Wa Leng Zi - 瓦楞子 - Concha Arcae

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Concha Arcae
Common English:	Ark Shell Cockle Shell

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Salty (Sweet)	Neutral	Liver Spleen Lung (Stomach)	9-30g decoct for a long period of time Pill or Powders: 1-10g 9-30g (d), 1-3g (p) (Secondary source)

Actions

Indications/Syndromes

Dissipates nodules, Dissolves Phlegm, Invigorates the Blood, Resolves Stagnation, Softens hardness

Immobile or mobile abdominal masses involving either Blood Stasis, Stagnant Qi or Phlegm Accumulation

Scrofula and goiter

Absorbs acid and alleviates pain

Chronic Stomach pain or Blood Stasis pain such as ulcer pain with vomiting and acid regurgitation (must be calcined)

CONTRAINDICATIONS

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Sargassum Hai Zao Thallus Eckloniae Kun Bu (Thallus Laminariae) (Hai Dai)	Rz. Sparganii San Leng Rz. Curcumae E Zhu	Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii Zhe Bei Mu Spica Prunellae Xia Ku Cao (Fr. Forsythiae) (Lian Qiao)
Phlegm nodules such as goiter.	Fixed abdominal masses.	Scrofula due to Phlegm-Fire.
Pumex Fu Shi Rx. Asteris Zi Wan (Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii) (Zhe Bei Mu) (Flos Farfarae) (Kuan Dong Hua)	Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu Sm. Persicae Tao Ren	Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao
Cough from stubborn Phlegm.	Dysmenorrhea due to Qi and Blood Stagnation.	Epigastric pain with acid regurgitation.
Endoconcha Sepiae Hai Piao Xiao Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi	Rz. Sparganii San Leng Rz. Curcumae E Zhu Carapax Trionycis Bie Jia Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Dan Shen	Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu Sm. Persicae Tao Ren Cx. Moutan Mu Dan Pi Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui
Epigastric pain with acid regurgitation.	Immobile or mobile masses characterized by accumulation of Qi and Blood or Phlegm. Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.	Menstrual pain.

It may be added to cancer prescriptions for tumors, lumps, swellings and growths.
It is most effective for reducing old Phlegm.
It treats hepatosplenomegaly, intestinal ulcers and digestive cancer.
It is reported to have a tranquilizing effect.
Calcined Ark Shell Duan Wa Leng Zi is more effective at absorbing acid and relieving the pain of peptic ulcers.
Vinegar-calcined Ark Shell Cu Wa Leng Zi enters the Blood level more readily, stops the secretion of gastric juices, disperses Stasis and abdominal masses, and relieves pain.