Pinyin: Niu Huang  Chinese: 牛黄
Pharmaceutical: Calculus Bovis
English: Ox Gallstone / Bezoar

Tastes: Bitter, cool
Meridians Entered: Liver and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears the Heart, opens the Orifices aromatically, awakens the Spirit and vaporizes Phlegm
   Delirium or coma due to Hot Phlegm Obstructing the Pericardium or Warm-Heat pathogen Wind-Stroke, convulsions or seizures
2. Clears the Liver, relieves Fire toxicity, extinguishes Wind and stops tremors
   Extreme Heat Generates Liver Wind with high fever, spasms, tremors or convulsions
3. Drains Heat and resolves Fire toxicity
   Carbuncles, boils and a wide variety of Hot swellings (Chuang Yung) (can be used as a stand-alone herb)
4. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of animal parts which can, with protracted taking, lengthen the lifespan. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).

Standard Dosage: 0.15-0.35g as powder or pills.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for pregnant women.

Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Huang Lian, Gou Teng and Tian Zhu Huang.

Pinyin: Zhen Zhu  Chinese: 珍珠
Pharmaceutical: Margarita
English: Pearl

Tastes: Sweet, salty, cold, toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Sedates the Heart and settles tremors and palpitations
   Palpitations, childhood convulsions and seizures Disharmony of the Heart and Spirit wherein the patient is easily frightened
2. Clears the Liver and eliminates superficial visual obstructions
   Blurred vision due to pterygium or other superficial eye disorders of the eyes (topically as a powder)
3. Promotes healing and generates flesh (topical)
   Chronic non-healing ulcers and macerated areas (usually throat or gums)

Standard Dosage: 0.3-1g as powder or pills.
Cautions: Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Hu Po and Fu Shen.

Pinyin: Chan Su  Chinese: 蟾酥
Pharmaceutical: Venenum Bufonis
Taxonomy: Bufo gargarizans
English: Toad Venom

Tastes: Pungent, warm, toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Relieves toxicity, reduces swellings and alleviates pain
   Toxic Phlegm-Heat in the throat
   Topically or internally for swellings, sores, carbuncles and ulcers
2. Expels Summerheat and Dampness, opens the orifices, awakens consciousness and tonifies the Heart
   Extremely turbid Summerheat with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and sudden loss of consciousness
   Heart and Kidney Yang Deficiencies
   Devastated Yang
   Heart and Lung Fluid congestion Lung Qi Stagnation with Cold Phlegm
3. Attacks toxins, reduces swellings resists cancer and stops panic
   Various types of cancer

Standard Dosage: 0.015-0.03g in pills or powder.
Cautions: Toxic so avoid overdose or excessive use. Do not use in eyes for external application. Prohibited to pregnant women.

Due to toxicity and the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 prohibiting animal products from being used by herbalists this must be substituted. Shi Chang Pu and Ru Xiang are probably good candidates.

Pinyin: Xiong Huang  Chinese: 雄黃
Pharmaceutical: Realgar
Taxonomy: As₂S₂
English: Realgar

Tastes: Pungent, warm, toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver, Stomach and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Kills Demonic Things (精物 Jing Wu), Evil Ghosts (惡鬼 E Gui), perverse Qi (邪氣 Xie Qi) and resolves the Toxicity of the Hundred Parasites (百蟲毒 Bai Chong Du)
   Scabies, ringworm and Damp rashes (topical)
   Any kind of skin itch (topical)
   Abscesses, suppurative inflammation, ulcerations, and snakebite (topical)
   Intestinal parasites especially when there are signs of accumulation, particularly roundworms
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
2. Dries Dampness, expels Phlegm, stops malarial disorders and settles Wind
   Wheezing
   Seizures
   Malarial disorders
3. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of minerals which can, after sublimation, make the body light and become an immortal. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生). However, it is not recommended for prolonged taking like most other superior minerals.

Standard Dosage: Due to toxicity no dose is permissible today. Traditionally 0.05-0.1g internally or a small amount applied as powder in external applications.
Cautions: This substance is toxic due to its arsenic content and so should not be used.

Traditional usage requires it to be refined with water, and just for temporary use. For external application, it is not suitable for a large scale use or for a long time. It is contraindicated for the pregnant women. Avoid being calcined by fire.

Pinyin: Bing Pian  Chinese: 冰片
Pharmaceutical: Borneolum
Taxonomy: Dryobalanops aromatica
English: Borneol Camphor

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Aromatically opens the Orifices, revives the Spirit and unblocks closed disorders
   Impaired consciousness fainting and convulsions
2. Clears Heat, drains Fire, resolves toxicity, clears the eyes and removes superficial visual obstructions
   Heat leading to headache, red and swollen eyes, superficial visual obstruction and sores in the mouth
3. Clears Heat, alleviates pain, dissipates nodules and alleviates itching
   Topically for pain and swelling of the throat, skin diseases such as sores and scabies, and eye diseases such as photophobia and excessive tearing

Standard Dosage: 0.1-0.3g in powder or pills for internal use. Should not be decocted.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for pregnant women.

Mineral products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. While natural Bing Pian is a crystalised tree resin, the Dryobalanops aromatica is critically endangered making genuine Bing Pian expensive and morally questionable. Most Bing Pian is therefore synthetically made and not suitable for consumption. It is generally substituted with Shi Chang Pu and Yuan Zhi where possible.

Pinyin: She Xiang  Chinese: 麝香
Pharmaceutical: Moschus
English: Musk

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Strongly opens the Orifices and Luo vessels, revives the Spirit and unblocks closed disorders
   Ying Stage Heat Attacks the Pericardium due to a Warm pathogen disease with convulsions, delirium, stupor and fainting
   Closed disorders (Yang Obstruction, Yin Obstruction, Phlegm Obstruction) Tetanic collapse Seizures
2. Invigorates the Blood, dissipates masses, reduces swellings, detoxifies, opens the channels and alleviates pain
   Severe problems due to Blood Stasis including fixed palpable masses, toxic sores and carbuncles
   Obstructions of the channels and collaterals due to traumatic injury or painful obstruction
   Coronary artery disease
3. Hastens delivery and facilitates the passage of stillborns (induces abortion)
   Labour
   Dead fetus or placenta fail to descend
4. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of animal parts which can, with protracted taking, eliminate evils, and stop dreams (梦) and waking from nightmares (寤魇寐). This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
5. Removes the Three Worms
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it removes the Three Worms. These may refer to difficult to treat metabolic disorders caused by overindulgence and should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes.

Standard Dosage: 0.03-1g as pills or powder. Should not be decocted.
Cautions: Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Shi Chang Pu and Ru Xiang.