Mother-of-Pearl (Zhenzhumu)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Margarita |
| Botanical Name: | Pteria martensii (Dunker) Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea) Cristaria plicata (Leach) |
| Common Name: | Mother-of-pearl Pearl |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Haiyao Bencao |
| art Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The pearl shells are collected and ground into powder. |
| Properties and Taste: | Salty and cold |
| Meridian: | Heart and liver |
| Functions: | To pacify the liver and subdue the yang To clear heat in the liver and brighten the eyes |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Deficient yin of the liver and kidneys and hyperactivity of liver yang manifested as headache, dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, irritability and insomnia. *Use with White peony root (Baishao), Fresh rehmannia root (Shengdihuang), Sea-ear shell (Shijueming) and Dragon's bone (Longgu). 2. Wind and heat in the liver meridian manifested as blurred vision and night blindness. *Use with Atractylodes rhizome (Cangzhu), Pig liver (Zhugan) and Chicken's liver (Jigan) or Rabbit's liver (Tugan). . Wind and heat in the liver meridian manifested as red, swollen and painful eyes and photophobia. *Use with Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua) and Plantain seed (Cheqianzi). |
| Dosage: | 15-30 g; 3.3-1 g (for pills) |