About This Herb*
Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties
Herb Description*
Dragon bone is a fossilized mineral substance used in Chinese medicine to calm the mind and settle anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. It is also used to help manage dizziness and irritability caused by Liver imbalances, and its astringent nature helps reduce excessive sweating, chronic diarrhea, and other conditions involving fluid loss.
Herb Category*
Main Actions*
- Calms the Spirit and Settles Fright
- Calms the Liver and anchors floating Yang
- Secures Essence and Stops Leakage
- Astringes to Stop Sweating
- Promotes Tissue Regeneration and Heals Sores
How These Actions Work*
'Settles fright and calms the Spirit' means that Long Gu has a heavy, weighty quality that anchors an unsettled mind. In TCM, the Heart houses the Spirit (Shen), and when the Spirit is disturbed, a person may experience anxiety, restlessness, palpitations, insomnia, or even manic episodes. Long Gu's mineral heaviness is thought to 'weigh down' the Spirit so it can rest peacefully in the Heart. This is why it is one of the most commonly used substances for insomnia, anxiety, and nervous agitation.
'Calms the Liver and anchors floating Yang' refers to Long Gu's ability to suppress rising Liver Yang. When Liver Yin is deficient, Yang rises upward unchecked, producing dizziness, headaches, ringing in the ears, irritability, a flushed face, and a sensation of heat in the head. Long Gu sinks this rising Yang back downward. It is almost always paired with Mu Li (oyster shell) for this purpose, and the pair forms the core of many formulas for high blood pressure and stroke prevention.
'Astringes and prevents leakage of fluids' describes Long Gu's ability to tighten and contain substances that the body is losing. Because of its astringent taste, it can help with a wide range of 'leakage' conditions: spontaneous sweating or night sweats, seminal emissions, frequent urination or incontinence, chronic diarrhea, vaginal discharge, and uterine bleeding. The calcined (heat-processed) form is stronger for this purpose.
'Generates flesh and closes sores' applies only to external (topical) use. When ground into powder and applied to non-healing ulcers, weeping eczema, or chronic wounds, calcined Long Gu helps dry the area and promote tissue repair.
Patterns Addressed*
In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Long Gu is traditionally associated with these specific patterns.
The following describes this herb's classification within Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and is provided for educational purposes only.
Why Long Gu addresses this pattern
When the Heart Spirit (Shen) is unsettled due to emotional shock, overwork, blood deficiency, or heat harassing the Heart, the result is anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, and restlessness. Long Gu enters the Heart channel and its heavy, mineral nature physically anchors the Spirit, calming it back into the Heart. Its sweet taste gently supports without being overstimulating, making it suitable for both excess and deficiency presentations of Spirit disturbance. Zhang Xichun noted in the Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu that Long Gu's sticky, astringent quality allows it to 'collect the original Qi and calm the Spirit.'
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Heart palpitations with anxiety
Restlessness and fearfulness
Excessive dreaming or nightmares
Why Long Gu addresses this pattern
When Liver and Kidney Yin are insufficient, Liver Yang rises unchecked, causing dizziness, headache, tinnitus, irritability, and a flushed face. Long Gu enters the Liver channel and its heavy, sinking quality draws floating Yang back downward. Its astringent nature helps contain the Yang that tends to scatter upward. This is the primary pattern behind its use in Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang (Sedate the Liver and Extinguish Wind Decoction), where it works alongside Mu Li to anchor Yang and calm internal Wind.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Vertigo and dizziness from rising Yang
Headache with distending sensation
Ringing in the ears
Easy anger and restlessness
Why Long Gu addresses this pattern
When Kidney Qi is weak and unable to consolidate essence and fluids, the body loses substances it should retain: seminal emissions, frequent urination, incontinence, vaginal discharge, or chronic watery diarrhea. Long Gu enters the Kidney channel and its powerful astringent nature tightens the Kidney's 'gate,' helping to prevent fluid and essence leakage. This is why it appears in formulas like Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang and Gu Chong Tang for conditions involving involuntary loss.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Involuntary seminal emissions
Night sweats from deficiency
Spontaneous daytime sweating
Chronic loose stools or diarrhea
TCM Properties*
Neutral
Sweet (甘 gān), Astringent (涩 sè)
Mineral (矿物 kuàng wù)
This is partial information on the herb's TCM properties. More detailed information is available on the herb's dedicated page
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.