Xiong Dan (熊胆) is the gallbladder of the bear, recorded as Fel Ursi. It is bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Heart, Liver and Gallbladder channels. The catalogue files it under obsolete substances.

Pinyin

xiong dan

Chinese

熊胆

Latin Name

Fel Ursi

English Name

bear gallbladder

Actions and indications

Clears Heat from the Heart and Liver and stops spasms

Childhood convulsions, epilepsy and eclampsia when Liver Fire generates Wind
Wind generated by Excess Heat
Heat at the Ying level
Gallbladder Fire
Delirium with extensive burns
Jaundice
High fever with convulsions
Epidemic fever and Summerheat

Clears Heat and resolves Fire toxicity

Hot, toxic lesions such as sores, carbuncles, burning hemorrhoids and sore throat; applied topically it is especially good at relieving pain
Toothache

Clears Liver Heat and benefits the eyes

Severe red, painful eyes, including acute conjunctivitis with swelling
Mild visual obstruction
Used both topically and internally

Reduces swelling

Hemorrhoids, sprains, fractures and other injuries

Clears Heat, kills parasites and treats childhood nutritional impairment

Childhood nutritional impairment, mainly with Heat
Tapeworm

Combinations

zhu sha + yu jin + ming fan

Febrile convulsions

yin chen hao

Severe hepatitis Hepatic coma

bing pian

Swollen, painful, inflamed conjunctiva; mild obstruction of vision; applied topically for hemorrhoids that are swollen, painful and inflamed from toxic Heat

she xiang + huang lian

Hot limbs in childhood nutritional impairment

shi jun zi

Wasting in childhood nutritional impairment

ban lan gen + niu bang zi

Toxic Heat with a sore throat

yin chen hao + zhi zi + da huang

Damp-Heat and toxins causing jaundice

zhu sha + ming fan

Liver Wind

zhu li

Childhood convulsions

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any Pills and Powders: 1-2.5g; Do not decoct; Topically 60-90mg

1-2.5 g

—

Cautions

contraindication Deficiency Cold with no true Heat

pregnancy Use with care in pregnancy

caution Liver disease

caution An obsolete substance: several bear species are threatened with extinction, bile farming causes lasting documented harm to the bears, legal status varies by country, and products often contain undeclared protected-species material

Interactions

Caution with

han fang ji Traditionally kept apart from Han Fang Ji (Stephania root)
sheng di huang Traditionally kept apart from Sheng Di Huang (raw Rehmannia)

Drug interactions

Ursodeoxycholic acid and other bile-acid products: bear bile's active constituent is the same compound, so effects overlap; any bile-acid product should be raised with a doctor or pharmacist