Pearl Shell, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the shells of the following mollusks: Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea) of the family Veneridae, Cristaria plicata (Leach) of the family Cristariidae, or Pteria martensii (Dunker) of the family Pteriidae. It has the therapeutic effects of calming the liver and subduing yang, soothing the mind and alleviating convulsions, and improving vision and removing corneal opacities.It is primarily used to treat headaches and dizziness, palpitations and insomnia, red eyes with opacities, and blurred vision.
Pearl Shell
Pearl Shell, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the shells of the following mollusks: Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea) of the family Veneridae, Cristaria plicata (Leach) of the family Cristariidae, or Pteria martensii (Dunker) of the family Pteriidae. It has the therapeutic effects of calming the liver and subduing yang, soothing the mind and alleviating convulsions, and improving vision and removing corneal opacities.It is primarily used to treat headaches and dizziness, palpitations and insomnia, red eyes with opacities, and blurred vision.
Chinese Name : 珍珠母
Latin Name : Margaritifera Concha
Aliases : Zhu Mu, Zhu Mu, Zhen Zhu Mu, Ming Zhu Mu
Authentic Producing Area : Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Salty in taste, cold in nature; enters the Liver and Heart meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Calms the liver and subdues yang, soothes the mind and alleviates convulsions, improves vision and removes corneal opacities.
Indications
Headaches and dizziness; palpitations and insomnia; red eyes with opacities; blurred vision.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Decoct 10–30 g; crush and decoct first; or grind into powder, 1.5–3 g per dose; or incorporate into pills or powders.
Precautions
1. Margaritifera Concha is salty and cold in nature and may easily damage the spleen and stomach; therefore, use with caution in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, poor appetite, and loose stools. 2. Margaritifera Concha is compatible with ginseng and ox bile, but incompatible with gypsum. 3. Margaritifera Concha should not be used concurrently with tetracycline derivatives or isoniazid, as it may form complexes that reduce solubility and impair absorption. 4. Pearl Shell should not be used with digitalis to avoid enhancing its effects and toxicity. 5. Pearl Shell should not be used with phosphates (such as quinoline phosphate, codeine phosphate, etc.) or sulfates (such as ferrous sulfate, tolbutamide sulfate, etc.), as this may cause precipitation and reduce therapeutic efficacy. 6. Mother-of-pearl should not be combined with prednisolone tablets, as this can easily form insoluble compounds, significantly reducing bioavailability. 7. Mother-of-pearl should not be combined with vitamin C, as it loses its efficacy upon oxidation. 8. While taking mother-of-pearl, avoid consuming carp and using iron utensils.
Chemical Constituents
It primarily contains calcium carbonate, as well as trace elements such as copper, iron, and zinc.
Pharmacological Actions
This product has hypotensive, sedative, anti-aging, antioxidant, and antitumor effects, and is used to prevent osteoporosis and treat chronic gastritis.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Calms the spirit and soul; stops seminal emission and leukorrhea; treats smallpox and neutralizes toxins.”
2. *New Reference on Herbal Slices*: “Regulates the liver and subdues yang; calms the spirit and soul; alleviates convulsions and epilepsy; eliminates heat-induced fullness; treats corneal opacities.”
3. *The Great Dictionary of Chinese Medicine*: “Nourishes liver yin and clears liver fire. Treats mania, epilepsy, dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations, chest and abdominal distension, blood heat in women, menorrhagia, and convulsions and spasms in children.”
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. To treat symptoms such as headache, dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations, and insomnia caused by deficiency of liver yin and hyperactivity of liver yang, it is often used in combination with White Peony Root (Bai Shao), Raw Rehmannia Root (Sheng Di Huang), and Dragon’s Teeth (Long Chi), as in the Jia-Yi Gui-Cang Decoction (*Yi Chun Teng Yi*);For treating dizziness and headaches caused by liver yang hyperactivity, it is also frequently combined with liver-calming herbs such as Shi Jue Ming, Mu Li, and Ci Shi to enhance the effect of calming the liver and subduing yang. If liver yang hyperactivity is accompanied by liver heat, restlessness, and irritability, it can be combined with herbs that clear liver fire, such as Gou Teng, Ju Hua, and Xia Ku Cao.2. For treating palpitations, insomnia, and restlessness of the mind, it can be combined with spirit-calming herbs such as cinnabar (Zhusha), dragon bone (Longgu), and amber (Hupo), as in the Pearl Shell Pill (Zhenzhumo Wan) from *Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang*; when combined with wind-subduing and spasm-relieving herbs such as gastrodia (Tianma), uncaria (Gouteng), and pinellia (Tiannanxing), it can be used to treat epilepsy, convulsions, and spasms.
2. To treat red eyes due to liver heat, photophobia, and corneal opacities, it is often combined with Shi Jue Ming, chrysanthemum, and plantain seed to clear liver heat, improve vision, and dispel opacities; to treat dim vision and blurred vision due to liver deficiency, it is combined with goji berries, ligustrum berries, and black sesame seeds to nourish the liver and improve vision;For cases of blurred vision or night blindness due to liver deficiency, it can be simmered and consumed with Atractylodes, pork liver, or chicken liver. Modern pearl layer powder formulated into eye ointments for external use has shown some efficacy in treating cataracts, keratitis, and conjunctivitis.
Related Compatibility
1. Pearl Shell combined with Dragon’s Tooth: Pearl Shell is salty and cold in nature; it can both subdue liver yang and clear liver fire, as well as clear heart heat, calm the spirit, and relieve agitation. Dragon’s Tooth is cool in nature and excels at calming the spirit and relieving agitation.When combined, these two herbs complement each other, enhancing their ability to calm the heart and soothe the spirit, as well as to pacify the liver and subdue liver yang. This combination is used to treat conditions such as palpitations, anxiety, mania, restlessness, insomnia, forgetfulness, mental confusion, and delirium caused by pathogenic factors overwhelming the heart and the spirit failing to remain centered; it is also used for symptoms such as dizziness, red eyes, tinnitus, irritability, and short temper resulting from hyperactive liver yang.
2. Pearl Shell combined with Rehmannia: Pearl Shell nourishes liver yin, subdues liver yang, and disperses liver fire; Rehmannia is moist in nature, sweet and cold to nourish yin, and bitter to clear heat, making it a key herb for nourishing yin, reducing fire, cooling the blood, and stopping bleeding. When used together, these two herbs nourish the yin of the liver and kidneys and enhance the ability to subdue and lower hyperactive liver yang. This combination is suitable for treating symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and tinnitus caused by yin deficiency with hyperactive yang.
Medicinal Identification
1. Raw Pearl Shell and Calcined Pearl Shell: Both are different processed forms of Pearl Shell. Due to differences in processing methods, their therapeutic effects have distinct emphases. Raw Pearl Shell focuses on calming the liver and subduing liver yang, soothing the mind and alleviating palpitations, as well as improving vision and removing corneal opacities. It is suitable for symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, red eyes, and corneal opacities.Calcined Pearl Shell has a crisp texture; when finely ground and swallowed, it tends to astringe and neutralize acidity, making it suitable for damp sores, bleeding, stomach pain, and acid reflux.
2. Pearl Shell and Shi Jue Ming: Both herbs can calm the liver and subdue Yang, clear liver heat, and improve vision. They are used for headaches, dizziness, and tinnitus caused by excessive Liver Yang, as well as liver-heat eye disorders, blurred vision, and corneal opacities.However, Pearl Shell also enters the Heart Meridian and can calm the spirit and alleviate palpitations; it is used for palpitations, insomnia, and restlessness. Shi Jue Ming is a key herb for calming and cooling the Liver, while also nourishing Liver Yin; therefore, it can be used for conditions such as red, swollen, and painful eyes, corneal opacities, and blurred vision, regardless of whether the condition is due to deficiency or excess.
Related Medicines
Hypotensive Tablets, Coronary Heart Disease Relief Oral Solution, Calming and Heart-Nourishing Pills (capsules, granules), and Calamus Anti-Inflammatory Capsules.
Related Prescriptions
Zhenzhumo Pills (*Six Books on Medical Essentials*), Anmian Decoction (*Clinical Medical Case Studies and Formulas*).
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with Chinese herbal medicine should first consult a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital to receive a prescription following a professional TCM differential diagnosis.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
It can be harvested year-round. After retrieving the shells, remove the flesh and mud, wash them thoroughly, boil them in alkaline water, then soak and rinse them in fresh water. Remove them, scrape off the outer black layer, and sun-dry or oven-dry them.
Processing Methods
1. Pearl Shell: Take the raw material, remove impurities and dust, and crush it.
2. Calcined Pearl Shell: Place the cleaned pearl shell in a suitable container, heat over high heat, and calcine until crisp; remove, allow to cool, and crush.
3. Pearl Layer Powder: Take the purified pearl oyster shell and use a grinding wheel to remove the outer and middle layers, retaining only the inner layer (the pearl layer). Immerse it in a 50 × 10⁻⁶ potassium permanganate solution for 30 minutes to sterilize, then rinse thoroughly with clean water. Grind the material, sieve through a 130-mesh sieve, wash with water, dry in an oven, grind again, sieve through a 200-mesh sieve, and dry thoroughly.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container in a dry, dust-free place.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
1. Triangular Sail Clam: Slightly irregular quadrilateral in shape, with growth rings on the shell surface arranged in concentric circles; the posterior dorsal margin protrudes upward, forming a large triangular sail-like posterior wing. The inner shell surface shows distinct mantle scars; the anterior adductor scar is oval, while the posterior adductor scar is slightly triangular.Both the left and right valves have two pseudo-primary teeth; the left valve has two elongated lateral teeth, while the right valve has one elongated lateral tooth. The shell is lustrous and hard in texture. It has a faint fishy odor and a mild taste.
2. Crowned Clam: The shell is an irregular triangle, with the posterior margin extending upward to form a large crown. The mantle scar on the inner surface is slightly visible;the anterior adductor scar is large and wedge-shaped, while the posterior adductor scar is irregularly oval; longitudinal ribs and grooves corresponding to the shell surface are present below the posterior lateral teeth. Both the left and right valves have one short, slightly thick posterior lateral tooth and one slender, delicate anterior lateral tooth; neither valve has pseudo-principal teeth.
3. Ma’s Pearl Oyster: Rectangular in shape, with a large posterior auricle and a small anterior auricle; the dorsal margin is straight, and the ventral margin is rounded; growth lines are extremely fine and dense, forming a sheet-like pattern. The adductor scar is large and oblong. It possesses a single, raised, elongated principal tooth.
Properties of Processed Slices
1. Mother-of-pearl: Irregular, scale-like fragments, ranging in color from jade-white to bright yellowish-brown or silvery-gray, with a lustrous sheen. It can be peeled off, is hard and heavy, has a faint odor, and tastes bland.
2. Calcined nacre: Resembles nacre in appearance, but is bluish-gray in color; it is brittle and easily broken, odorless, and has a slightly salty taste.
3. Nacre powder: A white, fine powder that dissolves in the mouth and is tasteless.
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
1. Triangular Sail Clam: The shell is large and flat, with a hard shell material and a slightly triangular shape. The left and right valve apices fit tightly together; the posterior margin is long and protrudes upward to form a large, triangular, sail-like posterior wing, while the anterior margin is short and pointed.The ventral margin is nearly straight, with a slight curve. The shell surface is uneven, with coarse ribs engraved on the apex. Growth lines are arranged in wide, concentric rings. The inner surface of the shell is smooth, and the nacre is milky white.
2. Pleated Crown Clam: The shell is relatively large and slightly irregularly triangular in shape.The anterior dorsal margin lacks a distinct crown-like projection; the posterior portion is tall, with the posterior dorsal margin extending upward and outward to form a large crown. The posterior dorsal region of the shell features a series of gradually thickening longitudinal ribs extending backward from the apex. The ventral margin is long and nearly straight. The shell surface ranges from deep yellow-green to blackish-brown; the apex is often eroded, causing loss of the surface color. The nacre is lustrous.
3.Ma’s Pearl Oyster: The shell is oblique quadrangular in shape, with a relatively brittle shell material. It measures 50–90 mm in length and 18–32 mm in width; its height is approximately equal to its length, though larger specimens may exceed 100 mm in height. The apex is located toward the front, with auricles on both sides; the anterior auricle is slightly smaller than the posterior one. The two valves are asymmetrical: the right valve is flatter, while the left valve is slightly convex. Below the anterior auricle of the right valve, there is a distinct foot-thread depression.The dorsal margin is straight; the ventral margin is rounded. The shell surface is pale yellowish-brown, with extremely fine, dense concentric growth rings arranged in patches. The nacre is thin, brittle, and prone to flaking off; the central part of the shell often appears worn. Near the ventral margin, the growth rings are tightly packed, extending into small tongue-like projections with slightly upturned tips. The foot thread pore is large, and the foot threads are hair-like. The central part of the inner shell surface features a thick, well-developed nacre layer with an exceptionally strong pearlescent luster.In some cases, when the mantle is stimulated, the epithelial tissue undergoes rapid fission, forming a pearl sac that continuously secretes nacre, gradually leading to the formation of a pearl. The margin of the inner shell surface is pale yellow and lacks nacre.The hinge line is straight, with a prominent main tooth; a long tooth plate runs along the underside of the hinge line. The ligament is purplish-brown; the anterior superior adductor muscle scar is distinct, located below the apex of the shell; the adductor muscle scar is large, oblong, and slightly pointed at the front, situated slightly toward the rear of the shell’s center.
Distribution Area
1. Triangular Sail Clam: Found in Hebei, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, and other regions. 2. Pleated Crown Clam: Found throughout China. 3. Ma’s Pearl Oyster: Found along the coasts of Guangdong and Guangxi; particularly common in the Beibu Gulf, with the highest yield in Hepu, Guangxi.