow Croaker caught annually has been negligible, and the fish have become progressively smaller. By 1997, the Yellow Croaker became extinct in Hong Kong, making it the first species to disappear from Hong Kong waters in modern times due to human activity.
Medicinal value of Yellow Croaker and its swim bladder:
Every part of the Yellow Croaker is valuable. Its swim bladder is a highly effective remedy for postpartum hemorrhage in women and a good medicine for infertility after long-term marriage; its gills are a good medicine for coughs; its scales have significant therapeutic effects on bronchitis, laryngitis, and cleft lip. Yellow Croaker meat is rich in protein and an excellent source of protein (though it is said to be unpalatable due to its toughness). Folk legends claim that Yellow Croaker liver is poisonous, so no one dares to eat it. A brave foodie official from the Pingyang County Fisheries Bureau once dared to try it in the 1970s. His face remained normal for one or two days after consumption. On the third day, his face began to peel, turning him into a "big floral face." A week later, all the old skin had peeled off, and new skin grew, as if regaining youth, making his body robust.

The swim bladder of the Yellow Croaker, or Small Whiskered Money Maw, is believed in traditional Chinese medicine to strengthen the body's foundation, greatly restore vital energy, and enhance physical health. It also shows significant effects in post-operative buyback for patients, and its special efficacy in nourishing the liver and kidneys rivals that of Korean ginseng. It is excellent for stopping bleeding and, when combined with traditional Chinese medicine, can also be used to treat tuberculosis, esophageal cancer, rheumatic heart disease, allergic purpura, aplastic anemia, and other conditions.

Clinical cases of Small Whiskered Money Maw:
Real Case 1:
Experts and scholars associated with the Department of Biology and Medical College of Shantou University once clearly documented relevant cases in a report exploring the therapeutic value of fish maw for bleeding. The local Small Whiskered Money Maw was used, providing us with valuable empirical evidence. The condition was disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The patient, Mr. Gao XX, male, 35 years old, married, an engineer. Due to high fever, jaundice, and blood for 2 days, he was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Department of the First Hospital of Shantou City in the autumn. Symptoms included: body as yellow as orange peel, high fever, severe thirst, wheezing, coughing and vomiting; hematemesis, hemoptysis, gingival bleeding, hematuria, bloody stools, epistaxis, facial flushing, and generalized petechiae. His vomiting, coughing, and epistaxis gushed like a fountain; he was restless, flailing his limbs, delirious, with a red, dry tongue; and a strong, rapid, forceful pulse.
Dr. Liu Wushi immediately diagnosed it as: "Yang jaundice with toxic rash, severe bleeding from nine orifices, and simultaneous burning of qi and blood," a critical condition. Western medical diagnosis was: subacute hepatic necrosis (then called "yellow liver atrophy") complicated by DIC. Based on modern comprehensive treatment, "Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction with modifications" was urgently administered. After two doses, bleeding reduced, and after 3 days, hematemesis and bloody stools stopped. After 7 days, the rash subsided and fever receded. However, due to yin fluid deficiency, "Gan Lu Yin" was used to nourish yin and eliminate dampness. After dampness was cleared, hematuria persisted. The patient was instructed to take "Money Maw glue" (15 grams) for one month, and he recovered.
The report stated that this case was DIC caused by endothelial cell damage due to hepatitis A viral toxemia. The clinical manifestation was "severe bleeding from nine orifices." As the patient was a descendant of Shantou's former richest family before liberation, they had both "rhinoceros horn" and "maw" at home. Coupled with the skillful application by the physician, his life was saved from the brink of death. Rhinoceros horn and maw, being miraculous items, their efficacy cannot be entirely dismissed.

Real Case 2:
According to records, over 70 years ago, a woman on Nan'ao Island, Shantou City, was on the verge of death from postpartum hemorrhage, with her burial clothes already prepared. Someone suggested boiling Yellow Croaker maw (Small Whiskered Money Maw) in water to try and save her. Her family bought an equal amount of Yellow Croaker maw with two grams of gold, boiled it with water and sugar, and spoon-fed it to her. Ten minutes later, her dazed eyes began to move; an hour later, she drank a small amount more of the maw water and finally revived. Additionally, fishermen from Zhanjiang claim that some of their elders who were sickly recovered their health after eating Yellow Croaker maw. Some also say it works very well for gynecological problems, illustrating the remarkable efficacy of Small Whiskered Money Maw.
02. Large Whiskered Money Maw

Large Whiskered Money Maw previously came mainly from San Francisco, USA, hence it was initially known as "San Francisco Maw." In reality, the origin of Large Whiskered Money Maw is Mexico, transported back to Hong Kong and the domestic market by Chinese people in places like San Francisco. In the past, communication was undeveloped and information was scarce, leading many to believe that San Francisco was its origin.
Compared to Small Whiskered Money Maw, Large Whiskered Money Maw has the following characteristics:

Data indicates that the largest Large Whiskered Money Maw weighed 3.5 kilograms.

1. The "whiskers" of Large Whiskered Money Maw are nodular, segment by segment, commonly known as "pig intestine whiskers"; while the "whiskers" of Small Whiskered Money Maw are straight.
2. A complete Large Whiskered Money Maw can have "whiskers" up to 2 to 3 times the length of the maw itself. Therefore, the "whiskers" of Large Whiskered Money Maw often need to be coiled several times due to their excessive length. In contrast, the "whiskers" of a similarly sized Small Whiskered Money Maw are shorter.

3. The head of the Large Whiskered Money Maw is smoother, without the "Bagua Ears" or the V-shaped "Money Tongue" found in the Small Whiskered Money Maw.

4. Like the Small Whiskered Money Maw, the Large Whiskered Money Maw has a unique, delicate "Money Maw flesh"; the front of the maw mostly has "water ripple" patterns, while the back has "mountain ripple" patterns. Older maws often have wrinkles, commonly known as "elderly lines."

5. Like the Small Whiskered Money Maw, the upper half of the Large Whiskered Money Maw has one or more "Money Holes." These small holes are natural and not caused by artificial piercing.

6. Neither the male nor female Large Whiskered Money Maw has nasolabial folds or excretion holes. The main difference between male and female maws is that the tail of the male maw is thinner. In contrast, the distinguishing features for male and female Small Whiskered Money Maws are that the male maw has nasolabial folds and a "thick and thin" texture, while the female maw has no nasolabial folds and the entire maw is uniform in thickness.

The fish species of Large Whiskered Money Maw - Totoaba macdonaldi

The local Money Maw lives in the Eastern Hemisphere around 20 to 30 degrees North latitude, while the foreign Money Maw lives in the Western Hemisphere at almost the same latitude. The fish species of Large Whiskered Money Maw is scientifically known as Totoaba macdonaldi, belonging to the genus Totoaba within the Sciaenidae family, and is endemic to the Gulf of California in Mexico.
The Totoaba fish is also an endangered species, with its numbers decreasing by as much as 95% over the past few decades (1942-2007). The reasons are: firstly, continuously built dams intercepted freshwater, leading to a significant increase in salinity and water temperature in the Gulf, which is unfavorable for Totoaba growth; secondly, it was too popular and overfished; thirdly, Totoaba has a very long life cycle and low reproductive rate.
Older Large Whiskered Money Maws may not have "whiskers" because the Totoaba maws in the 1960s were large and thin. Back then, people did not handle the maws as carefully as today, often simply pinching off the "whiskers" to avoid trouble, and there was no custom of preserving the "whiskers" at that time. Therefore, a considerable number of old Large Whiskered Money Maws lack "whiskers." Of course, if examined closely, traces of where they were pinched off can still be seen on the head of the maw.
Medicinal value of Large Whiskered Money Maw:
Cystitis, bladder hemorrhage:
An elderly man over 80 years old suffering from cystitis was treated at Shantou City First Affiliated Hospital. He had severe bleeding, and his urine bag quickly turned into a "blood bag." The "blood bags" were replaced repeatedly, and the family requested a hemostatic injection, which the hospital refused due to the patient's advanced age and poor physical condition. Immediately, 15 grams of Large Whiskered Money Maw were stewed with water for 2 hours, taken around 11:30 PM that night. After 1 hour, the urine bag was observed to be clear (bleeding stopped).
Uterine bleeding:
A patient suffered uterine bleeding due to an ectopic pregnancy and was treated at Shantou City Central Hospital. She had been hospitalized for over 20 days, and vaginal bleeding persisted, unable to be completely stopped. After taking Large Whiskered Money Maw three times, bleeding decreased on the first day, stopped on the second day, and she eventually recovered and was discharged.
Leukemia:
Over 20 years ago, a young patient suffering from leukemia was hospitalized in Guangzhou for treatment. After chemotherapy, due to very low white blood cell counts, he was prone to infection and had to stay in his ward, unable to move around freely. He also needed expensive imported white blood cell-boosting injections daily to increase his white blood cell count. After the injection, white blood cells increased, but they immediately dropped back down after a while, and the side effects of the boosting injections were very obvious. He then switched to consuming whole Large Whiskered Money Maw. After consumption, he found that his white blood cell count increased, so he immediately stopped the boosting injections and continued to consume Large Whiskered Money Maw daily. His white blood cell count gradually rose, his body rapidly recovered, and his immunity also improved accordingly. Even the doctors were amazed. He continued consumption for two months and eventually recovered.
Mild stroke:
A patient over 60 years old suddenly experienced stroke symptoms, including unconsciousness, slurred speech, facial twitching, mouth drooping, and limb numbness. The family immediately massaged his limbs and fed him 20 grams of Large Whiskered Money Maw stewed with water for two hours. Afterwards, the patient gradually regained consciousness and could express himself fluently.
Rheumatic heart disease, angina:
When a patient experienced angina, consuming whole Large Whiskered Money Maw made the angina symptoms disappear in about 10 minutes to half an hour. The patient had Large Whiskered Money Maw passed down from his ancestors and has been using this method whenever angina symptoms occurred over the past 10 years.
There are many other examples of the medicinal efficacy of Large Whiskered Money Maw, some demonstrating its hemostatic properties, others its ability to promote blood production and enrichment, and still others its reparative effects on organs and tissues. It is evident that its efficacy largely aligns with descriptions in ancient pharmacology texts, modern medical books, and traditional folk wisdom, possessing benefits such as nourishing the liver and kidneys, invigorating blood circulation, nourishing tendons and veins, and stopping bleeding. It is a completely non-toxic natural hemostatic agent.
Please remember to be reminded that the above cases are for reference only. If you are sick, you should first seek medical diagnosis from a hospital. Large Whiskered Money Maw can only be used as complementary therapy.

Reference for Fish Fish Maw Buyback Series

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Common Questions about Fish Maw Quotations

Q: Is fish maw worth collecting as an investment?
A: Top varieties (Money Maw, Spider Maw, wild White Flower Maw) see an average annual buyback price increase of 5–10%, outperforming some traditional financial products. However, you need to choose the right variety and preserve it properly, otherwise, its value will depreciate significantly.

Q: Which type of fish maw has the strongest preservation of value?
A: Wild Money Maw (an endangered species with extremely low yield) has the highest value retention; followed by wild Spider Maw (deep-sea species); and then wild White Flower Maw. Farmed fish maw has large price fluctuations and is not suitable for collection.

Q: How do you tell if fish maw is "old maw"?
A: The key to determining age is "looking, smelling, and touching" - Look: The surface of the maw is oily and has an amber sheen; Smell: The fishy smell has faded, leaving only a faint maw fragrance; Touch: The maw is hard and lighter than new maw. Well-preserved ten-year-old maw generally fetches 30-50% higher buyback prices than new maw.

Q: Money Maw is so expensive, could there be fakes?
A: Indeed, there are cases where other types of maw are passed off as Money Maw, requiring expert appraisal. True Money Maw characteristics: thick maw slices, flesh yellowish-red, coin-like textured patterns, and a golden glow under UV light.