Artificial Bezoar Classic Formulas — Natural Herb Library

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Opens the Heart orifices and revives consciousness — heat-induced closed-type coma and loss of consciousness; Phlegm-Fire obstructing the Heart orifices presenting as delirium, unconsciousness, high fever, and incoherent speech; the artificial bezoar is the principal substitute for natural Niu Huang in emergency formulas including An Gong Niu Huang Wan; widely used for acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, meningitis, and encephalitis with Hot-Closed pattern
Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity — Fire-Toxin conditions with hot carbuncles, throat infections (Ru E, obstructed throat swelling), oral ulcers, mouth sores, and furuncles; the bitter-cool nature directly clears Fire Toxin; most widely encountered in Niu Huang Jie Du Pian, one of the most commonly used OTC patent medicines in China
Extinguishes Liver Wind and controls tremors and convulsions — Heat generating Wind with seizures, tremors, spasms, and high febrile convulsions in children; works via Liver channel to cool Wind-Heat and calm internal Wind; used in Xiao Er Niu Huang San for pediatric febrile convulsions

An Gong Niu Huang Wan (安宫牛黄丸) — one of the Three Treasures of TCM emergency medicine (alongside Zhi Bao Dan and Zi Xue Dan); for acute Hot-Closed patterns including stroke, high fever with coma, meningitis, and encephalitis; original formula from Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Wu Jutong) contains Niu Huang, She Xiang, Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Zhi Zi, Zhen Zhu, Xiong Huang, Bing Pian, and Zhu Sha; modern versions substitute artificial bezoar for natural Niu Huang and often omit the mercury/arsenic ingredients
Niu Huang Jie Du Pian/Wan (牛黄解毒片/丸) — the most widely used OTC patent medicine in China for Fire-Toxin throat infection, oral ulcers, and skin Heat conditions; contains artificial bezoar, realgar (雄黄, arsenic), Da Huang, Huang Qin, Bing Pian, Gan Cao, and Shi Gao; caution with the realgar-containing versions
Xiao Er Niu Huang San (小儿牛黄散) — pediatric formula for febrile convulsions, high fever, and phlegm obstruction; Niu Huang combined with Tian Zhu Huang, Dan Nan Xing, Chan Tui, and Gou Teng to clear Wind-Heat and stop convulsions

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (upper class): Niu Huang (牛黄, natural ox gallstone) — 'bitter, neutral; resolves toxicity, resists evil Qi, calms fright, opens orifices, resolves Phlegm; indicated for fright convulsions, coma from Heat toxin, throat obstruction, hot swelling'; the artificial bezoar is the contemporary Pharmacopoeia-approved substitute maintaining these core actions
Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Wu Jutong, Qing dynasty): 'An Gong Niu Huang Wan opens the orifices, resolves Phlegm, cools the Ying level; for Heat entering the Pericardium with coma, delirium, and hot closed syndrome; Niu Huang is the chief drug that opens the Qi orifices and resolves Fire Toxin'