Raw Oyster, a name in traditional Chinese medicine, refers to the shells of the species Ostrea gigas Thunberg, Ostrea talienwhanensis Crosse, or Ostrea rivularis Gould, all belonging to the genus Ostrea in the family Ostreidae.It has the effects of calming the mind and stabilizing the spirit, subduing yang and replenishing yin, and softening hard masses and dispersing nodules. It is primarily used to treat palpitations and insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus, scrofula and phlegm nodules, as well as masses and abdominal masses.
Raw Oysters
Raw Oyster, a name in traditional Chinese medicine, refers to the shells of the species Ostrea gigas Thunberg, Ostrea talienwhanensis Crosse, or Ostrea rivularis Gould, all belonging to the genus Ostrea in the family Ostreidae.It has the effects of calming the mind and stabilizing the spirit, subduing yang and replenishing yin, and softening hard masses and dispersing nodules. It is primarily used to treat palpitations and insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus, scrofula and phlegm nodules, as well as masses and abdominal masses.
Chinese Name : 生牡蛎
Authentic Producing Area : Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Salty in taste, slightly cold in nature; enters the Liver, Gallbladder, and Kidney meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
It calms the mind, subdues Yang and nourishes Yin, and softens hardness and disperses masses.
Indications
Palpitations and insomnia; dizziness and tinnitus; scrofula and phlegm nodules; masses and lumps.
Usage and Dosage
1. Internal use: Decoct 15–30 g; add to the decoction first; or incorporate into pills or powders. 2. External use: Apply an appropriate amount as a dry powder or as a paste.
Precautions
1. Use with caution in patients with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold. 2. Fritillaria is its “assistant herb”; it synergizes well with licorice, Achyranthes root, Polygala root, and Cnidium fruit; it is contraindicated with ephedra, Asarum, Evodia fruit, and Magnolia flower. 3. Should not be used concurrently with tetracycline derivatives or isoniazid, as they may form complexes, reducing solubility and impairing absorption. 4. Should not be used with digitalis, as it may enhance both the therapeutic effect and toxicity. 5. Should not be used with phosphates (e.g., quinoline phosphate, codeine phosphate) or sulfates (e.g., ferrous sulfate, tolbutamide sulfate), as precipitation may occur, reducing therapeutic efficacy. 6. Should not be combined with prednisolone tablets, as this may readily form insoluble compounds that significantly reduce bioavailability. 7. Should not be combined with vitamin C, as oxidation will render it ineffective.
Chemical Constituents
It primarily contains calcium carbonate; it also contains protein and trace elements such as magnesium, sodium, and strontium.
Pharmacological Actions
This product has sedative, anticonvulsant, analgesic, neuroprotective, immune-boosting, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor effects.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Shennong Bencao Jing*: “Treats shock, anger, and irritability; relieves stiffness and spasticity; treats fistulas; and addresses red and white vaginal discharge in women.”
2. *Haiyao Bencao*: “Treats male seminal emission and debility due to exhaustion; tonifies kidney qi; stops night sweats; relieves restlessness and fever; and treats febrile illnesses. It nourishes and calms the mind, and treats childhood convulsions and epilepsy.”
3. *Essentials of Materia Medica*: “Its salty nature softens hardness and resolves phlegm, dissipating scrofula, tubercles, stagnant blood, and abdominal masses. Its astringent nature consolidates and stops prolapse, treating seminal emission, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea; it also stops coughing, reduces sweating, and fortifies the small and large intestines.”
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. To treat restlessness of the mind, palpitations, startled states, insomnia, and frequent dreaming, it is often used in synergy with dragon bone, such as in the Cinnamon Twig, Licorice, Dragon Bone, and Oyster Shell Decoction (*Treatise on Cold Damage*). It may also be combined with cinnabar, amber, and sour jujube seeds, among other spirit-calming herbs.
2. To treat conditions where “water fails to nourish wood” (i.e., yin deficiency with excessive yang), resulting in dizziness, restlessness, and tinnitus, it is often used in combination with dragon bone, turtle shell, and white peony root, as in the Decoction for Calming the Liver and Subduing Wind (from *A Synthesis of Chinese and Western Medicine*).; it also treats conditions arising from prolonged febrile diseases that scorch true yin, leading to internal wind due to deficiency and convulsions of the limbs. It is often combined with herbs that nourish yin, subdue wind, and relieve spasms—such as raw Rehmannia root, turtle shell, and softshell turtle shell—as in the Da Dingfeng Zhu formula (*Treatise on the Differentiation of Warm Diseases*).
3. For treating phlegm nodules, scrofula, and goiters caused by stagnation of phlegm-fire, it is often combined with Zhebei Mu and Xuan Shen, as in the Xiao Cuo Wan (from *Insights into Medicine*); when used to treat masses and accumulations resulting from qi stagnation and blood stasis, it is often used in combination with Bie Jia, Danshen, and E Zhu.
Related Compatibility
1. Raw Oyster Shell combined with Turtle Carapace: Raw Oyster Shell has heavy-anchoring properties to calm the spirit and softens hardness while promoting astringency; Turtle Carapace nourishes yin and subdues yang, softening hardness and dispersing nodules.When used together, these two herbs not only heavily anchor and calm the spirit but also nourish yin and subdue yang; they can also soften phlegm nodules and disperse blood-related hardness. They are a commonly used pair for nourishing yin, subduing wind, harmonizing the liver, subduing yang, softening hardness, and dispersing nodules. They are suitable for dizziness and vertigo caused by yin deficiency with hyperactive yang, restlessness, palpitations, and insomnia, as well as spasms and convulsions resulting from yin depletion due to febrile diseases and internal liver wind;It is also suitable for masses and accumulations, as well as conditions such as menorrhagia and metrorrhagia in women.
2. Raw Oyster Shell combined with Turtle Shell: Raw Oyster Shell subdues yang and calms the spirit; it has strong sedative properties but weak effects in nourishing yin and strengthening bones; Turtle Shell nourishes yin and subdues yang, strengthens tendons and bones, and has strong effects in nourishing yin and strengthening bones but weak sedative properties.When these two herbs are combined, their effects—nourishing yin, subduing wind, strengthening tendons and bones, and heavily sedating the mind—complement each other perfectly. This combination is suitable for conditions of yin deficiency with hyperactive yang, characterized by dizziness, vertigo, and restlessness.
3. Raw Oyster Shell combined with White Peony Root: Raw Oyster Shell calms the liver and subdues liver yang, while also possessing astringent and consolidating properties; White Peony Root nourishes blood, consolidates yin, and subdues liver yang.When used together, one subdues Liver Yang while the other nourishes Yin and Blood; one consolidates and astringes while the other gathers Yin. Their complementary actions address both the root and the symptoms, jointly achieving the effect of nourishing Yin and subduing Yang. This combination is suitable for conditions of Yin deficiency with excessive Yang, characterized by dizziness, vertigo, restlessness, tinnitus, and eye distension.
Medicinal Identification
1. Raw Oyster Shell and Calcined Oyster Shell: Both are different processed forms of oyster shell; due to differences in processing methods, their therapeutic effects have distinct emphases. Raw Oyster Shell excels at heavily anchoring and calming the spirit, subduing Yang and nourishing Yin, and softening hardness and dispersing nodules; it is commonly used for palpitations and insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus, scrofula and phlegm nodules, as well as masses and lumps.Calcined Oyster Shell excels at astringing and consolidating; it is commonly used for conditions involving leakage and instability, such as spontaneous sweating, night sweats, seminal emission, premature ejaculation, frequent urination, enuresis, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea; it can also neutralize acidity and relieve pain, and is used to treat stomach pain and acid reflux.
2. Raw Oyster Shell and Dragon Bone: Both possess the functions of calming the mind and alleviating anxiety, pacifying the liver and subduing Yang, and astringing and consolidating. They are both suitable for treating restlessness of the mind, palpitations and insomnia, Yin deficiency with excessive Yang, dizziness and vertigo, irritability and short temper, as well as various conditions involving slippage and loss of stability.However, raw oyster primarily enters the Liver Meridian and is notably effective at calming the Liver and subduing Yang. Although its effects in calming the spirit and astringing and consolidating are less pronounced than those of dragon bone, it can also soften hardness and disperse nodules, making it suitable for treating scrofula, phlegm nodules, and masses and accumulations.Dragon Bone primarily enters the Heart Meridian and is highly effective in calming the mind and alleviating panic; it also dries dampness and promotes the healing of sores, making it suitable for chronic, non-healing ulcers.
3. Raw Oyster Shell and Stone Oyster Shell: Both can calm the liver and subdue Yang, nourish Yin, and clear heat, making them suitable for conditions such as dizziness and vertigo caused by Yin deficiency with excessive Yang.However, raw oyster shell also has the effects of calming the mind and alleviating anxiety, as well as astringing and consolidating, making it suitable for conditions such as restlessness, palpitations, and insomnia. Shi Jue Ming clears liver fire; together, they nourish liver yin to improve vision and dispel corneal opacities, making them suitable for conditions such as red, swollen, and painful eyes, corneal opacities, and blurred vision.
Related Medicines
Liver-Draining and Spirit-Calming Pills.
Related Prescriptions
Cinnamon Twig, Dragon Bone, and Oyster Shell Decoction (*Jin Gui Yao Lue*), Rescue from Reversal Decoction (*Shang Han Lun*).
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with traditional Chinese medicine should first consult a licensed TCM hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional pattern differentiation and issue a prescription.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Can be harvested year-round; remove the flesh, wash thoroughly, and sun-dry.
Processing Methods
Take the raw herbal materials, remove impurities and adherents, wash thoroughly, dry, and grind into powder.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container in a dry place. Keep away from dust.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
1. Long Oyster: Long and flat, with the dorsal and ventral margins nearly parallel; 10–50 cm long and 4–15 cm high.The right valve is smaller, with thick, sturdy scales arranged in layers or with a layered pattern. The outer surface of the shell is flat or has several depressions; it is pale purple, grayish-white, or yellowish-brown. The inner surface is porcelain white, and there are no small teeth on either side of the apex. The left valve is deeply concave, with scales coarser and larger than those on the right valve, and a small attachment surface at the apex. The shell is hard, with a layered cross-section that is pure white. It has a faint odor and a slightly salty taste.
2. Dalian Bay Oyster: Triangular in shape, with the dorsal and ventral margins forming a figure-eight pattern. The outer surface of the right valve is pale yellow, with sparse concentric scales that undulate in a wavy pattern; the inner surface is white. The left valve has thick, sturdy concentric scales; several distinct radial ribs radiate from the apex; the inner surface is concave and box-shaped; the hinge surface is small.
3. Jinjiang Oyster: Round, oval, or triangular in shape. The outer surface of the right valve is slightly uneven, with colors ranging from gray, purple, brown, to yellow, and concentric scales arranged in concentric rings; in juvenile specimens, the scales are thin and brittle. After several years of growth, the scales overlap in layers; the inner surface is white, and some edges may be pale purple.
Properties of Processed Slices
This product consists of irregular fragments. White in color. Hard in texture, with a layered cross-section. Slight odor; slightly salty taste.
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
1. Long Oyster: The shell is elongated and thick; typically, the left valve measures 140–330 mm in length and 57–115 mm in height, with the length being approximately three times the height. The largest recorded specimen reached 722 mm in length. The left valve is slightly concave with a small attachment surface at the apex, while the right valve is relatively flat like a lid; the dorsal and ventral margins are nearly parallel. The shell surface is pale purple, grayish-white, or yellowish-brown.Sparse scales are arranged in a ring from the apex to the posterior margin; they are slightly wavy, with very few layers, and lack distinct radial ribs. The inner surface of the shell is porcelain white; the ligament groove is long and wide, and the adductor muscle scar is large, located on the dorsal side of the posterior part of the shell and shaped like a brownish-yellow horseshoe.
2. Dalian Bay Oyster: The shell is slightly triangular in shape, with a hard and thick structure. It generally measures 55–63 mm in length and 95–130 mm in height, with a pointed apex that gradually widens toward the posterior margin.The right valve is relatively flat and lid-like; the scales at the apex tend to fuse and are relatively thick, while those toward the ventral margin become progressively sparser and undulate in a wavy pattern, with no distinct radial ribs. The shell surface is pale yellow, mottled with purplish-brown markings. The left valve is protruding, with several robust radial ribs extending from the apex; the scales along the margin are thick, sturdy, and upturned.The inner surface of the shell is concave, box-like, and white, smaller than the umbo; the ligament groove is long, deep, and elongated triangular in shape. The adductor muscle scar is white or purplish and located toward the posterior part of the back.
3. Omi Oyster: The shell is round, oval, triangular, or slightly elongated. It is hard and thick; larger specimens measure 100–242 mm in length and 70–150 mm in height. The left valve is larger and thicker, with an irregularly shaped dorsal attachment surface.The right valve is slightly flattened, with thin, straight scales arranged in concentric rings on its surface; these are yellowish-brown or dark purple. In 1- to 2-year-old individuals, the scales are thin, flat, and brittle, sometimes with free-standing edges; in 2- to several-year-old individuals, the scales are flat, sometimes with undulating posterior margins resembling ripples; in older individuals, the scales overlap in layers, forming a very thick and sturdy structure.The inner surface of the shell is white or grayish-white, often with a grayish-purple rim; it is uneven and irregular. The hinge lacks teeth; the ligament groove is long and wide, resembling a bull’s horn, and the ligament is purplish-black. The adductor muscle scar is very large, located on the mid-dorsal side; it is pale yellow and irregular in shape, often varying with the shape of the shell, and is mostly oval or kidney-shaped.
Distribution Area
1. Pacific Oyster: Found along the entire Chinese coast; an excellent species for cultivation in estuaries and inner bays. 2. Dalian Bay Oyster: Found along the northern coast of China. 3. Jinjiang Oyster: Found along the entire Chinese coast; already being cultivated in Shandong, Fujian, and Guangdong.