Cuttlefish Bone (Wuzeigu)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Os Sepiae seu Sepiellae |
| Botanical Name: | Sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune Sepia esculenta Hoyle. |
| Common Name: | Cuttlefish bone Cuttlebone |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Shennong Bencao Jing |
| art Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The cuttlefish is caught from April to August. The bone is removed from the fish and dried for twenty-four hours. |
| Properties and Taste: | Salty, astringent and slightly warm |
| Meridian: | Liver and kidney |
| Functions: | To astringe and stop bleeding To control the essence and relieve leukorrhea To restrain hyperacidity and stop pain To promote healing of ulcers |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Hemorrhage. *Use with Rubia root (Qiancao), Carbonized petiole of windmill palm (Zonglutan) and Donkey hide gelatin (Ejiao). *Cuttlefish bone (Wuzeigu) can be used alone for bleeding due to external injuries. 2. Deficiency of the kidneys manifested as seminal emissions or leukorrhea. *Use with Dogwood fruit (Shanzhuyu), Dioscorea (Shanyao), Dadder seed (Tusizi) and Oyster shell (Muli). 3. Stomach pain and acid regurgitation. *Use with Tendrilled fritillary bulb (Chuanbeimu) in the formula Wu Bei San. 4. Eczema or chronic ulcers. *Use with Phellodendron bark (Huangbai) and Natural indigo (Qingdai) for external use in powder form. |
| Dosage: | 6-12 g |
| Cautions: | This substance is contraindicated in cases with deficient yin and excessive heat. |