Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Bubali Cornu |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 水牛角 · Shui Niu Jiao |
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| Medicinal Part | Zoological substances |
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| Efficacy Category | Heat-clearing |
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| Botanical Origin | The horn of Bubalus bubalis Linnaeus.(Bovidae). After harvested the horn, boiled in water, removed the cork inside the horn, then dry. |
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| Nature & Flavour | Bitter, Salty; Cold |
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| Channels Entered | Heart, Liver, Stomach |
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What Is Shui Niu Jiao?
Shui Niu Jiao (Water Buffalo Horn) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced in the areas south of the Yangtze River of China.
Nature & Flavour: Bitter, Salty; Cold
Channels Entered: Heart, Liver, Stomach
Shui Niu Jiao: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Bubali Cornu
Botanical Origin
The horn of Bubalus bubalis Linnaeus.(Bovidae). After harvested the horn, boiled in water, removed the cork inside the horn, then dry.
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the areas south of the Yangtze River of China.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material has dense lines.
Macroscopic Features
Curved cone shape, base is square or slightly triangular in shape, center is hollow, one side surface has numerous parallel indented lines, apex is sharp. Black-brown color, hard texture, cut surface has thin and unobvious lines, fishy odor, often the apex portion is used.
Traditional TCM Properties
Bitter, Salty; ColdHeartLiverStomach
Traditional Functions
Clears heat, cools blood, calms fright, resolves toxin. Apply to typhoid epidemic, heat into the blood, fright and madness, vexation, delirium, spot rashes, yellowish skin, hematemesis, epistaxis, hematockezia, swelling ulcer toxin.
How Shui Niu Jiao Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Shui Niu Jiao is classified among the Heat-clearing herbs. It appears in 1 classical formulas in our library.
Formulas containing Shui Niu Jiao are traditionally used for:
FeverHeadacheAnxiety RestlessnessPoor Sleep Quality
Classical Formulas Containing Shui Niu Jiao
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shui Niu Jiao? Are rhinoceros horn and antelope horn the same?
Official Shui Niu Jiao (水牛角) is the horn of Bubalus bubalis. The pharmacopoeial name is Bubali Cornu. It is often used as a substitute for rhinoceros horn, with slightly weaker force. Antelope horn is salty-cold: calms the Liver, extinguishes wind, clears the Liver and brightens the eyes. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Shui Niu Jiao. Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold and pregnancy.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Shui Niu Jiao?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Shui Niu Jiao is bitter and cold, enters the Heart and Liver channels, and acts to clear heat, cool Blood, resolve toxin and settle fright. It is used for warm disease with high fever, loss of consciousness with delirious speech, macules and rashes, vomiting of blood and epistaxis, fright wind, and mania. Bitter and cold, it suits Blood-heat with moving Blood—not Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold, or absence of heat.
How do you choose raw versus concentrated powder? Can antelope horn replace it?
Raw horn should be filed and first-decocted long. Concentrated powder may be taken with the decoction and is purer. Antelope horn leans to calming the Liver and extinguishing wind; it cannot replace cooling Blood and resolving toxin by equal weight. Commercial buffalo-horn tea is not equal-weight pieces.
Learn More About Shui Niu Jiao
Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Shui Niu Jiao.
Read the Shui Niu Jiao Guide →
Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.
