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Clam Shell, Ge Ke 蛤壳

Ge Qiao, Hai Ge Ke, Hai Ge Qiao (TCM)
Several varieties of Clam shell.
Conchologia Iconica: Or, Illustrations of the Shells of Molluscous Animals: XIV
Reeve, 1864

Botanical name:
Two primary species supply the Chinese market:
  1. Meretrix meretrix (Wen Ge)
  2. Cyclina sinensis (Qing Ge)
Other species are also used.

Parts used:
Shell; Calcined Shell

Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Salty, Bitter

CONSTITUENTS:
Calcium carbonate (96%, 99% in the calcined product)
Chitin, organic matter
Trace minerals: sodium, iron, strontium, magnesium, barium, cobalt, chromium, copper, zinc, phosphorus

Classification:
P. Clears Hot Phlegm

Uses:
1. Clears Heat and Phlegm, Stops Cough: (TCM)
-Cough or Wheezing from Phlegm-Heat obstruction
-thick, yellow sputum that's hard to clear with chest pain

2. Clears Phlegm, Resolves Masses: (TCM)
-Goiter, Scrofula, Lymphatic swellings from Phlegm and Heat
-'softens Hard Masses'. (Li Shi Zhen)

3. Clears Damp-Heat, Promotes Urine: (TCM)
-Painful Urination from Damp-Heat, Urinary dysfunction
-Superficial Edema
-Leukorrhea
-Lumbago (Ming Yi Bie Lu, TCM)

4. Clears Stomach Heat, Eases Pain: (TCM, West)
-hyperacidity; acid reflux
-Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers
-quenches Thirst (Li Shi Zhen)
-the calcined shell is most used for this function

5. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding: (TCM)
-Metrorrhagia, Metrostaxis (Ming Yi Bie Lu, TCM)

6. Externally:
i. the calcined shell is applied to Eczema and Burns
ii. Hemorrhoids


DOSE:
Powder: 500mg–3 grams
Decoction: 6–15 grams, decocted for 30–45 minutes before adding herbs. It is usually wrapped in cloth.

PREPARATION:
It is sometimes calcined to facilitate powdering. This is primarily used externally for Eczema, but is also used internally for hyper-acidity of the Stomach.

SUBSTITUTE:
1. Pumice (TCM)
2. Oyster shell

Main Combinations:
1. Cough and Wheezing from Phlegm-Heat obstruction:
i. Clam shell with Scutellaria Huang Qin, Trichosanthes Gua Lou Ren, Platycodon Jie Geng
ii. Clam shell with Pumice (Fu Hai Shi) and Mulberry root-bark (Sang Bai Pi)
iii. Clam shell with Pumice (Fu Hai Shi) and Trichosanthes Gua Lou Ren, Gardenia Zhi Zi
iii. Clam shell with Ephedra Ma Huang, Almond (Xing Ren), Gypsum (Shi Gao), Licorice, Trichosanthes root Tian Hua Fen, Gardenia Zhi Zi (as in Lu Si Ka Wan)
2. Coughing up Blood from Phlegm-Fire:
i. Clam shell (Ge Ke) (10 parts), Indigo (Qing Dai) (1 part). Form a powder (as in Dai Ge San from Wei Sheng Hong Bao [A Great Precious Sanitation])
3. Goiter, Scrofula:
i. Clam shell with Kelp (Kun Bu), Sargassum Hai Zao (as in Han Hua Wan from Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng [The Level-line of Patterns & Treatment])
ii. Clam shell with Kelp (Kun Bu), Sargassum Hai Zao, Fritillaria Bei Mu, Platycodon Jie Geng, Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao), Citrus Chen Pi, Betel nut (Bing Lang) (as in Xiao Ying Wan)
4. Eczema, Clam shell ash is mixed with pig fat and applied. (Qian Jin Yi Fang, TCM)
5. Abdominal lumpy masses from Phlegm obstruction, Clam shell with Pumice, Pinellia Ban Xia, Citrus Chen Pi, Licorice
6. Painful and difficult Urination, Clam shell with Mallow seed (Dong Kui Guo), Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)
7. Edema, Clam shell with Poria Fu Ling, Polyporus Zhu Ling
8. Hyperacidity of the Stomach, Clam shell with Cuttlefish bone (Hai Piao Xiao), Corydalis Yan Hu Suo, Licorice
9. Vaginal discharge from Damp-Heat: Clam shell with Phellodendron Huang Bai

Cautions:
It is cold, so not suitable in Stomach Cold, Yang Deficiency, or Cough with Cold Phlegm

Main Preparations used: