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Herbsmith Rx Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San is a classical Chinese herbal formula recommended by holistic veterinarians to clear blood-level heat, cool the blood, nourish the yin, and dispel blood stasis in dogs, cats, and horses. Comparable to Augmented Rhino Horn and Rehmannia Powder, it addresses heat entering the blood level (xue fen) in the four-level Wen Bing (warm disease) framework, clearing the deep blood-level heat and fire toxin, cooling the blood to address the reckless movement of blood from heat forcing the blood out of its vessels, nourishing the yin consumed by the sustained blood-level heat, and dispelling the blood stasis that forms when heat desiccates and thickens the blood in the affected vessels. A four-herb formula of elegant simplicity, Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San uses Shui Niu Jiao (water buffalo horn, the standard legal and clinically appropriate substitute for the historical Xi Jiao of the classical formula) to clear the deepest heat from the blood level and resolve the fire toxin, Sheng Di Huang to cool the blood and nourish the yin consumed by the blood-level heat, Shao Yao to clear blood heat and invigorate the blood to dispel the blood stasis from heat-induced blood thickening, and Mu Dan Pi to clear blood heat and deficiency heat and invigorate the blood. Well suited for dogs, cats, and horses presenting with blood-level heat (xue fen syndrome) in the Wen Bing four-level system, characterized by a deep crimson or purple tongue reflecting the blood-level heat, a rapid and thin pulse reflecting the heat consuming the yin and forcing the blood recklessly, and the clinical signs of blood-level heat involvement confirmed by the authorizing veterinarian. Available as a concentrated powder mixed into food; cats and dogs use the Canine Blend, while horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dosing varies by species and body weight, and your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
What It Supports
- Blood-level heat clearance and fire toxin resolution through Shui Niu Jiao's deep heat-clearing action at the xue fen level: Clears heat from the deepest level of the four-level Wen Bing system, the blood level (xue fen), using Shui Niu Jiao's powerful heat-clearing and fire-toxin-resolving action at the blood and pericardium level, addressing the deep constitutional heat that has penetrated beyond the qi level into the blood itself. Shui Niu Jiao provides the formula's most potent and targeted blood-level heat-clearing action, reaching the depth of pathology that the formula's remaining herbs reinforce and support but cannot reach as effectively alone.
- Blood cooling and yin nourishment to address the blood consumption and yin depletion of sustained blood-level heat: Cools the blood and nourishes the yin consumed by the sustained blood-level heat using Sheng Di Huang's combined blood-cooling and yin-nourishing action, addressing both the blood heat that is the acute pathological mechanism and the yin deficiency that the sustained heat progressively creates by consuming the body fluids and yin essence. Sheng Di Huang generates fluids, nourishes the kidney and heart yin, and cools the blood simultaneously, addressing the yin consumption component that Shui Niu Jiao's heat-clearing action alone does not nourish.
- Blood stasis dispelling to address the secondary stasis from heat desiccating and thickening the blood: Dispels the blood stasis that forms as a secondary consequence of sustained blood-level heat desiccating and thickening the blood in the affected vessels, using the combined blood-invigorating and stasis-dispelling action of Shao Yao and Mu Dan Pi to keep the blood moving normally through the vessels as the heat is progressively cleared, ensuring the heat-clearing treatment is supported by blood-moving action that prevents the blood stasis from accumulating and creating a secondary obstruction pattern on top of the blood-level heat.
- Deficiency heat clearance to address the yin deficiency heat that emerges as the acute blood-level heat resolves: Clears the deficiency heat that arises from the yin deficiency created by the sustained blood-level heat consuming the yin and body fluids, using Mu Dan Pi's specific affinity for clearing deficiency heat from the liver and blood level, ensuring the formula addresses both the acute excess blood-level heat that is the primary pathology and the secondary deficiency heat that emerges as the yin is depleted by the sustained heat and requires separate treatment alongside the blood-level heat clearance.
TCVM Principles
- Primary action - blood-level heat (xue fen) treatment in the Wen Bing four-level system through the four-herb strategy of deep heat clearance, blood cooling, yin nourishment, and blood stasis dispelling: Addresses blood-level heat in the Wen Bing (warm disease) four-level pathology system, where heat progresses from the wei level (defensive/exterior) through the qi level (functional/interior) to the ying level (nutritive) and finally to the xue level (blood/deepest), with each level representing a deeper and more serious stage of heat pathology. At the xue fen (blood level), heat has penetrated into the blood itself, causing three distinct consequences that the formula addresses simultaneously: first, the heat forces the blood to move recklessly outside its vessels, creating the bleeding tendency of blood-level heat; second, the heat desiccates and thickens the blood, creating blood stasis as the thickened blood accumulates in the vessels; and third, the sustained heat consumes the yin and body fluids, creating progressive yin deficiency that generates secondary deficiency heat. Shui Niu Jiao addresses the first consequence by clearing the deep blood-level heat and resolving the fire toxin that forces the blood recklessly; Sheng Di Huang addresses the third consequence by nourishing the yin and cooling the blood; Shao Yao and Mu Dan Pi address the second consequence by invigorating the blood and dispelling the blood stasis while also reinforcing the blood-heat-clearing action of Shui Niu Jiao.
- Secondary action - Shui Niu Jiao as the legal and clinically appropriate substitute for Xi Jiao and the rationale for the formula's modified name: The formula's name Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San refers to an augmented or modified version of Xi Jiao Di Huang San, the foundational blood-level heat formula from the classical Wen Bing tradition. In the classical formula, Xi Jiao (rhinoceros horn) was used as the principal blood-level heat-clearing herb; however, rhinoceros horn is legally prohibited under CITES international wildlife protection regulations, and all modern clinical versions of this formula use Shui Niu Jiao (water buffalo horn, Cornu Bubali) as the standard substitute, which provides comparable deep heat-clearing and fire-toxin-resolving action at the blood and pericardium level through a similar pharmacological profile at clinically appropriate doses (typically administered at significantly higher quantities than the historical Xi Jiao dose to achieve equivalent blood-level heat-clearing effect). Herbsmith Rx Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San uses Shui Niu Jiao as the principal herb, making this a clinically appropriate, legally compliant, and ethically sourced modern formulation of the classical blood-level heat-clearing strategy.
Available Forms
- Powder - Canine Blend (for dogs and cats): Available in 75 g, 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into food at the recommended dose for your pet's weight. Cats and dogs both use this blend.
- Powder - Equine/Horse Blend (for horses only): Available in 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into grain at the recommended dose for your horse.
Suggested Use
For Dogs (Canine Blend Powder):
- Under 30 lbs: ½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- 30-80 lbs: 1 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- 80-120 lbs: 1½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- Over 120 lbs: 2 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
For Cats (Canine Blend Powder): ¼ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
For Horses (Equine/Horse Blend, 1,000 lb horse): Two tablespoons twice daily for 20 days, then two tablespoons once daily in grain. If the horse initially refuses, start with a small amount mixed into grain and gradually increase until the horse is accustomed to the taste. Most horses will readily accept the herbs in their grain.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Shui Niu Jiao (Cornu Bubali), Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae), Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae), Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan Radicis)
Note: This formula uses Shui Niu Jiao (water buffalo horn, Cornu Bubali) as the principal heat-clearing herb. Shui Niu Jiao is the standard legal and clinically appropriate modern substitute for the historical Xi Jiao (rhinoceros horn) of the classical formula. Rhinoceros horn is not used in this or any Herbsmith Rx product.
Inactive Ingredient: Flaxseed
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Active Ingredient TCVM Actions
Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San is a four-herb formula for blood-level heat (xue fen syndrome) in the Wen Bing four-level system, with each herb addressing a distinct aspect of the blood-level heat pathology:
- Shui Niu Jiao (Cornu Bubali) - Water Buffalo Horn: Clears heat from the blood level and the pericardium, resolves fire toxin, and cools the blood; the principal herb and the legal, clinically appropriate modern substitute for the historical Xi Jiao (rhinoceros horn) of the classical formula, providing the formula's deepest and most direct blood-level heat-clearing and fire-toxin-resolving action. Shui Niu Jiao's heat-clearing action reaches the xue fen (blood level), the deepest tier of the Wen Bing four-level system, clearing the heat that has penetrated into the blood itself and resolving the fire toxin that forces the blood recklessly outside its vessels. Used at higher quantities than the historical Xi Jiao dose to achieve an equivalent blood-level heat-clearing effect, Shui Niu Jiao is the standard principal herb of all modern clinically appropriate and legally compliant versions of the Xi Jiao Di Huang San formula family.
- Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae) - Raw Rehmannia Root: Cools the blood, nourishes the yin, clears heat, and generates fluids; the second most important herb of the formula, providing the yin-nourishing and blood-cooling action that Shui Niu Jiao's heat-clearing function alone does not address. Sheng Di Huang nourishes the kidney and heart yin consumed by the sustained blood-level heat, generates the body fluids depleted by the heat's desiccating action on the yin, and cools the blood to reinforce Shui Niu Jiao's blood-level heat-clearing action from the yin-nourishing and blood-cooling angle. Raw rehmannia (sheng di huang) is specifically appropriate for this formula because its cool nature and strong yin-nourishing and blood-cooling properties address both the excess heat and the yin deficiency simultaneously; prepared rehmannia (shu di huang) would be inappropriate here because its warm nature would work against the formula's blood-cooling and heat-clearing strategy.
- Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae) - Peony Root: Clears blood heat, invigorates the blood, and dispels blood stasis; in the context of the Xi Jiao Di Huang San formula family, the classical texts specify Chi Shao (red peony, Radix Paeoniae Rubra) for its stronger blood heat-clearing and blood-invigorating properties, as distinct from Bai Shao (white peony, Radix Paeoniae Alba), which has stronger blood-nourishing and yin-consolidating action. Chi Shao's blood heat-clearing action reinforces Shui Niu Jiao and Sheng Di Huang's blood-cooling strategy, while its blood-invigorating action simultaneously addresses the blood stasis that forms as a secondary consequence of heat desiccating and thickening the blood in the affected vessels, ensuring the formula both clears the blood-level heat and keeps the blood moving to prevent stasis accumulation during the treatment course.
- Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) - Tree Peony Root Bark / Moutan Bark: Clears heat from the blood, invigorates the blood, dispels blood stasis, and clears deficiency heat; the fourth herb that provides dual blood-heat-clearing and blood-invigorating action alongside a specific affinity for clearing deficiency heat from the liver and blood level. Mu Dan Pi's deficiency heat-clearing action is particularly important in the later stages of blood-level heat treatment, when the acute excess heat has been partially cleared, but the yin deficiency created by the sustained heat generates secondary deficiency heat that requires specific treatment. Together with Shao Yao, Mu Dan Pi ensures the formula addresses both excess blood-level heat (through the combined heat-clearing action of all four herbs) and secondary blood stasis (through the combined blood-invigorating action of Shao Yao and Mu Dan Pi) throughout the treatment course.
Potential Drug Interactions
Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San contains Shao Yao and Mu Dan Pi, which have blood-invigorating and anticoagulant properties that warrant monitoring in animals on warfarin, heparin, aspirin, or other anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. Sheng Di Huang has documented effects on blood glucose that warrant monitoring in animals on antidiabetic medications or insulin. Mu Dan Pi may interact with medications metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. Shui Niu Jiao's strong blood-level heat-clearing action reflects a cold and potent nature that warrants caution in animals without confirmed blood-level heat presentation; the formula is contraindicated in animals with yang deficiency or cold patterns, where the strong heat-clearing herbs would further deplete the yang. The formula addresses one of the deepest and most serious heat pathology patterns in the Wen Bing system, and diagnosis of blood-level heat requires veterinary assessment of tongue quality, pulse character, and the full clinical presentation to confirm the xue fen pattern before beginning use.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications (Shao Yao and Mu Dan Pi's blood-invigorating effects), antidiabetic medications and insulin (Sheng Di Huang's blood glucose effects), medications metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system (Mu Dan Pi), and immunosuppressive medications. Your authorizing veterinarian will determine appropriateness based on your animal's condition, current medications, and confirmation of the blood-level heat pattern through tongue, pulse, and clinical assessment, with particular attention to confirming the depth of heat pathology and ruling out contraindicated cold or yang-deficient patterns before beginning the treatment course.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions is Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San used for in TCVM?
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San is indicated for blood-level heat (xue fen syndrome) in the Wen Bing four-level pathology system, presenting with heat that has penetrated into the blood level, causing the blood to move recklessly outside its vessels from the heat forcing it out, blood stasis from the heat desiccating and thickening the blood, progressive yin depletion from the heat consuming the body fluids and yin essence, a deep crimson or purple tongue reflecting the depth and severity of the blood-level heat, and a rapid thin pulse reflecting the heat and yin consumption. It is a foundational blood-level heat formula comparable to Augmented Rhino Horn and Rehmannia Powder, and it requires veterinary assessment to confirm the blood-level heat diagnosis through full Wen Bing pattern differentiation, as it is indicated for a specific and serious depth of heat pathology rather than superficial or qi-level heat presentations.
How is Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San administered to dogs, cats, and horses?
Mix the powder directly into food or grain at the dose recommended for your animal's species and body weight. Dogs and cats use the Canine Blend; horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dogs and cats receive the formula twice daily; horses receive two tablespoons twice daily for the first 20 days, then once daily. If the horse initially refuses, start with a small amount mixed into grain and gradually increase until the horse is accustomed to the taste. Most horses will readily accept the herbs in their grain. Because Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San addresses a serious blood-level heat pattern and contains Shui Niu Jiao and blood-invigorating herbs, your authorizing veterinarian will confirm the depth of heat pathology through a full Wen Bing pattern assessment, review current medications for anticoagulant and glucose-related interactions, and provide specific dosing and monitoring guidance throughout the treatment course.
How does Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San differ from other heat-clearing formulas?
Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San is specifically designed for blood-level heat (xue fen syndrome), the deepest tier of the Wen Bing four-level system, and is distinguished from qi-level heat formulas (such as Bai Hu Tang, which addresses heat at the qi level with high fever and profuse sweating) and ying-level heat formulas (which address heat that has penetrated the nutritive level but not yet reached the blood) by the presence of Shui Niu Jiao as the principal herb, which has specific affinity for clearing heat at the blood and pericardium level rather than the qi or ying level. The formula's four-herb simplicity reflects the Wen Bing tradition's principle of using focused, deep-acting herbs at the blood level rather than broader multi-herb strategies appropriate for qi-level heat. Your authorizing veterinarian will use the full Wen Bing four-level differentiation framework to confirm that the blood-level heat pattern is present and that this formula is appropriate rather than a qi-level or ying-level heat formula.
Why does the formula use Shui Niu Jiao instead of Xi Jiao?
The classical Xi Jiao Di Huang San formula used Xi Jiao (rhinoceros horn) as the principal blood-level heat-clearing herb. Rhinoceros horn is now legally prohibited under CITES international wildlife protection regulations and is not available for clinical use anywhere in the world. Shui Niu Jiao (water buffalo horn, Cornu Bubali) is the universally accepted, clinically validated modern substitute used in all contemporary versions of this formula family by practitioners and manufacturers worldwide. Shui Niu Jiao provides comparable blood-level heat-clearing and fire-toxin-resolving action at appropriate doses, typically higher than the historical Xi Jiao dose to achieve an equivalent therapeutic effect. Herbsmith Rx Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang San uses Shui Niu Jiao as its principal herb; rhinoceros horn is not used in this or any Herbsmith Rx product. The formula's name retains the reference to Xi Jiao as a classical formula family identifier rather than as an indication of the ingredients used.
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