Ling Yang Jiao – Antelope Horn – Cornu Saigae Tatricae

Ling Yang Jiao

English Name: antelope horn

Pharmaceutical Name: Cornu Saigae Tataricae

Medica Category: Liver-Calming and Wind-Extinguishing Herbs

Properties: Ling Yang Jiao enters the Liver and Heart channels; it is salty in nature and cold in temperature.

What is Ling Yang Jiao?:

The Chinese Herb Ling Yang Jiao is antelope horn of the Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica L.), which is a species of antelope that inhabits the dry-steppe grasslands and semi-arid deserts of Central Asia, Mongolia, and parts of China. The horns are ground into powder and generally taken as such (or in pill form); they can also be decocted separately in water and then added to other (pre-) decocted ingredients in a formula; this, however, is not done often due to the high cost of this substance– (Saiga antelope are designated as “critically endangered” by the UN due to an as yet unknown disease that is ravaging breeding stock in Central Asia).

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Ling Yang Jiao:

Ling Yang Jiao calms the Liver, extinguishes wind, and clears heat and is considered one of the most important substances for addressing seizures, spasms, convulsions, and tremors (i.e. signs of severe internal Liver wind) that are accompanied by/due to high fever (that is often difficult to get under control and reduce).

Ling Yang Jiao calms the Liver and anchors Liver yang when it is rising into the head/upper jiao. This condition presents clinically as hypertension, red face, dizziness, vertigo, irritability, insomnia, and a bitter taste in the mouth.

Ling Yang Jiao clears the Liver and brightens the eyes to address eye disorders caused by Liver fire. Clinical presentations of this condition to include: red, swollen, and painful eyes; headache, photophobia, pressure/pain behind the eyeballs, and blurred vision.

Ling Yang Jiao drains heat and clears fire when heat attacks the pericardium with such symptoms presenting as high fever, delirium, convulsions, and manic behavior.

–safety/clinical notes:

Contraindicated for persons with Spleen deficiency.