Is An Gong Niu Huang Wan effective for cerebral infarction?

Generally, An Gong Niu Huang Wan has an auxiliary effect on specific types of cerebral infarction. However, it is ineffective if used for non-corresponding syndrome types or in the late stages of the disease. If in doubt, it is recommended to seek medical advice promptly. The detailed analysis is as follows:

An Gong Niu Huang Wan's core functions are clearing heat and detoxifying, calming the mind, and opening the orifices. It is suitable for the acute phase of cerebral infarction characterized by phlegm-heat blocking the orifices. Patients with this syndrome often present symptoms such as high fever, restlessness, loss of consciousness, and delirium. The medicine helps improve consciousness through its effects of opening the orifices, awakening the mind, clearing heat, and resolving phlegm, thereby buying time for subsequent treatments. It serves as one of the supportive emergency medications during the acute stage.

However, cerebral infarction has complex etiologies. For other syndrome patterns such as qi deficiency with blood stasis or wind-phlegm obstructing the meridians, using An Gong Niu Huang Wan will not only fail to relieve symptoms but may also impair spleen and stomach function due to its cold-natured ingredients (such as bezoar and Coptis). Moreover, in the late stages of cerebral infarction, patients mainly suffer from sequelae such as hemiplegia and speech impairment. An Gong Niu Huang Wan lacks targeted therapeutic effects for these conditions, and inappropriate use may delay opportunities for rehabilitation and recovery.

The use of An Gong Niu Huang Wan must strictly follow pattern differentiation and is limited only to specific syndromes during the acute phase of cerebral infarction. It must be administered under the guidance of a qualified physician and should never be taken without medical supervision.