Pharmaceutical Name:

Os Sepiae seu Sepiellae

Botanical Name:

Sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune
Sepia esculenta Hoyle.

Common Name:

Cuttlefish bone
Cuttlebone

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The cuttlefish is caught from April to August. The bone is removed from the fish and dried for twenty-four hours.

Properties and Taste:

Salty, astringent and slightly warm

Meridians:

Liver and kidney

Functions:

To astringe and stop bleeding
To control the essence and relieve leukorrhea
To restrain hyperacidity and stop pain
To promote healing of ulcers

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Hemorrhage.
*Use with Rubia root (Qiancao), Carbonized petiole of windmill palm (Zonglutan) and Donkey hide gelatin (Ejiao). *Cuttlefish bone (Wuzeigu) can be used alone for bleeding due to external injuries.

2.     Deficiency of the kidneys manifested as seminal emissions or leukorrhea.
*Use with Dogwood fruit (Shanzhuyu), Dioscorea (Shanyao), Dadder seed (Tusizi) and Oyster shell (Muli).

3.     Stomach pain and acid regurgitation.
*Use with Tendrilled fritillary bulb (Chuanbeimu) in the formula Wu Bei San.

4.     Eczema or chronic ulcers.
*Use with Phellodendron bark (Huangbai) and Natural indigo (Qingdai) for external use in powder form.

Dosage:

6-12 g

Cautions:

This substance is contraindicated in cases with deficient yin and excessive heat.