Rhinoceros horn (Xijiao)
Rhinoceros unicornis L.-Family: Rhinocerotidae
Pharmaceutical Name: Cornu Rhinoceri
Common Name: Rhinoceros horn, Greater
One-horned Rhino, Great Indian Rhinoceros, Indian Rhinoceros.
Zoological Name: 1. Rhinoceros unicornis L.; 2. Rhinoceros sondaicus Desmarest; 3. Rhinoceros sumatrensis (Fischer) - Family:
Rhinocerotidae
Source of Earliest Record: Shennong
Bencao Jing.
Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical
Preparations: The horn of the African rhinoceros is sawn into small pieces.
Then, the pieces are steamed or boiled and cut into slices or ground into
powder.
Properties & Taste: Bitter, salty
and cold.
Meridians: Heart, liver and stomach.
Functions: 1. To clear heat and relieve
convulsions; 2. To cool blood and release toxins.
Indications & Combinations:
1. Fever, unconsciousness, delirium and
convulsions. Rhinoceros horn (Xijiao) is used with Isatis leaf (Daqingye),
Gypsum (Shigao) and Antelope's horn (Lingyangjiao).
2. Hemorrhagic disease due to extravasation
of blood by heat manifested as vomiting with blood, epistaxis and subcutaneous
bleeding. Rhinoceros horn (Xijiao) is used with Moutan bark (Mudanpi), Fresh
rehmannia root (Shengdihuang) and Red peony (Chishao).
Dosage: 1.5-6 g
Cautions & Contraindications:
Rhinoceros horn should not be mixed with Wild aconite root (Caowu) and
Monkshood root (Chuanwu), and it must be used with caution during pregnancy.
Note: Although rhinoceros horn is a
traditional medicinal substance, its scarcity encourages the common
substitution of water buffalo's horn.
0 Comment:
Post a Comment