This product is the horn of the Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica Linnaeus), a member of the Bovidae family. It is primarily produced in regions such as Xinjiang and Qinghai. It can be captured throughout the year, but the best time for hunting is in autumn. After capture, the horns are sawn off and dried in the sun. When used, they are shaved into thin slices, ground into powder, or made into juice.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Salty, cold. Act on liver and heart meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Calming the liver and extinguishing wind, clearing heat and improving vision, clearing heat and removing toxins.

bubble_chart Indications

1. is used for internal stirring of liver wind, fright epilepsy convulsion. Antelope horn is cold in nature, has strong heat-clearing power, and is good at entering the liver. It has a good effect on clearing liver heat and calming liver wind, so it is most suitable for extreme heat producing wind, and is an essential medicine for treating internal stirring of liver wind, fright epilepsy convulsion. For example, in treating warm febrile disease with intense pathogenic heat, high fever with unconsciousness, and convulsive syncope convulsion caused by extreme heat stirring wind, it is often combined with Uncaria, Chrysanthemum Flower, Peony Root, etc., forming the Antelope Horn and Uncaria Decoction. For treating epilepsy and palpitation due to fright, it can be used with Uncaria, Tabasheer, Curcuma Root, Cinnabar, etc.
2. For ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang, dizziness, and dizzy vision. This product also has a significant effect on pacifying liver yang, and can be used with Abalone Shell, oyster shell, Gastrodia Tuber, and other liver-pacifying and yang-subduing drugs to achieve the effect of pacifying liver yang and stopping vertigo.
3. For up-flaming of liver fire, red eye headache. This product is good at clearing and purging liver fire, so it is suitable for treating headache, dizziness, red eye swelling and pain, photophobia, and tearing caused by up-flaming of liver fire. It is often combined with Gentian, Cassia Seed, Skullcap Root, etc., such as the Antelope Horn Powder.
4. For warm febrile disease with high fever and unconsciousness, heat toxin causing rashes. This product enters the heart and liver meridians, clears both qi and blood, and has the effect of clearing heat, purging fire, and removing toxins. For treating unconsciousness, high fever, mania, convulsion, etc., it is often combined with Gypsum, Calcitum, etc., such as the Purple Snow Bolus; for treating heat toxin causing rashes, it is often combined with the White Tiger Decoction for effectiveness.
5. In addition, antelope horn is also used to treat lung heat cough and asthma, as it can clear lung heat and stop cough, such as in the Antelope Lung-Clearing Powder. In recent years, antelope horn hydrolysate injection has been used to treat pediatric pneumonia, influenza fever, measles, and other fever diseases, all with effectiveness.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Improves vision, tonifies qi, nourishes yin, removes stagnant blood... calms heart qi."
2. Bencao Gangmu: "Enters the Jueyin Liver Channel swiftly... the liver governs wood, resuscitation in the eyes, its manifestation in disease includes dim vision and nebula, and antelope horn can pacify it. The liver governs wind, in conjunction with the tendons, its manifestation in disease includes infantile fright epilepsy, female eclampsia, major philtrum wind convulsion, and tendon and vessel spasms, multiple arthralgia pulling pain, and antelope horn can relax it."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct 1-3g alone for more than 2 hours, then take the juice. For grinding into juice or powder, take 0.3-0.6g each time.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains calcium phosphate, common bletilla tuber, insoluble inorganic salts, etc. The extract from the outer skin of antelope horn has a suppressive effect on the central nervous system and analgesic properties; it can enhance animals' tolerance to hypoxia. The decoction has anticonvulsant effects and antipyretic properties. A small dose of the decoction or alcohol extract strengthens the contraction of an isolated toad heart, a medium dose can cause heart block, and a large dose leads to a slowed heart rate, reduced amplitude, and eventually cardiac arrest.