Properties: Sweet, astringent, neutral
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Heart and Kidney
Extraordinary Vessels: Dai
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Settles anxiety and calms the Spirit
Agitated Heart and Spirit with emotional distress, restlessness, insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, seizures, or withdrawal mania
- Calms the Liver and anchors and preserves Floating Yang
Irritability, restlessness, dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision and a bad temper due to Liver Yin Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising
- Prevents leakage of fluids
Loss of fluids due to Deficiency with spermatorrhea, night sweats, spontaneous sweating, nocturnal emissions, vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding
- Topically generates muscles and astringes ulcers
Chronic non-healing sores and ulcerations
- Treats Ghost Possession
Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing to treat Heart and Abdomen Ghost Possession, Spiritual Matters (精物 Jing Wu) and Old Ghosts (老鬼). This refers to difficult to treat disorders thought to be of supernatural origin.
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of animal parts which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, enable one to communicate with the Spirit Light (Shen Ming 神明), and 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).
Suggested Daily Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.
Cautions: The high mineral content of this medication may prevent the oral absorption of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics.
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 Bai Shao and Wu Wei Zi.
If viewed from a western perspective as a source of calcium which may cause sleep disturbances, then supplementation or inclusion of high calcium/magnesium content herbs (e.g. Kun Bu) could be considered, especially if other signs such as oesteoporosis or muscle cramps are present and risk of side effects from calcium/magnesium supplements are low (stones, calcified arteries, GI issues). However, this assumes a mechanism which does not match many of the traditional patterns for which it is prescribed.
Appears in 17 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang (Bupleurum Plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Er Qing Gao (Double Dark Plaster)
From: Orthodox Lineage of External Medicine by Chen Shi-Gong (1617)
Feng Yin Tang (Wind Drawing Decoction)
From: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Gu Biao Zhi Han Tang (Stabilise the Exterior and Stop Sweating Decoction)
From: Case Histories of Huang Wen-Dong (2001) by Huang Wen-Dong
Gu Chong Tang (Stabilise Gushing Decoction)
From: Essays on Medicine Esteeming the Chinese and Respecting the Western by Zang Xi Chun / Zang Shou Fu (1918-1934)
Gui Zhi Gan Cao Long Gu Mu Li Tang (Cinnamon Twig, Licorice, Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang (Cinnamon Twig with Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction)
From: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Gui Zhi Qu Shao Yao Jia Shu Qi Long Gu Mu Li Jiu Ni Tang (Cinnamon Twig minus Peony plus Dichroa, Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell to Rescue Rebellion Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Jian Ling Tang (Construct Roof Tiles Decoction)
From: Essays on Medicine Esteeming the Chinese and Respecting the Western by Zang Xi Chun / Zang Shou Fu (1918-1934)
Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan (Metal Lock Pill to Stabilise Essence)
From: Medical Formulas Collected and Analysed by Wang Ang (1682)
Qing Dai Tang (Clear Discharge Decoction)
From: Essays on Medicine Esteeming the Chinese and Respecting the Western by Zang Xi Chun / Zang Shou Fu (1918-1934)
Sang Piao Xiao San (Mantis Egg-Case Powder)
From: Extension of the Materia Medica (1116)
Shen Song Yang Xin Jiao Nang (Ginseng Capsules to Open and Nourish the Heart)
From: State Food and Drug Administration of China (2003)
Shi Quan Yu Zhen Tang (All-Inclusive Decoction for Fostering the True)
From: Essays on Medicine Esteeming the Chinese and Respecting the Western by Zang Xi Chun / Zang Shou Fu (1918-1934)
Suan Zao Ren Shi Mian Yu (Sour Jujube Seed Insomnia Bath)
From: Shen-nong.com
Yi Shen Tang (Spirit Lifting Decoction)
From: Ten Lectures on the Use of Formulas from the Personal Experience of Jiao Shu-De by Jiao Shu-De (2005)
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang (Sedate the Liver and Extinguish Wind Decoction)
From: Essays on Medicine Esteeming the Chinese and Respecting the Western by Zang Xi Chun / Zang Shou Fu (1918-1934)
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, has been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
