Calcined Oyster Shell is a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It is a processed form of oyster shell. Oyster shells come from the species Ostrea gigas Thunb., Dalian Bay oyster (O. tallienwhanensis) Crosse, or Jiangmi oyster (O. rivularis) Gould, all belonging to the genus Ostrea in the family Ostreidae.It is distributed along the entire Chinese coastline. Calcined Oyster possesses astringent and astringent-sealing properties, as well as the ability to neutralize acidity and relieve pain. It is primarily used to treat spontaneous sweating and night sweats, seminal emission and premature ejaculation, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, as well as stomach pain and acid reflux.
Calcined Oyster Shell
Calcined Oyster Shell is a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It is a processed form of oyster shell. Oyster shells come from the species Ostrea gigas Thunb., Dalian Bay oyster (O. tallienwhanensis) Crosse, or Jiangmi oyster (O. rivularis) Gould, all belonging to the genus Ostrea in the family Ostreidae.It is distributed along the entire Chinese coastline. Calcined Oyster possesses astringent and astringent-sealing properties, as well as the ability to neutralize acidity and relieve pain. It is primarily used to treat spontaneous sweating and night sweats, seminal emission and premature ejaculation, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, as well as stomach pain and acid reflux.
Chinese Name : 煅牡蛎
Latin Name : Concha Ostreae
Authentic Producing Area : China’s coastal regions
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Salty in taste, slightly cold in nature; enters the Liver, Gallbladder, and Kidney meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
It has astringent and consolidating properties, neutralizes acidity, and relieves pain.
Indications
Used for spontaneous sweating and night sweats, seminal emission and premature ejaculation, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, and stomach pain with acid regurgitation.
Usage and Dosage
9–30 g; decoct first.
Precautions
Not yet established.
Applications
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Can be harvested year-round; remove the flesh, wash thoroughly, and sun-dry.
Processing Methods
Take the cleaned oysters, place them over a smokeless fire or in a suitable container, heat over high heat, and calcine until crisp; remove, allow to cool, and crush.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry place.
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 or coarse powder. It is grayish-white in color. It is brittle in texture, with a layered cross-section.
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
1. Long Oyster: The shell is elongated, thick, and sturdy, typically measuring 140–330 mm in length and 57–115 mm in height, with the length being approximately three times the height; the largest known 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 no 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 shell. Generally, the shell is 55–63 mm long and 95–130 mm high, 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 in the mid-dorsal region; it is pale yellow and irregular in shape, often varying with the shell’s form, 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.