Herb
Oyster shell (Mu li)
牡蛎mu li
1 sourceConcha Ostreae
Calms the liver and subdues yang, settles fright and quiets the spirit, softens hardness to disperse masses, and astringes to check sweating and discharge; recorded for fright, chills and fever, scrofula, vaginal discharge, goiter, phlegm nodules and abdominal masses.
Used in 6 formulas
Source
Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷四十六·介部·蛤蚌类·牡蛎·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).
Traditional functions
Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.
传统中医记载：伤寒寒热，温疟洒洒，惊恚怒气，除拘缓鼠瘘，女子带下赤白；化痰软坚，清热除湿，止心脾气痛，痢下赤白浊，消疝瘕积块，瘿疾结核。
Nature, flavor & meridians
Nature & flavor: 咸，平、微寒，无毒。
Used in formulas
- Oyster Shell and Alisma Powder
- Trichosanthes Root and Oyster Shell Powder
- Cinnamon Twig, Licorice, Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction
- Cinnamon Twig minus Peony plus Dichroa Leaf, Oyster Shell and Dragon Bone Decoction to Restore from Counterflow
- Bupleurum, Cinnamon Twig and Dried Ginger Decoction
- Bupleurum plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction
Citations
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷四十六·介部·蛤蚌类·牡蛎·条名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷四十六·介部·蛤蚌类·牡蛎·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷四十六·介部·蛤蚌类·牡蛎·主治Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.