Shè Xiāng Bǎo Xīn Wán (麝香保心丸) — Musk Heart-Protecting 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 chest-opening and blood-moving herbs such as Dan Shen, San Qi, Gua Lou and Xie Bai.
On this page
- Overview
- Ingredients
- Traditional actions and indications
- Plant-based alternatives
- Why it is not prescribed
1. Overview
Shè Xiāng Bǎo Xīn Wán (麝香保心丸) — Musk Heart-Protecting 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 Shè Xiāng Bǎo 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:
- She Xiang (musk) (animal product)
- Niu Huang (ox gallstone) (animal product)
- Chan Su (toad venom) (animal product)
- Ren Shen, Rou Gui, Su He Xiang, Bing Pian (plants)
3. Traditional actions and indications
Traditional actions
- Aromatically opens the orifices and invigorates the Blood
- Warms and unblocks the chest to relieve pain
Traditional indications
- Chest pain and tightness (angina) from Qi stagnation and Blood stasis
4. Plant-based alternatives
In my practice I use plant-based formulas in place of Shè Xiāng Bǎo Xīn Wán. Depending on the TCM pattern, suitable alternatives include plant chest-opening and blood-moving herbs such as Dan Shen, San Qi, Gua Lou and Xie Bai. Read more about Chinese herbal medicine or book an online herbal consultation.
5. Why it is not prescribed
Shè Xiāng Bǎo 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.
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