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Alternate English names: balanophyllia/stalactite

Kingdom: MineralXXX

Origin in unofficial sources: Balanophyllia spp.; tubular stalactitestalactitum tubiforme; Caryophillia spp.

Use: Medicinal

Properties: Sweet; warm.

Actions and indications: Warms the lung and transforms phlegm; promotes lactation; invigorates yáng. Treats pulmonary consumption with cough and panting; oppression in the chest; breast milk stoppage; impotence; lack of the strength in the lumbus and knees.

Dosage and method: Oral: Decoct (9–15g); grind to powder (0.3–1.5g). Use the crude for to warm the lung and transforms phlegm and to promotes lactation. Use calcined forms for invigorating yáng.

Product description: This product is either a coral (Balanophyllia spp.) or, less commonly, Dī rǔ shí (滴乳石 Stalactitum Tubiforme, tubular stalactite), the two forms being known as Shān hú é guǎn shí (珊瑚鹅管石 Balanophyllia , coral goose quill stone) and Zhōng rǔ é guǎn shí (钟乳鹅管石 Stalactitum Eguanshi, stalactite goose quill stone). The former is sections of tubular coral 3–5 cm long, tapering to one end, and 4–7 mm in diameter, white or pale gray in color, with annular ribs and fine linear longitudinal ridges. It is brittle in substance and breaks easily to reveal multiple radial partitions. It has no smell but is slightly salty to the taste.

Production area: Coral goose quill stone (Balanophyllia sp.): Guǎngdōng and Guǎngxī. Stalactite goose quill stone: Guǎngxī, Guǎngdōng, Húběi, Sìchuān, Guìzhōu, Yúnnán, Shǎnxī (Shaanxi), Gānsū, and Shānxī.

Etymology: The name e 2guǎn shí 鹅管石, literally duck's quill stone, reflects the form of this item.

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