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Rhinoceros Bezoar Pill
犀黄丸 〔犀黃丸〕 xī huáng wán
Source: Wài Kē Zhèng Zhì Quán Shēng Jí 外科证治全生集
Ingredients
- Niú huáng (牛黄 Bovis Calculus, bovine bezoar) 1g
- Shè xiāng (麝香 Moschus , musk) 5g
- Rǔ xiāng (乳香 Olibanum , frankincense) 15g
- Mò yào (没药 Myrrha , myrrh) 15g
- Huáng mǐ fàn (黄米饭 Setariae Semen Conquitum, cooked millet) 15g
- Huáng jiǔ (黄酒 Vinum Aureum, yellow wine)
Actions: Clears heat and resolves toxin; transforms phlegm and disperses binds; quickens the blood and transforms phlegm.
Indications: Congested fire and static blood causing breast cancer, scrofula, phlegm nodes, streaming sores (liú zhù)
Category: External medicine formulas
Method:
Rationale: Niú huáng clears heat and resolves toxin, as well as sweeping phlegm and dispersing binds. This latter action is enhanced by warm acrid Shè xiāng, which quickens the blood and disperses binds, as well as freeing the network vessels and dispersing swelling. At the same time, Niú huáng prevents the Shè xiāng from exacerbating the fire. Rǔ xiāng and Mò yào dispel stasis and quicken the blood, thereby dispersing swelling and relieving pain. The cooked millet nourishes and regulates stomach qì, ensuring that the other agents attack the evil without damaging stomach qì. A small quantity of wine helps to quicken the blood and enhances the action of the other agents.
Notes: The formula is called Rhinoceros Bezoar Pill,
however, rhinoceros bezoar
is generally taken to mean the bezoar of cattle. It may be a pun on the homophone 西黄丸, Western Bezoar Pill.