An Gong Niu Huang Wan
Star安宫牛黄丸 (Calm the Palace Pill with Cattle Gallstone)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
An Gong Niu Huang Wan (Calm the Palace Pill with Cattle Gallstone), is used to aromatically open the orifices; clear heat-toxin; transform phlegm-heat.
Presentation: heat type of locked-up syndrome.
Syndrome: Locked-up syndrome.
Composition strategy:
- strongest of the three heat-type pills for removing heat-toxin
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 332.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Niu Huang
as printed: Calculus Bovis (niu huang) 30 g
|
30g | 11.11% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
She Xiang
as printed: Moschus (she xiang) 7.5 g
|
7.5g | 2.78% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Yu Jin
as printed: Radix Curcumae (yu jin) 30 g
|
30g | 11.11% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Shui Niu Jiao
substitutes Cornu Rhinocerotis (xi jiao) in the original formula; as printed: Cornu Bubali (shui niu jiao) 30 g
|
30g | 11.11% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Huang Lian
as printed: Rhizoma Coptidis (huang lian) 30 g
|
30g | 11.11% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Huang Qin
as printed: Radix Scutellariae (huang qin) 30 g
|
30g | 11.11% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Zhi Zi
as printed: Fructus Gardeniae (zhi zi) 30 g
|
30g | 11.11% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Bing Pian
as printed: Borneolum Syntheticum (bing pian) 7.5 g
|
7.5g | 2.78% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Zhu Sha
as printed: Cinnabaris (zhu sha) 30 g
|
30g | 11.11% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Xiong Huang
as printed: Realgar (xiong huang) 30 g
|
30g | 11.11% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Zhen Zhu
as printed: Margarita (zhen zhu) 15 g
|
15g | 5.56% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
Clearing heat, transforming phlegm and resolving toxin combines with aromatic opening of the orifices, so heat-phlegm blocking the pericardium is both cleared and opened.
For high fever with delirium or loss of consciousness from heat entering the pericardium. Contraindicated in pregnancy.
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net cool (-1.33)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 61%, cool 25%, warm 14%.
Small but decisive: Zhen Zhu 15g (cold, 6% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 15%
- sweet 19%
- bitter 57%
- salty 8%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 89%
- Liver 64%
- Stomach 44%
- Lung 36%
- Large intestine 33%
- Spleen 28%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Patent pill form only
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Niu Huang Qing Xin Wan + She Xiang, Bing Pian, Shui Niu Jiao, Xiong Huang and Zhen Zhu
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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