Products Featuring This Herb:
Strong Bones
Profound Essence
Will Power

More Information:

Other Common Names
Dragon Bone

Page Number In Radiant Health
207

Pharmaceutical Latin
Os Draconis

Pinyin
Long Gu

Treasures
Shen stabilizer

Treasure Rating
***1/2

Atmospheric Energy
Neutral

Taste
Sweet, Astringent

Organ Meridian Systems
Heart, Liver, Kidney, Large Intestine

Part Used and Form
Fossilized bones of prehistoric animals such as mastodon, hairy rhinoceros, hipparion, deer, oxen, etc. Large or small chunks of white mineralized vertebral or extremities bone. Dragon's Teeth, which are the fossilized teeth of these animals, are also used with similar, though not identical function.

Primary Functions
Calm and stabilize the Spirit, astringent

Qualities
Dragon Bone is a Shen stabilizing substance. It calms the Liver and suppresses hyperactivity of Liver Yang. This results in a strong calming effect which can be described as both sedating and tranquilizing. Dragon bone has a profound calming effect on the heart, being one of the primary natural substances known for calming excitability and palpitation.

Dragon bone is an extremely useful therapeutic substance. Dragon bone, being a mineral, is rich in calcium and other trace minerals that can benefit the body in many ways. It is used to relieve irritability, chronic and acute anger, tension and dizziness caused by hyperactivity of Yang. Dragon Bone has wonderful benefits for those experiencing mental and emotional agitation, palpitations, insomnia and chronic or acute anxiety. In Chinese medicine, it is even used for epilepsy induced by terror and for manic behavior.

Dragon bone is not used by itself, but always in combination with other herbs. If the symptoms are the result of excessive yang activity, combining with Oyster Shell and Haliotis will be effective. If the problems are due to yin deficiency, Dragon Bone is combined with herbs like Zizyphus, Polygonum stem and Biota. If the problem is due to Blood deficiency, it is combined with prepared Rehmannia, White Peony and Tang Kuei. It is combined with Ginseng, Poria, Licorice, Astragalus and Polygala in cases of Heart Qi deficiency.

Dragon Bone can be used as a very effective astringent herb. It is often used in formulas for seminal emission, leukorrhagia, excessive perspiration due to weakness and excessive uterine bleeding. It is often found in formulas designed to enhance male sexual performance. In this usage, it has both a calming effect on the mind, preventing premature ejaculation, and it has the astringent action, literally locking in the semen and thus further preventing premature ejaculation. Its astringent action is also useful for problems like excessive perspiring, chronic diarrhea, leukorrhea and frequent urination. Furthermore, it is extremely effective at restraining nightsweats in weakened individuals, especially when taken with Jing and Qi tonic herbs such as Codonopsis, Gynostemma, Ganoderma, Dioscorea and Astragalus.

The Taoists often used Dragon Bone at the initial stages of their training in order to calm the mind so that they could make quick progress in their meditation practices. Since agitation was considered to be anathema to a Taoist, Dragon Bone provided a powerful tool in gaining a grip on one's emotions. Of course, the Taoists combined the consumption of Shen stabilizing herbs with mind training, and the results were quick and profound.

Dragon Bone's calming effect can be just as useful in our modern, generally hectic society. In fact, Dragon Bone is one of the most useful and effective substances in Chinese herbalism. It is an incredible tool that I have seen help thousands of Americans. Anyone experiencing stress and agitation can benefit from the calming, stabilizing effect of Dragon Bone. This rich source of minerals has excellent relaxing effects on the nerves and muscles. It helps relieve muscular spasms associated with chronic or acute tension.

Formulations containing Dragon Bone are among the most popular in the current Japanese herbal system (known as Kampo), a result of the Japanese people's attempt to deal with Japan's Type-A societal personality. If you suffer from insomnia, restlessness, apprehension, palpitations, anxiety, irritability, anger, frustration, tension, fear, or any of the symptoms that require an astringent, find a good Dragon Bone product. Dragon Bone changes people's lives. And its extremely safe.

Primary Combinations
Combine with:

1. Oyster Shell, Zizyphus, Spirit Poria, Biota and Polygonum Stem to stabilize Shen
2. Oyster Shell and Cornus as an astringent used for excessive perspiration, nightsweats and diarrhea

Varieties and Grading
There is counterfeit Dragon Bone available in some Chinese herb shops. It is difficult to recognize, but it is made from cow bone that is mineralized artificially. All real Dragon Bone is excellent. So buy from a reputable herb dealer that you can trust.