Purple Cowrie Shell (Zibeichi)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Concha Mauritiae |
| Botanical Name: | Mauritiae Arabica (L) |
| Common Name: | Purple Cowrie Shell |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Xinxiu Bencao |
| Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The shells are collected in summer, then cleaned, dried in the sun and broken into pieces. |
| Properties and Taste: | Salty and neutral |
| Meridian: | Liver |
| Functions: | To calm the heart and tranquilize the mind To clear heat in the liver and brighten eyes |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Palpitations, irritability, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep or infantile convulsions due to high fever. *Use with Coptis root (Huanglian), Mother-of-pearl (Zhenzhumu) and Ante's horn (Lingyangjiao). 2. Wind and heat in the liver meridian manifested as red, swollen and painful eyes or visual obstruction; or hyperactivity of liver yang manifested as dizziness, vertigo and headache. *Use with Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua), Mulberry leaf (Sangye) and Uncaria stem (Gouteng). |
| Dosage: | 10-15 g |
| Cautions: | The substance is cooked before the other herbs. |