Zhen Zhu Mu Wan
Star珍珠母丸 (Mother of Pearl Pill)
Source: Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang — Xu Shu-Wei (1132)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan (Mother of Pearl Pill), from the Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang (Formulas of Universal Benefit from My Practice) by Xu Shu-Wei.
Actions: Tranquilizes the Heart and calms the shen (spirit); Nourishes yin and blood.
Presentation: Hyperactivity of Liver yang with yin and blood deficiencies: emotional instability, insomnia, fright, palpitations, dizziness, vertigo, and a fine, wiry pulse.
Cautions:
- Contains rich tonics (Shu Di Huang, Suan Zao Ren); not suitable for insomnia and shen disturbance caused by phlegm and heat
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 712.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zhen Zhu Mu
as printed: Zhen Zhu Mu (Concha Margaritiferae, yan (ground) to powder) 22.5g
|
22.5g | 8.57% | Jun (Chief) | subdues Liver yang, calms Heart shen, guides formula to Heart and Liver |
|
Long Chi
as printed: Long Chi (Dens Draconis) 15g
|
15g | 5.71% | Jun (Chief) | subdues Liver yang and calms Heart shen |
|
Suan Zao Ren
as printed: Suan Zao Ren (Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, chao (dry-fried) and yan (ground) to small particles) 30g
|
30g | 11.43% | Chen (Deputy) | calms the shen, anchors zhi, promotes sleep |
|
Bai Zi Ren
as printed: Bai Zi Ren (Semen Platycladi, yan (ground) to small particles) 30g
|
30g | 11.43% | Chen (Deputy) | calms the shen, anchors zhi, promotes sleep |
|
Fu Shen
as printed: Fu Shen (Poria Pararadicis) 15g
|
15g | 5.71% | Chen (Deputy) | calms the shen, anchors zhi, promotes sleep |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng) 30g
|
30g | 11.43% | Zuo (Assistant) | nourishes qi, yin and blood |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, bei (stone-baked)) 45g
|
45g | 17.14% | Zuo (Assistant) | nourishes qi, yin and blood |
|
Shu Di Huang
as printed: Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, zheng (steamed) with liquor) 45g
|
45g | 17.14% | Zuo (Assistant) | nourishes qi, yin and blood |
|
Chen Xiang
as printed: Chen Xiang (Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum) 15g
|
15g | 5.71% | Zuo (Assistant) | lowers hyperactive yang to help calm the shen |
|
Xi Jiao
as printed: Xi Jiao (Cornu Rhinoceri, bang (scraped) into fine powder) 15g
|
15g | 5.71% | enters xue level to cool blood, relieves fright and palpitations |
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 neutral (+0.17)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 14%, cool 6%, neutral 29%, warm 51%.
Small but decisive: Zhen Zhu Mu 22.5g (cold, 9% of the grams), Xi Jiao 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 11%
- sweet 61%
- sour 6%
- bitter 11%
- salty 7%
- bland 3%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 77%
- Liver 66%
- Kidney 46%
- Spleen 40%
- Lung 11%
- Large intestine 11%
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
Powder, form very small honey pills (Wu Tong Zi size, ~5 mm) coated with Zhu Sha. Take 40-50 pills during the day and at bedtime with a strained decoction of Jin Bo (gold foil), Yin Bo (silver foil) and Bo He. (Zhu Sha guides to the Heart; gold/silver foil calm the shen; Bo He soothes Liver qi and clears Liver fire.)
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Zhu Que Wan + Long Chi, Zhen Zhu Mu, Bai Zi Ren, Suan Zao Ren, Dang Gui, Ren Shen, Shu Di Huang and Xi Jiao
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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