Zhu Sha An Shen Wan, Cinnabar Pill to Calm the Spirit, is Zhu Sha, Huang Lian, Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang and Zhi Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that sedate and calm the Spirit.

Herb

Amount

15 g

18 g

7.5 g

7.5 g

16.5 g

Actions and indications

Clears Heart Fire

Heart Fire harassing the Shen, with Yin and Blood consumed by long-standing Fire
Hot, uneasy feeling in the chest or heat rising to the face, with irritability
Sores of the mouth or tongue
Nausea or urge to vomit without bringing anything up
Tongue red, or red at the tip; pulse thin and rapid

Sedates the Heart and calms the Shen

Insomnia, especially broken, restless sleep with vivid or disturbing dreams
Palpitations that persist, with anxiety, fear, fright and inner agitation
Fidgeting and restlessness; possibly a resentful temperament

Nourishes Yin and Blood

Night sweats and shortness of breath

Modern uses

Neurasthenia
Depression
Anxiety
Anxiety neurosis
Panic attacks
Neurosis
Hysteria
Arrhythmia
Palpitations
Mitral valve prolapse
Viral carditis
Coronary heart disease
Forgetfulness
Tourette syndrome
Bipolar disorder
Mania
Mania-depression
PTSD
Involutional psychosis
Schizophrenia
Sleep walking
Insomnia
Hyperthyroidism
Menopausal syndrome
Low-grade fever
Night sweats

Modifications

Severe insomnia: + lian zi xin, + yuan zhi, + fu shen

Heart Yang flaring upward: + ci shi, + long chi

Heart Yang flaring upward, alternative additions: + ci shi, + mu li

Severe irritability with heat in the chest: + zhi zi, + dan dou chi

Chest feels hot and pressed, with nausea and maybe trouble swallowing; or neurasthenia, sleeplessness and dream-filled sleep: + gua lou, + zhu ru

Redder tongue tip with dark, scanty urine: + dan zhu ye, + deng xin cao

Palpitations and severe insomnia: + long gu, + mu li, + ci shi

Irritability and severe insomnia: + zhi zi, + lian zi xin, + suan zao ren

Phlegm-Heat with chest oppression and a small, smooth pulse: + gua lou ren

Tender red tongue with a thin, rapid, weak pulse (this formula itself withdrawn)

Heart Fire with Phlegm-Heat, irritability, reddish tongue and smooth pulse: + niu huang, + shi chang pu

Used together with Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan

Show all 16 modifications

Tourette syndrome (combined with Feng Yin Tang)
Bipolar disorder, for a quick effect: + da huang
Heart disease of the coronary type, hyperthyroid states, panic, menopause, neurasthenia, anxiety neurosis, mild fever or palpitations: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi, + zhi gan cao
Insomnia with a reddish face, vertigo and tinnitus: + mu li, + gui ban, + ci shi

Cautions

caution Cinnabar (Zhu Sha, a mercury compound) has dropped out of use; replace it, commonly with Long Gu, Mu Li or Ci Shi, or omit the mineral altogether

caution Cinnabar has shown liver and kidney toxicity in studies of the mineral and of this formula; its preparations are import-restricted in several countries, including the United States, and tightly controlled for internal use in China

contraindication Not when Yin deficiency is the main problem

contraindication Contraindicated with liver or kidney impairment

pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy

paediatric Contraindicated for children and elderly patients

caution Not for long-term or unsupervised use, as it can injure the Yang of the Middle Burner

Pinyin

zhu sha an shen wan

English Name

Cinnabar Pill to Calm Spirit

zhu sha an shen wan

About zhu sha an shen wan

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Clears Heart Fire

Sedates the Heart and calms the Shen

Nourishes Yin and Blood

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification