Jing-Ning Granules (JNG)

What It Is

Jing-Ning Granules (JNG, sometimes called “静宁颗粒” in Chinese) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal formula.

It is a compound (multi-herb) formula, combining several individual herbs in fixed proportions.

According to one published description, the component herbs (and their weight ratios) include:

• Pseudostellaria heterophylla
• Rehmannia glutinosa
• Schisandra chinensis
• Lycium barbarum
• Poria cocos
• Polygala tenuifolia
• Acorus tatarinowii

The formula has been granted a national invention patent in China (patent No. ZL201510303541.6) for its use in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Semantic Scholar

It is often produced in the form of granules, i.e. a concentrated extract of the herbs prepared into a powder or granule form that dissolves in water (a common delivery form in modern TCM practice).

How It Works (Mechanisms / Hypotheses)

Because JNG is a complex herbal formula, its “mechanism” is not fully characterized. Still, a few hypotheses and experimental findings exist:

Animal (rat) model evidence in ADHD / hyperactivity

• A study using spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs, a common animal model for ADHD-like behavior) compared JNG (at low, medium, and high doses) against a control group and also atomoxetine (a standard ADHD medication) for 6 weeks. Semantic Scholar
• Behaviorally, JNG treatment was reported to ameliorate hyperactive/impulsive behavior and improve cognitive function in these rats. scienceopen.com
• Afterward, brain tissues (especially striatum and hippocampus) were examined for molecular / biochemical markers. Semantic Scholar+1

Effect on dopaminergic receptor signaling and downstream pathways

• One of the central mechanistic hypotheses is that JNG modulates the balance of D2-like vs D1-like dopamine receptor–mediated signaling. scienceopen.com
• Specifically, JNG is thought to affect the cAMP / PKA pathway and the Ca²⁺ / Calmodulin / CaMKII cascade as downstream signal transduction components. Semantic Scholar
• In the striatum, JNG treatment was associated with altered expression (mRNA / protein) of D1‐like and D2‐like receptors, increased cAMP, and modulation of Ca²⁺ levels. Semantic Scholar

Neuroprotection / modulation of neuronal activity

• The authors of the animal study suggest that JNG may exert neuroprotective effects (i.e. reducing neuronal damage or stress) in these ADHD models. Semantic Scholar
• Because herbal formulas tend to have multiple phytochemicals, some components may act via anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, or membrane stabilization effects (this is speculative, not proven for JNG in existing literature).

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theoretical basis

• From the TCM perspective, JNG is presumed to “calm” or “stabilize” certain internal imbalances (e.g. calming the spirit, balancing Yin/Yang or organ systems), in line with TCM diagnosis principles. The name “Jing-Ning” can be understood as “quiet / calm (宁)” and “essence / tranquility (静)”.
• However, the published mechanistic work focuses on modern neurobiological pathways rather than TCM theory.

In summary, the likely mechanism is multi-target and modulatory, centered on dopaminergic receptor signaling and downstream intracellular pathways (cAMP/PKA, Ca²⁺/CaM/CaMKII), plus possible neuroprotective actions. But these remain hypotheses based mainly on preclinical data.

Why It’s Important (Potential Significance)

JNG is of interest for several reasons:

Alternative / adjunct to conventional ADHD therapy

• Because current ADHD medications (e.g. stimulants, atomoxetine) can cause side effects or be less acceptable in some patients, there is interest in complementary or alternative treatments with better safety profiles. JNG offers a TCM-based option. Semantic Scholar

Patent and formalization of a TCM formula

• JNG has been patent-protected and has undergone at least some standardized preclinical study, which is relatively more rigorous than many traditional formulas. Semantic Scholar

Bridging TCM and modern neuroscience

• Because mechanistic work has attempted to map herbal effects to known neurotransmitter systems (dopamine, intracellular signaling), JNG is a useful case study for integration of TCM and biomedical science.

Potential for symptom relief

• If effective, JNG could help ameliorate core ADHD symptoms (inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity) in individuals who do not tolerate or prefer not to use conventional medications. Early observational reports (in children) suggest some favorable clinical outcomes. SAGE Journals

Stimulus for further research

• Because JNG is a well-defined formula with promising preliminary data, it may stimulate more rigorous clinical trials (e.g. randomized controlled trials in humans) to validate efficacy, safety, dosing, pharmacokinetics, etc.

Hence, JNG is significant as a potentially useful complementary therapy in neurodevelopmental or behavioral disorders, and as a research model of TCM-modern medicine integration.

Considerations (Limitations, Risks, Gaps, Practical Issues)

When evaluating or using JNG, many caveats and practical factors must be taken into account:

Insufficient human clinical evidence

• Much of the published work is in animal models, especially rats, not in well-controlled human trials. The translational validity (i.e. whether animal results apply to human ADHD) is uncertain.
• Some smaller clinical / observational reports (in China) reference formulas like “Jing Ning Zhi Dong Granules” in children with ADHD, but quality of evidence (blinding, controls, sample size) is limited. SAGE Journals

Complex herbal mixture — component interactions and variability

• Because JNG is a blend of many herbs, identifying which components are active, their synergistic or antagonistic interactions, and pharmacokinetics is challenging. Semantic Scholar
• Batch-to-batch variability in herbal quality, extraction process, standardization, contaminant levels (heavy metals, pesticides, adulterants) is always a risk in herbal medicines.

Dosing, standardization, and formulation differences

• The optimal dose (in humans) and treatment duration are not well established. The animal study used multiple dose groups, but scaling to humans requires caution.
• Granule formulations differ depending on manufacturer (concentration, excipients, solubility). The way granules are prepared (dissolved, dissolved time, temperature) may affect bioavailability.

Safety, side effects, and interactions

• Though TCM formulas are sometimes perceived as “gentle,” herbal ingredients can have bioactive (and sometimes toxic) effects, especially in certain populations (children, pregnant women, individuals with liver or kidney disease).
• There is very limited published safety data specifically for JNG; potential for herb–drug interactions (e.g. with conventional ADHD medications or other psychotropic drugs) must be considered.
• Herb contamination (heavy metals, pesticides, microbial contamination) is a known risk in herbal products if manufacturing controls are inadequate.

Individual variation and TCM pattern diagnosis

• In classical TCM practice, herbal treatments are personalized according to a patient’s “pattern” (e.g. Yin deficiency, Qi stagnation, etc.). Use of a fixed formula (JNG) may not suit all patients or patterns of ADHD presentation.
• Thus, a TCM practitioner might adjust the formula or combination depending on individual diagnosis — the “one formula fits all” approach may not align with TCM principles.

Regulatory and quality control

• In many countries, herbal products are regulated less stringently than pharmaceutical drugs. Ensuring that a JNG product meets quality, purity, and potency standards is crucial.
• Patients and practitioners should source granules from reputable, GMP-certified suppliers with independent testing.

Placebo and expectancy effects

• As with many complementary therapies, placebo effects and expectation may influence subjective improvements, especially in behavioral conditions like ADHD. Without strong controlled trials, it’s hard to separate real effect from non-specific effects.

Long-term efficacy and safety unknown

• Even if short-term benefits are observed, long-term outcomes, durability of effect, and cumulative safety over months or years are largely unknown.