Anshen Bunao

Anshen Bunao is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation widely used in China to treat neurological and psychiatric symptoms, including insomnia, neurasthenia, dizziness, fatigue, and amnesia. It is prepared in several dosage forms, such as oral liquids, syrups, capsules, tablets, and pediatric granules. The standard formulation typically comprises a mixture of herbal extracts, including Cervus nippon (deer antler), Polygonum multiflorum (fleeceflower root), Epimedium, Zingiber officinale (ginger), Zizyphus jujuba (jujube), and Glycyrrhiza (licorice), often supplemented with Vitamin B1. A specialized formulation, Pediatric Anshen Bunao Granules (PABG), is derived from a modification of Ditan Decoction and contains 18 Chinese medicinal ingredients (including Acorus tatarinowii, Arisaema cum bile, Polygalae radix, Astragali radix, and Pinellia ternata). PABG is approved as an in-house preparation in Guangdong Province and is currently being evaluated in a Phase II clinical trial for pediatric tic disorder. Preclinical studies suggest that Anshen Bunao formulations exert neuroprotective, anxiolytic, and antidepressant effects, potentially by modulating neurotransmitter levels, reducing neuroinflammation, and regulating gut-brain axis pathways.