Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán (安宫牛黄丸) — Calm the Palace Pill with Cattle Gallstone
Information only — not used or prescribed at this clinic. This page documents a traditional Chinese herbal formula that contains one or more animal-derived ingredients, for reference and education. I do not use or prescribe any animal products. Every formula I prescribe is built entirely from plant and mineral herbs.
This substance comes from an endangered or protected species and cannot be legally prescribed in the UK. The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) prohibits the use of any endangered species, and trade is restricted under CITES.
Plant and mineral alternatives I use instead include plant heat-clearing herbs (Huang Lian, Lian Qiao) with Shi Chang Pu.
On this page
- Overview
- Ingredients
- Traditional actions and indications
- Plant-based alternatives
- Why it is not prescribed
1. Overview
Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán (安宫牛黄丸) — Calm the Palace Pill with Cattle Gallstone — is a traditional formula of the Chinese Materia Medica that contains one or more animal-derived ingredients. It is described here for information and reference only. I do not use or prescribe Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán or any formula containing animal products; where a comparable effect is needed I prescribe a plant-based formula matched to the patient's TCM pattern.
2. Ingredients
Traditional ingredients include:
- Niu Huang (ox gallstone) (animal product)
- She Xiang (musk) (animal product)
- Shui Niu Jiao (water buffalo horn, replacing rhino) (animal product)
- Zhen Zhu (pearl) (animal product)
- Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Zhi Zi (plants)
- Zhu Sha, Xiong Huang (toxic minerals)
3. Traditional actions and indications
Traditional actions
- Clears Heat and resolves toxicity
- Opens the orifices and calms the spirit
Traditional indications
- High fever with delirium or coma
- Loss of consciousness in stroke or severe febrile disease
4. Plant-based alternatives
In my practice I use plant-based formulas in place of Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán. Depending on the TCM pattern, suitable alternatives include plant heat-clearing herbs (Huang Lian, Lian Qiao) with Shi Chang Pu. Read more about Chinese herbal medicine or book an online herbal consultation.
5. Why it is not prescribed
Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán contains ingredients from endangered or protected species. It cannot be legally prescribed in the UK, and such ingredients are restricted internationally under CITES and prohibited by the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). All Chinese herbs and formulas should be prescribed by a fully qualified herbalist registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM), which prohibits the use of endangered species. Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto is a member of the RCHM and the British Acupuncture Council and does not use animal products of any kind.
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