Herb

Horseshoe crab (Hou yu)

鲎鱼hou yu
1 sourceSafety notes recordedTachypleus tridentatus

Modern safety information is being compiled for this entry.

Recorded in Bencao Gangmu for hemorrhoids and killing worms, and (charred) for intestinal-wind bleeding, flooding, discharge and postpartum dysentery. Recorded in the source as slightly toxic. Historical record only; from an endangered, internationally protected species (horseshoe crab).

Source

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷四十五·介部·龟鳖类·鲎鱼·主治

References
  • functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
  • WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
  • public pharmacopoeia & zoological facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).
Nature, flavor & meridians

Nature & flavor: 辛、咸，平，微毒。

Citations
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷四十五·介部·龟鳖类·鲎鱼·条名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷四十五·介部·龟鳖类·鲎鱼·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷四十五·介部·龟鳖类·鲎鱼·主治Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷四十五·介部·龟鳖类·鲎鱼·安全Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.