Pharmaceutical Name:

Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum

Botanical Name:

Cervus Nippon Temminck
Cervus elaphus L.

Common Name:

Pilose Antler
Pilose Deer-horn

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The horn is sawn off in summer or autumn.  It is boiled and dried in the shade, then boiled again and dried again.  Next it is put in a container in a cool, dry place.  Finally, the hairs on the horn are burned off and the horn is soaked in white wine.  Later, it is cut into slices.

Properties and Taste:

Sweet, salty and warm

Meridians:

Liver and kidney

Functions:

To replenish blood and essence
To tonify kidney Yang
To strengthen the bones and tendons

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Deficient kidney yang manifested as weakness of the body, aversion to cold, cold extremities, impotence in men, frigidity in women, infertility, urination, soreness and pain in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, gradual loss of hearing and listlessness.
*Use with Ginseng (Renshen), Prepared rehmannia root (Shudihuang) and Dadder seed (Tusizi).

2.     Deficiency of blood and essence manifested as soreness and weakness of bones and tendons and infantile mal-development.
*Use with Prepared rehmannia root (Shudihuang), Dioscorea (Shanyao), Dogwood fruit (Shanzhuyu) and Cuttlefish bone (Wuzeigu).

3.     Deficiency and cold in the Chong and Ren meridians manifested as white and dilute leukorrhea or uterine bleeding.
*Use with Donkey hide gelatin (Ejiao), Chinese angelica root (Danggui), Dogwood fruit (Shanzhuyu) and Cuttlefish bone (Wuzeigu).

4.      Chronic ulcers.
*Use with Prepared rehmannia root (Shudihuang), Cinnamon bark (Rougui) and Astragalus root (Huangqi).

Dosage:

1-3 g (for powder)

Cautions:

Overdosing of this herb can cause dizziness or red eyes, and may consume yin.  It is contraindicated in cases with deficient yin with hyperactive yang, heat in the blood, excessive fire in the stomach, phlegm-heat in the lungs and febrile disease due to exogenous pathogenic heat.