Calcined Dragon Bone is a processed form of the traditional Chinese medicinal material “Dragon Bone.” It consists of the fossilized bones of ancient mammals—such as three-toed horses, rhinoceroses, deer, cattle, and elephants—or the fossilized tusks of elephants, which are first cleaned and sorted and then calcined over an open flame.This product is primarily produced in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and other regions. It mainly possesses astringent and tissue-regenerating properties and is commonly used to treat spontaneous sweating, night sweats, nocturnal emissions, enuresis, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, damp sores and itchy rashes, as well as chronic ulcers that fail to heal.In addition, Calcined Dragon Bone possesses certain properties for calming the mind and soothing the spirit, as well as regulating the liver and subduing its excess yang energy; it can help treat restlessness, palpitations, insomnia, convulsions, mania, and dizziness.
Calcined Dragon Bone
Calcined Dragon Bone is a processed form of the traditional Chinese medicinal material “Dragon Bone.” It consists of the fossilized bones of ancient mammals—such as three-toed horses, rhinoceroses, deer, cattle, and elephants—or the fossilized tusks of elephants, which are first cleaned and sorted and then calcined over an open flame.This product is primarily produced in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and other regions. It mainly possesses astringent and tissue-regenerating properties and is commonly used to treat spontaneous sweating, night sweats, nocturnal emissions, enuresis, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, damp sores and itchy rashes, as well as chronic ulcers that fail to heal.In addition, Calcined Dragon Bone possesses certain properties for calming the mind and soothing the spirit, as well as regulating the liver and subduing its excess yang energy; it can help treat restlessness, palpitations, insomnia, convulsions, mania, and dizziness.
Chinese Name : 煅龙骨
Aliases : Calcined White Dragon Bone, Calcined Earth Dragon Bone, Calcined Fossilized Bone, Calcined Dragon Bone, Calcined Blue Fossilized Dragon Bone, Calcined Powdered Dragon Bone
Authentic Producing Area : Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Neutral in nature; sweet and astringent in taste; enters the Heart, Liver, and Kidney meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Calcined Dragon Bone has a neutral nature, a sweet and astringent taste, and enters the Heart, Liver, and Kidney meridians. It primarily possesses astringent and consolidating properties and promotes tissue regeneration; it also has certain effects in calming the mind, alleviating anxiety, and subduing liver yang.
Indications
1. Calcined Dragon Bone is primarily used to treat nocturnal emission, premature ejaculation, enuresis, frequent urination, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, as well as weeping sores, pruritic rashes, and chronic ulcers that fail to heal. 2. Calcined Dragon Bone can also help treat restlessness, palpitations, insomnia, forgetfulness, and frequent dreaming, as well as symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, irritability, and short temper caused by excessive liver yang.
Usage and Dosage
1. Internal use: Decoct 15–30 g in water, adding it first; or incorporate into pills or powders. 2. External use: Apply an appropriate amount as a powder or as a paste.
Precautions
Not suitable for individuals with damp-heat stagnation.
Chemical Constituents
Calcined Dragon Bone primarily contains calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and magnesium oxide, as well as various inorganic elements such as iron, potassium, sodium, chlorine, copper, and manganese, along with amino acids and other components.
Pharmacological Actions
Modern pharmacological research has found that this product regulates the body’s immune function, aids in the healing of ulcers, promotes wound recovery, and has sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant effects, as well as the ability to promote blood clotting and reduce vascular permeability.
Applications
Related Compatibility
1. Combining Calcined Dragon Bone with Oyster Shell: Both ingredients possess the effects of subduing yang and calming the spirit, as well as astringing and consolidating.However, calcined dragon bone is sweet and astringent with a neutral nature; it primarily enters the Heart and Liver meridians and excels at calming the mind, stabilizing the spirit, astringing, and arresting loss, while nourishing Yin to subdue the rising, floating Yang. Oyster shell is salty and astringent with a cool nature; it enters the Liver and Kidney meridians and excels at nourishing Yin, reducing fever, resolving phlegm, and softening hardness, while nourishing Yin to anchor the sinking, deep Yang.When used in combination, these two herbs harmonize yin and yang, significantly enhancing their effects in calming the mind, consolidating yin, subduing excessive yang, astringing, stopping bleeding, and arresting leukorrhea. They are commonly used to treat restlessness and agitation, palpitations, dizziness, tinnitus, forgetfulness, and insomnia caused by yin deficiency with excessive yang;as well as coughing, phlegm, and shortness of breath due to deficiency of the Heart and Kidney or insufficiency of the Lung and Kidney; profuse sweating and syncope; and chronic diarrhea, dysentery, nocturnal emission, turbid urine, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea.
2. Calcined Dragon Bone combined with Sha Yuanzi and Ganshi: Calcined Dragon Bone has astringent and consolidating properties; Sha Yuanzi and Ganshi can tonify the kidneys and retain essence. When used together, these three herbs can both replenish kidney essence deficiency and prevent the leakage of seminal fluid. They are commonly used to treat conditions such as kidney deficiency, nocturnal emissions, and seminal leakage.
Medicinal Identification
Raw dragon bone and calcined dragon bone are different processed forms of dragon bone.However, raw dragon bone has a stronger effect in calming the mind and subduing Yang, and is often used to treat palpitations, frequent dreaming, startle pain, and dizziness; whereas calcined dragon bone has enhanced astringent, consolidating, and tissue-regenerating effects, and is often used to treat night sweats, spontaneous sweating, nocturnal emission, leukorrhea, metrorrhagia and menorrhagia, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, as well as non-healing ulcers.
Related Medicines
Proprietary Chinese medicines containing calcined dragon bone include Lizhi Baidai Pills, Shengji Powder, and Suoyang Gujing Pills.
Related Prescriptions
Formulas related to calcined dragon bone include Dragon Bone Powder (from *Jingyue Quanshu*), Dragon Bone Decoction (from *Zhengzhi Zhunsheng*), and Dragon Bone Powder (from *Zhengzhi Zhunsheng*).
Medicinal Diet Therapy
Dragon Bone Porridge: Take 30 grams of calcined dragon bone, 100 grams of glutinous rice, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar.First, crush the dragon bone, add 200 milliliters of water, and simmer for 1 hour; strain out the residue. Then add the glutinous rice and 600 milliliters of water, cook into a thin porridge, and stir in brown sugar to taste. This porridge has the effects of calming the mind, subduing excessive yang energy, and providing astringent and consolidating properties. It is suitable for conditions such as nocturnal emissions, as well as persistent postpartum sweating, night sweats, spontaneous sweating, and metrorrhagia.
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with Chinese herbal medicine should first consult a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital to undergo a professional TCM pattern identification and receive a prescribed herbal formula.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
It can be harvested year-round; after excavation, remove soil and impurities.
Processing Methods
Place the cleaned dragon bone in a smokeless furnace, or place cleaned dragon bone fragments in a fireproof container set within a smokeless furnace. Calcine over high heat until thoroughly red-hot, then remove, allow to cool, and crush or grind into powder.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container in a well-ventilated, dry place, taking care to protect from moisture.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
1. Dragon Bone: Resembles bone or is broken into irregular chunks of varying sizes. The surface is white, grayish-white, or light brown, generally smooth, though some may have longitudinal fissures or brown streaks and spots. It is hard and not easily broken; the fracture surface is uneven, white or yellow in color, and some are hollow. It feels fine and powdery to the touch, with numerous honeycomb-like pores at the joints.It is highly hygroscopic and feels sticky on the tongue when licked. It is odorless and tasteless.
2. Five-Flower Dragon Bone: It appears as irregular chunks of varying sizes; occasionally, cylindrical or broken cylindrical pieces of varying lengths are found, with diameters ranging from 6 to 25 centimeters.The entire piece is pale grayish-white or pale yellowish-brown, interspersed with red, white, yellow, blue, brown, and black streaks of varying depths, widths, and thicknesses. The surface is smooth with a slight sheen; some pieces have small fissures. It is hard and relatively brittle, peeling off easily in flakes; it is highly hygroscopic and feels sticky on the tongue when licked. It is odorless and tasteless.
Properties of Processed Slices
Calcined Dragon Bone appears as碎块 or powder; it is light in weight, crumbly, and brittle; grayish-white or grayish-brown in color; its surface is powdery, and it strongly adheres to the tongue.
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
Raw Dragon Bone appears in skeletal or fragmented pieces of varying sizes. The surface is white, grayish-white, or light brown, mostly smooth, though some specimens feature brown stripes and spots. The fracture surface is uneven, white, and fine-grained; the medullary cavity is partially porous, with numerous honeycomb-like pores.
Distribution Area
Dragon Bone is found in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and other regions.