Back to search result Search again Previous Next ↑

Alternate Chinese names: 真珠 zhēn zhū; 真朱 zhēn zhū; 蚌珠 bàng zhū; 珠子 zhū zǐ; 濂珠 lián zhū

Kingdom: Animal

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Pteria martensii (Dunker); Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea); Cristaria plicata (Leach) . (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin in unofficial sources: Pteria margaritifera (L.); Pteria martensii (Dunker) *; Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea) *; Cristaria plicata (Leach) *; Anodonta woodiana Lea

Use: Medicinal

Category: Liver-calming wind-extinguishing agents / Liver-calming yáng-subduing agents

Properties: Sweet, salty, and cold.

Channel entry: Heart and liver channels.

Actions and indications:

• Settles the heart and quiets the spirit to treat heart palpitation, epilepsy, and fright wind.
• Clears liver and eliminates screens: Red eyes and eye screens due to liver heat, as well as clouded vision due to liver vacuity. For eye diseases, it is mostly used externally, but may be used internally as well.

Dosage and method: Oral: 0.3–1g. It is generally used in powders and pills or applied externally. Pearl powder is often used in topical beauty products. True pearl is superior to cultivated pearl, although both are currently used.

Quality: Large round iridescent pearls with a smooth surface are the best. Visible layers on the cross section are also a sign of good quality.

Production area: Jiāngsū, Guǎngdōng, Táiwān.

Back to search result Search again Previous Next