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Haliotidis Concha
Abalone shell
石决明 〔石決明〕 shí jué míng
Alternate English names: haliotis shell
Alternate Chinese names: 真珠母 zhēn zhū mǔ; 鳆鱼甲 fù yú jiǎ; 九孔螺 jiǔ kǒng luó; 鲍鱼皮 bào yú pí; 金蛤蜊皮 jīn gé lí pí; 九孔决明 jiǔ kǒng jué míng
Kingdom: Animal
Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Haliotis diversicolor Reeve.; Haliotis discus hannai Ino; Haliotis ovina Gmelin; Haliotis ruber (Leach); Haliotis laevigata (Donovan) . (PRC Pharmacopoeia)
Origin in unofficial sources: Haliotis diversicolor Reeve*; Haliotis gigantea discus Reeve; Haliotis discus hannai Ino; Haliotis ovina Gmelin; Haliotis ruber Leach; Haliotis asinina L.; Haliotis laevigata Donovan
Use: Medicinal
Category: Liver-calming wind-extinguishing agents / Liver-calming yáng-subduing agents
Properties: Salty; cold.
Channel entry: Liver channel.
Actions and indications:
- Calms the liver and subdues yáng: Ascendant hyperactivity of liver yáng manifesting in dizziness.
- Clears the liver and brightens the eyes: Red eyes, eye screens, clouded vision or flowery vision.
Dosage and method: Oral: 15–30g in decoctions; shí jué míng should be crushed and predecocted.
Product description: This shell is elliptical, 3–8 cm long and 2–.5 to 5.5 cm wide. The exterior surface is gray-brown and relatively smooth, with distinct growth lines. At the ends of the ridges, there are 8–9 holes that open into the inside of the shell. The interior is shiny like mother of pearl. This shell is hard and is difficult to break, and the fractures are very sharp. It has no smell. For oral administration, it is calcined until gray-white, while for topical application, it is calcined until white. It is crushed before use.
Quality: Large thick shells with a shiny pearly interior surface are the best.
Production area: Haliotis diversicolor: Guǎngdōng, Fújiàn. Haliotis gigantea discus: Liáoníng, Shāndōng. Haliotis ovina: Guǎngdōng, Táiwān.
Etymology: Shí jué míng 石决明, literally stone decidedly bright,
labels this as stonelike item that enhances visual acuity. Compare jué míng zǐ 决明子.