Chinese: 珍珠母丸
Pinyin: Zhēn Zhū Mǔ Wán
Other names: Mother-of-Pearl Pill
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that sedate and calm the Mind
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: EpilepsyCataract
- Nourishes the Yin and Blood
- Sedates the Heart and calms the Mind
- Calms the Liver
- Anchors the yang
Contraindications: This formula contains a number of cloying ingredients and is therefore... This formula contains a number of cloying ingredients and is therefore contraindicated in the treatment of insomnia, fright palpitations, and similar conditions in those with patterns of Phlegm-Dampness or Phlegm-Heat. see more
Source date: 1132 AD
Source book: Formulas of Universal Benefit from My Practice
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Mother Of Pearl (Zhen Zhu Mu) and Dragon Bones (Long Gu) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1132 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that sedate and calm the Mind. Its main actions are: 1) nourishes the Yin and Blood and 2) sedates the Heart and calms the Mind .
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Zhen Zhu Mu Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Liver Yang Rising, Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency or Liver Yang Rising with Blood and Yin Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as epilepsy or cataract for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eleven ingredients in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Zhen Zhu Mu Wan helps treat.
The eleven ingredients in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan
Zhen Zhu Mu is a king ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Mother Of Pearl (Zhen Zhu Mu)
Zhen Zhu Mu is salty, cooling and heavy in nature. It calms the Liver and the Mind, and anchor the overactive Yang.
Long Gu is a king ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Dragon Bones (Long Gu)
Part used: The fossilized bone or vertebrae
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit
Long Gu is astringent, slightly cooling and heavy in nature. It calms the Liver and the Mind, and anchor the overactive Yang.
Suan Zao Ren is a deputy ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Jujube Seeds (Suan Zao Ren)
Suan Zao Ren sweet, sour, and balanced. The three deputy herbs, Jujube seeds, Biota seeds and Host-wood Poria are often used together. Their combination is able to nourish the Heart, regulate its physiology and calm the Mind. They do so primarily by harmonizing the physiology and nature of the Nutritive Qi and Blood on which the Heart depends for its nourishment.
Bai Zi Ren is a deputy ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Biota Seeds (Bai Zi Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLarge intestine
Bai Zi Ren is sweet and acrid. The three deputy herbs, Jujube seeds, Biota seeds and Host-wood Poria are often used together. Their combination is able to nourish the Heart, regulate its physiology and calm the Mind. They do so primarily by harmonizing the physiology and nature of the Nutritive Qi and Blood on which the Heart depends for its nourishment.
Fu Shen is a deputy ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Host-Wood Poria (Fu Shen)
Part used: The part of the mushroom that is attached to the host-wood, dried
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Fu Shen is sweet and bland. The three deputy herbs, Jujube seeds, Biota seeds and Host-wood Poria are often used together. Their combination is able to nourish the Heart, regulate its physiology and calm the Mind. They do so primarily by harmonizing the physiology and nature of the Nutritive Qi and Blood on which the Heart depends for its nourishment.
Dang Gui is an assistant ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Dang Gui sweet, acrid, and warming. It tonifies the Qi, nourish the Blood, and enrich the Yin. Thus it assists the key herbs in anchoring the Yang, while providing the Mind with an abode.
Shu Di huang is an assistant ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Shu Di huang iis sweet, rich, and slightly warming. It tonifies the Qi, nourish the Blood, and enrich the Yin. Thus it assists the key herbs in anchoring the Yang, while providing the Mind with an abode.
Ren Shen is an assistant ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Ren Shen is sweet, slightly bitter, and slightly warming. It tonifies the Qi, nourish the Blood, and enrich the Yin. Thus it assists the key herbs in anchoring the Yang, while providing the Mind with an abode.
Shui Niu Jiao is an assistant ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao)
Part used: The horn, as a powder or as thin scrapes
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: StomachHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Shui Niu Jiao is bitter, salty, and cooling. It invigorates Qi, clears Heat from the Nutritive Qi and settles fright.
Chen Xiang is an assistant ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. Agarwood (Chen Xiang)
Part used: Wood shavings
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachKidneyLung
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Chen Xiang directs the Qi from the Upper into the Lower burner, facilitating the transformation of hyperactive Yang into physiological Qi.
Zhu Sha is an envoy ingredient in Zhen Zhu Mu Wan. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
11. Cinnabar (Zhu Sha)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: Heart
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit
In general Zhu Sha's main actions are as follows: "Calms the spirit and Heart. Stops convulsions. Clears Heat and toxins."
In the context of Zhen Zhu Mu Wan, it is used because it focuses the action of the entire formula on the Mind.
Conditions and patterns for which Zhen Zhu Mu Wan may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Zhen Zhu Mu Wan is used by TCM practitioners to treat three different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Zhen Zhu Mu Wan treats epilepsy" for instance. Rather, Zhen Zhu Mu Wan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind epilepsy.
Now let's look at the three patterns commonly treated with Zhen Zhu Mu Wan.
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Yang Rising
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Tinnitus Deafness Insomnia Headaches Dizziness Dry mouth Dry throat Stiff neck Dry stools Irritability Blurred vision Stiff shoulder Feeling work-up Stiff upper back Outbursts of anger Soreness and weakness of the knees Stiffness in the neck shoulder and upper back
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Liver Yang Rising. This pattern leads to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, tinnitus and deafness. Patients with Liver Yang Rising typically exhibit wiry (Xian) pulses as well as Pale, normal or slightly red on the sides with no coating.
Long term Deficiency of Liver Yin, Liver Blood or Kidney Yin can cause Liver Yang rising upwards. This pattern is also called "Arrogant Liver Yang". If left unchecked for many years, it can lead to Liver Wind Agitating Internally.
The symptoms mentioned here are fairly similar to these of Stagnant... read more about Liver Yang Rising
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Symptoms: Cramps Anxiety Insomnia Dry hair Dry skin Dizziness Pale lips Amenorrhea Depression Poor memory Palpitations Blurred vision Scanty periods Muscle weakness Floaters in eyes Tingling of limbs Dull-pale complexion Dream disturbed sleep Numbness in the limbs Feeling of aimlessness Diminished night vision Propensity to be startled Withered and brittle nails
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, insomnia and dream disturbed sleep. Patients with Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency typically exhibit choppy (Se) or fine (Xi) pulses.
The Heart controls Blood circulation while the Liver stores Blood. Only when Heart Blood is plentiful does the Liver have Blood to store. And when Liver Blood is Deficient, Heart Blood is certain to be Deficient also.
As such signs of Heart Blood Deficiency almost always occur along Liver Blood... read more about Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Yang Rising with Blood and Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Anxiety Dizziness Irritability Restless sleep Occasional palpitations
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Liver Yang Rising with Blood and Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as irritability, restless sleep, occasional palpitations and anxiety. Patients with Liver Yang Rising with Blood and Yin Deficiency typically exhibit fine (Xi) or wiry (Xian) pulses.
This pattern is characterized by an imbalance where Deficient Yin and Blood fail to anchor and control Yang, leading to its hyperactivity and ascendance. This manifests in various symptoms:
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Dizziness and Irritability: Due to the uncontrolled Yang ascending to the Upper Burner, patients experience... read more about Liver Yang Rising with Blood and Yin Deficiency
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