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Haliotis, Abalone, Shi Jue Ming 石决明

Abalone shell
Shi Jue Ming (TCM)
Fischbuch, Gessner, Forrer, 1563

Manual of Conchology, Tryon, 1890

Abalone as a delicacy (Adam, 2017)

Zoological name:
Haliotis spp.

Parts used:
Shell
In modern TCM, small shells from farmed abalones are commonly used. These have very little outer crust on the shell so may be used either in decoction or powdered for use.
However, large shells found in the wild have a thick outer surface on the shell. This should be ground off leaving only the pearlescent inner shell.

Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Salty. Flesh is Neutral, Salty and Pungent

Classification:
I. Medicines for Internal Wind

Uses:
1. Clears Liver Heat, Settles Liver Yang:
-Headache, Dizziness, Red Eyes, Irritability
-Convulsions, Spasms, Epilepsy
-Liver congestion, Biliousness
-Hypertension

2. Benefits Sight, Clears the Eyes:
-red Eyes, blurred Vision from Liver heat
-Night-blindness, Photophobia, Blindness (from Liver heat)
-Pterygium, Glaucoma, recent Cataracts
-levigated powder is applied directly to corneal opacity

3. Benefits Yin, Clears Deficient Heat:
-Hectic Fever
-'Steaming Bone Syndrome' (heat deep in the bones from Yin deficient Heat)
-'treats 5 kinds of Strangury' (Li Shi Zhen)
-beneficial for chronic degenerative changes in the lower back
-'long-term use reinforces the Essence (Jing) and makes one feel Happy and Vigorous'. (Ming Yi Bie Lu, TCM)
-'Taken for a long time, it lightens the carriage and benefits the semen.' (Read)

4. Clears Stomach Heat:
-hyperacidity, Stomach pain

5. Externally:
-levigated powder is applied directly to corneal opacity
-fine powder can be applied to stop Bleeding


ABALONE FLESH:
1. Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin:
-Yin deficiency, chronic Cough, chronic Disease
-aids healing of Fractures
-functional Uterine Bleeding, chronic Leukorrhea
-Optic Neuropathy, Cataracts
-Dizziness, Vertigo from deficiency

2. Nourishes Blood:
-Blood deficiency, Anemia
-Blood stagnation, Palpitations


Preparation:
1. When large shells are used, the outer shell is removed and the inner pearly portion is chosen.
2. In modern TCM, often small shells are dispensed which don't require removal of the outer shell as it hasn't developed yet.
3. The Calcined Shell facilitates powdering, clears Deficient Heat, clears Liver Heat and is regarded as best for treatment of the Eyes.

Dose:
Pills or Powders: 500mg–3 grams;
Decoction: 6–20 grams, cooked for an hour before adding herbs.

Main Combinations:
1. Hypertension, decoct with Self Heal, Peony and Mistletoe.
2. Headache and Dizziness:
i. from strong Heat, decoct with Oyster shell
ii. from Liver Yang rising, Abalone shell with Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao), Scutellaria Huang Qin, Chrysanthemum Ju Hua (as in Ping Gan Qian Yang Tang)
3. Weak or Failing Eyesight:
i. Abalone shell, Chrysanthemum Ju Hua, Lycium Gou Qi Zi
ii. Abalone shell is taken with soup of pig Liver.
4. Photophobia, Abalone shell, Chrysanthemum Ju Hua, Licorice, as a decoction. (Ming My Ji Yan Fang, TCM)
5. Corneal Nebula, Abalone shell ash with Horsetail (Mu Zei). Powder and simmer 9 grams oif the powder in water with fresh Ginger and Red Dates (Da Zao). (Jing Yan Fang, TCM)
6. Optic atrophy and Night-blindness, Abalone shell burned (30 grams), Atractylodes Cang Zhu (90 grams). Powder. Put 9 grams of the powder into a pig liver and tie it closed. Simmer the Liver in the pot and allow the vapors to steam the eyes, then eat the Liver and drink the soup. (Long Mu Lun, TCM)
7. Vertigo:
i. decoct Abalone shell with Peony root and Mistletoe
ii. Abalone shell, Gastrodia Tian Ma, Chrysanthemum Ju Hua
8. Yin deficient Heat, Steaming Bone Disorder, decoct with Turtle Shell (Gui Ban), Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang, Lycium bark Di Gu Pi.

Major Formulas:
E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang
Ping Gan Qian Yang Tang

Cautions:
Due to its cold, antacid nature, it is not used for cases of Stomach Cold and digestive weakness.

Main Preparations used:
Powdered or Calcined Shell