Pharmaceutical Name:

Concha Mauritiae

Zoological Name:

Mauritiae Arabica (L)

Common Name:

Purple Cowrie Shell

Source of Earliest Record:

Xinxiu Bencao

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The shells are collected in summer, then cleaned, dried in the sun and broken into pieces.

Properties and Taste:

Salty and neutral

Meridian:

Liver

Functions:

To calm the heart and tranquilize the mind
To clear heat in the liver and brighten eyes

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Palpitations, irritability, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep or infantile convulsions due to high fever.
*Use with Coptis root (Huanglian), Mother-of-pearl (Zhenzhumu) and Ante's horn (Lingyangjiao).

2.     Wind and heat in the liver meridian manifested as red, swollen and painful eyes or visual obstruction; or hyperactivity of liver yang manifested as dizziness, vertigo and headache.
*Use with Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua), Mulberry leaf (Sangye) and Uncaria stem (Gouteng).

Dosage:

10-15 g

Cautions:

The substance is cooked before the other herbs.