Shan Yang Jiao
StarCapra hircus Linnaeus
Synonyms: Naemorhedus goral (Hardwicke), Capra ibex Linnaeus, Ovis ammon Linnaeus
☯ TCM Properties
Calms the Liver, relieves convulsions, dissipates stasis and alleviates pain
Traditional Chinese Uses
Shan Yang Jiao is goat horn (from the domestic goat, Capra hircus), a salty, cold substance used among the Wind-extinguishing medicinals and acting mainly on the Liver. It calms the Liver and extinguishes Wind to relieve convulsions, and pacifies ascendant Liver Yang and Liver Fire: it is used for infantile convulsions and spasms, for high fever with tremor, and for headache, dizziness, and red, painful eyes from Liver Fire or Liver Yang rising. Its salty-cold nature also disperses stasis and alleviates pain.
It is the officially recommended, lower-cost, conservation-friendly substitute for antelope (saiga) horn, Ling Yang Jiao, and is generally used at a considerably higher dose because its potency is weaker. Because saiga is endangered and CITES-listed, goat horn is the appropriate everyday choice. It is decocted (often long) or powdered, within formulas, under professional guidance.
Botanical Description
Shan Yang Jiao (山羊角), goat horn, is an animal drug, not a plant: the horn of the domestic goat Capra hircus Linnaeus (Bovidae). In classical materia medica the name also covers the horn of the wild goral Naemorhedus goral (Hardwicke) and related mountain bovids. Both sexes of the goat bear paired, backward-curving, ridged horns built on a bony core and sheathed in keratin, greyish to blackish and conical; the sheaths are removed, cleaned, softened and sliced or ground. Salty and cold, entering the Liver, the horn calms the Liver, extinguishes wind and relieves convulsions, dissipates stasis and eases pain. Since the 1970s farmed goat horn has served as a low-cost, conservation-friendly substitute for antelope horn (Ling Yang Jiao).
Domestic goat reared throughout China and Asia; goral source: forested rocky mountain slopes of the Himalaya and East Asia.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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