ALIMENTOS SALUDABLES A BASE DE HIERBAS ORIENTALES

PREPARADOS HIERBAS

 

 

 

 

Niu huang Qing xin Wan

(牛黄清心丸)

 

 

Niuhuang Qingxin Wan is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula.
It originates from “Douzhen Xinfa” (《痘疹心法》), Volume 22.
It belongs to the category of “open orifices formulas (Kāiqiào jì, 开窍剂)”.
It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, opening the orifices, and calming the spirit.
 

Indicated for warm pathogen sinking inward, heat entering the Pericardium, phlegm obstruction, irritability, high fever, delirium, and convulsions.

 

Ingredients (组成)

(Each ingredient is followed by its English name)

• 黄连（生） 15g — Coptidis Rhizoma (Raw Coptis)
• 黄芩 9g — Scutellariae Radix (Baical Skullcap Root)
• 山栀仁 9g — Gardeniae Fructus (Gardenia Fruit)
• 郁金 6g — Curcumae Radix (Turmeric Root)
• 辰砂 4.5g — Cinnabaris (Cinnabar)
• 牛黄 0.8g — Calculus Bovis (Bovine Bezoar)

 

Dosage and Administration (用法用量)

1. Ancient Method

Grind all ingredients into fine powder, mix with flour paste warmed by “wax snow”, form pills about the size of a millet grain.
Take 7–8 pills per dose with Lamp-wick Decoction (Dengxin Tang).

2. Modern Method

Pulverize all herbs into fine powder, mix with refined white honey, form pills of 1.5 g each.
Take 2 pills per dose, 2–3 times per day. Reduce dosage for children.

 

Functions (功用)

• Clears heat and detoxifies
• Opens the orifices
• Calms the spirit

 

Indications (主治)

Used for patterns of:

• Warm pathogens sinking inward
• Heat invading the Pericardium
• Phlegm accumulation obstructing the orifices
• Irritability and fever
• Delirium
• Convulsions

 

Formula Explanation (方义)

• Niuhuang (Calculus Bovis): aromatic, light, clears heat from the Heart and opens the orifices, expels filth.
• Yujin (Curcumae Radix): aromatic and pungent-bitter, moves Qi and Blood, reaches the chest to dispel stagnation.
• Huangqin (Scutellaria Root) & Huanglian (Coptis): bitter and cold, dry dampness, clear heat in the Upper Burner.
• Gardenia (zhizi): clears heat from Upper Burner and drains downward.
• Cinnabar (Chensha): red in color, cooling, contains purified mercury; clears Heart heat, calms spirit.

The pill is made with steamed flour cake to enhance digestion and remove stagnation.

 

Clinical Application (运用)

1. This formula mildly clears heat and opens the orifices.
   Key diagnostic signs: high fever, drowsiness, irritability, red tongue with yellow coating, rapid pulse.
2. High fever with delirium:
   Symptoms include high fever, irritability, delirium, red face, thirst, dark urine, constipation or dysentery, red or crimson tongue with yellow-brown coating.
   Western diagnoses may include:
   • Japanese encephalitis
   • Epidemic meningitis
   • Toxic dysentery
   • Hepatic coma
3. Apoplectic collapse (stroke with closed syndrome):
   Sudden unconsciousness, clenched fists, locked jaw, convulsions, drooling, phlegm sounds in throat, red face, yellow-greasy coat.
   Used alternately with Angong Niuhuang Wan, effective in cases with impaired consciousness.

 

Additional Formula Variants (附方)

Below are six classical variants of Niuhuang Qingxin Wan, with full composition and English herbal names.

 

1. Niuhuang Qingxin Wan (Version 1)

Ingredients (with English names)

• 白芍药 — White Peony Root
• 麦门冬 — Ophiopogonis Radix
• 黄芩 — Scutellaria Root
• 当归 — Angelica Sinensis Root
• 防风 — Saposhnikovia Root
• 白术 — Atractylodes Macrocephala
• 柴胡 — Bupleurum Root
• 桔梗 — Platycodon Root
• 川芎 — Ligusticum Chuanxiong
• 白茯苓 — Poria
• 杏仁 — Apricot Kernel
• 神曲 — Medicated Leaven
• 蒲黄 — Typhae Pollen
• 人参 — Ginseng
• 羚羊角 — Antelope Horn
• 麝香 — Musk
• 龙脑 — Borneol
• 肉桂 — Cinnamon Bark
• 大豆黄卷 — Fermented Soybean Coil
• 阿胶 — Donkey Hide Gelatin
• 白蔹 — Ampelopsis Root
• 干姜 — Dried Ginger
• 牛黄 — Bovine Bezoar
• 犀角 — Rhinoceros Horn (historical)
• 雄黄 — Realgar
• 干山药 — Dried Chinese Yam
• 甘草 — Licorice
• 金箔 — Gold Foil
• 大枣 — Jujube

 

Method

Make fine powder (except gold foil, some horns, musk, etc.), form honey pills.
Take 1 pill with warm water; children reduce dosage.

 

Indications

Wind-induced paralysis, speech difficulty, palpitations, forgetfulness, dizziness, irritability, phlegm obstruction, mental confusion, fright, emotional instability.

 

Source

“Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang”, Volume 1

 

2. Niuhuang Qingxin Wan (Version 2)

Ingredients

• 牛胆南星 — Bile-processed Arisaema
• 麝香 — Musk
• 珍珠 — Pearl
• 冰片 — Borneol
• 黄连 — Coptis
• 防风 — Saposhnikovia
• 荆芥 — Schizonepeta
• 五倍子 — Chinese Gallnut
• 桔梗 — Platycodon
• 玄参 — Scrophularia Root
• 茯神 — Poria Spirit
• 当归 — Angelica
• 雄黄 — Realgar
• 轻粉 — Calomel
• 天竺黄 — Bamboo Resin
• 犀角 — Rhino Horn Powder (historical)

 

Indication:

Throat obstruction (“Tongue and throat wind”).

 

Source:

“Chuangyang Jingyan Quanshu”, Volume 1

 

Function:

Opens the orifices and clears heat.

 

3. Niuhuang Qingxin Wan (Version 3)

Ingredients

牛黄 (Bovine Bezoar), 犀角 Rhinoceros Horn (historical), 羚羊角 Antelope Horn, 辰砂 Cinnabar, 胆星 Arisaema, 天竺黄 Bamboo Resin, 麝香 Musk, 薄荷 Mint, 雄黄 Realgar, 防风 Saposhnikovia, 冰片 Borneol

 

Indication:

Phlegm misting the Heart orifices

 

Source:

“Zhengyin Maizhi”, Volume 1

 

4. Niuhuang Qingxin Wan (Version 4)

Ingredients

牛黄 (Bovine Bezoar), 羚羊角 Antelope Horn, 茯苓 Poria, 白术 Atractylodes, 桂心 Cinnamon Twig, 当归 Angelica, 甘草 Licorice, 麝香 Musk, 雄黄 Realgar, 龙胆 Gentian, 人参 Ginseng, 犀角 Rhinoceros Horn

 

Function:

Used for early or middle-stage stroke with phlegm and Qi obstruction.

 

Source:

“Zhangshi Yitong”, Volume 13

 

5. Niuhuang Qingxin Wan (Version 5)

Ingredients

-西牛黄Western Bovine Bezoar —

-犀角尖(historical, now substituted due to protection laws) Rhinoceros Horn Tip —

-羚羊角(historical; often replaced by goat horn) Antelope Horn —

-茯神Poria Spirit (Poria with Pine Root) —

-当归身Angelica Sinensis Root (Main Body) —

-川芎Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome —

-白芍White Peony Root —

-阿胶Donkey-Hide Gelatin (Ejiao) —

-神曲Medicated Leaven (Shenqu) —

-甘草Licorice Root —

-柴胡Bupleurum Root —

-防风Saposhnikovia Root (Fangfeng) —

-桔梗Platycodon Root —

-杏仁Apricot Kernel —

-黄芩Scutellaria Root (Baical Skullcap) —

-黄连Coptis Rhizome —

-蒲黄Typhae Pollen —

-白蔹Ampelopsis Root —

-干姜Dried Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) —

-肉桂Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum Cassia) —

-冰片Borneol (Bingpian) —

-麝香Musk —

-雄黄Realgar (Arsenic Sulfide) —

-黑枣Black Jujube —

 

 

 

 

Indication:

Stroke with Qi deficiency and internal wind, phlegm obstruction, dizziness, numbness.

 

Source:

“Huo Ren Fang”, Volume 1

 

6. Modified Niuhuang Qingxin Wan (Version 6)

Ingredients

人参 (Ginseng), 茯神 (Poria Spirit), 麦冬 (Ophiopogon), 山药 (Chinese Yam), 胆星 (Arisaema), 白术 (Atractylodes), 雄黄 (Realgar), 甘草 (Licorice), 犀角 (Rhino Horn), 朱砂 (Cinnabar), 牛黄 (Bovine Bezoar), 冰片 (Borneol), 麝香 (Musk), 金箔 (Gold Foil), 羚羊角 (Antelope Horn)

 

Indication:

Stroke due to phlegm obstructing the Heart orifices.

 

Source:

“Zabing Yuanliu Xizhu”, Volume 12