Niú Huáng Qīng Xīn Wán (牛黄清心丸) — Cattle Gallstone Heart-Clearing Pill
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 orifice-opening and spirit-calming herbs such as Shi Chang Pu, Yuan Zhi and Gou Teng.
On this page
- Overview
- Ingredients
- Traditional actions and indications
- Plant-based alternatives
- Why it is not prescribed
1. Overview
Niú Huáng Qīng Xīn Wán (牛黄清心丸) — Cattle Gallstone Heart-Clearing Pill — 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 Niú Huáng Qīng Xīn 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)
- Ling Yang Jiao (antelope horn — CITES) (animal product)
- many plant tonic herbs
3. Traditional actions and indications
Traditional actions
- Clears Heat and opens the orifices
- Calms the spirit and extinguishes wind
Traditional indications
- Fright, agitation and loss of consciousness; wind-stroke with phlegm-heat
4. Plant-based alternatives
In my practice I use plant-based formulas in place of Niú Huáng Qīng Xīn Wán. Depending on the TCM pattern, suitable alternatives include plant orifice-opening and spirit-calming herbs such as Shi Chang Pu, Yuan Zhi and Gou Teng. Read more about Chinese herbal medicine or book an online herbal consultation.
5. Why it is not prescribed
Niú Huáng Qīng Xīn 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.
Return to the Chinese herbal formula directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.
