The source is from the stone in the gallbladder and biliary ducts of Bos taurus domesticus Gemelin, family Bovidae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Northwest and Northeast China. When a cow is killed, if one finds the stone in the gallbladder and biliary ducts, one immediately fetches the stone after filtering the bile, the stone being dried in the shade for being used.

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, cool in nature and attributive to the liver and heart meridians.

Actions Stop endogenous wind and relieve convulsion, eliminate phlegm for resuscitation, clear away heat to remove toxic materials.

Application

1. For seasonal febrile disease with high fever , coma, spasm and infantile convulsion, it is usually used together with Zhusha ( Cinnabaris ), Quanxie ( Scorpio ), and Gouteng (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis ), etc., such as Niuhuang San (Powder).

2. For seasonal febrile disease resulting in heat attacking the pericardium, apoplexy, convulsion and epilepsy, and syndrome of confusion of the mind due to accumulation of phlegm-heat, it is ground singly into powder, which is dissolved in Danzhuli (Succus Bambusae ) for oral use, or combined with Shexiang (Moschus artifactus), Zhizi ( Fructus Gardeniae) and Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis ), etc., such as Angong Niuhuang Wan (Pill).

3. For heat-toxin syndrome manifested as sore throat and aphthous stomatitis due to heat-toxin accumulation, it is usually combined with Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae ) , Xionghuang ( Realgar ) , and Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), etc.;if the sore throat is ulcerated, it should be ground together with Zhenzhu (Margarita) in to powder for external application on the wounded throat, that is, Zhu Huang San (Powder); for large carbuncle, furuncle, breast carcinoma and scrofula, etc., also combined with Shexiang (Moschus artifactus ), Ruxiang (Olibanum) and Moyao ( Myrrha ), etc., such as Xi Huang Wan (Pill).

Usage and Dosage 0.2 - 0.5 g is used in pill or powder form. Just right amount is for external use, which is ground into fine powder for application on wounded areas.

Notes It is used with caution in pregnant women.

Daizheshi Haematitum

The source is from the red iron of trigonal system, Fe2O3 as the chief component. The medicinal material is produced in the areas of Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong, etc., dug out and then cleaned. The crude one or the one prepared with vinegar is broken for being used.

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the liver and heart meridians.

Actions Calm the liver and suppress the hyperactive yang, descend the adverse-rising qi and arrest bleeding.

Application

1. For hyperactivity of liver-yang manifested as dizziness and headache. It is usually combined with Longgu ( Os Draconis ) , Muli ( Concha Ostreae ) and Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), such as Zhengan Xifeng Tang (Decoction); for the syndrome with obvious deficiency of liver-yin and kidney-yin, combined with Guiban (Plastrum Testudinis ) , Muli ( Concha Ostreae ) , Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba ) and others.

2. It is used for the syndromes of adverse-rising of lung-qi and stomach-qi. The syndrome of adverse-rising of stomach-qi manifested as hiccup and vomiting is treated with it in combination with Xuanfuhua (Flos Inulae ), Banxia ( Rhizoma Pinelliae ) and Shengjiang ( Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens), such as Xuanfu Daizhe Tang (Decoction); for deficiency of both the lung and kidney, and ad-verse-rising of lung-qi with rapid respiration, it is combined with Renshen ( Radix Ginseng) and Shanzhuyu ( Fructus Corni), such as Shen Zhe zhenqi Tang (Decoction).

3. It is used for blood-heat syndrome manifested as haematemesis, epistaxis, and metrorrhagia and metrostaxis. For haematemesis and epistaxis, it may be combined with Baishaoyao ( Radix Paeoniae Alba ), Zhuru ( Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam ), and Niubangzi (Fructus Arctii), etc., such as Hanjiang Tang (Decoction); for prolonged metrorrhagia and metrostaxis with dizziness, combined with Yuyuliang (Limonitum), Chishizhi (Halloystium Rubrum ) and Wulingzhi ( Faeces Trogopyerorum), etc., such as Zhenling Dan (Pill).

Usage and Dosage 10 - 30 g is used in decoction for oral use, which is broken and decocted early. Or may be used in pill or powder form. The crude one is used for lowering adverse-rising of qi and calming the liver and the calcined one for arresting bleeding.

Notes It is used in pregnant women with caution.

Lingyangjiao Cornu Saigae Tataricae

The source is from the horn of Saiga tatarica L., family Bovidae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of XinJiang, Qinghai and others of China. The animal is caught all year round. After capture of the animal, the horn is cut, and when it is used, it can be prepared as juice, slices or powder.

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the liver and heart meridians.

Actions Calm the liver and stop endogenous wind, clear away heat and remove toxic materials, clear away liver-fire to improve eyesight.

Application

2. For seasonal febrile disease with high fever, delirium, mania and eruption, it is combined with Shigao ( Gypsum Fibrosum ), Niuhuang ( Calculus Bovis ), etc., such as Zixue Dan (Pill).

3. It is used for dizziness due to hyperactivity of liver-yang or headache and redness of eyes due to up-rising of liver-fire. For the former, it is combined with Juhua (Flos Chrysanthemi) and Shijueming (Concha Haliotidis); for the latter, combined with Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae), Longdan (Radix Gentianae), etc., such as Lingyangjiao San (Powder).

Usage and Dosage 1 - 3 g is decocted alone for two hours, the decoction being taken after mixing it with other decoction. It is also pounded into juice or ground in-to powder, O. 3 - O. 5 g being suitable use.