Witnessed by: TCM
Rhinoceros horn, of the Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia) family. The solid keratin horn borne on the snout of the rhinoceros; native range: formerly from rhinoceros of southern and southeastern Asia and Africa; trade now prohibited. Globally recognized as xi jiao (犀角) in Chinese, and rhinoceros horn in English. The part used is the horn (shaved or filed). A dense dark keratinous horn, shaved to thin translucent flakes, faintly salty, with little smell.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
RHINOCEROS HORN
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- rhinoceros horn
- Family
- Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia)
Form
- Part used
- the horn (shaved or filed)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter · salty
Temperature
- TCM
- cold
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Heart · Liver · Stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears heat and cools the blood, drains fire and resolves toxicity, and settles fright and extinguishes wind from blazing heat
Cautions
- Contraindications
- pregnancy; cold patterns without heat
- Toxicity
- low intrinsic toxicity; the decisive caution is legal and conservation, not pharmacological
- Sourcing status
- cites-i
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