Zhen Zhu Mu - 珍珠母 - Concha Margaritiferae Usta - Mother Of Pearl - Nacre
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Concha Margaritaferae Usta |
| Common English: | Mother-of-Pearl Shell Nacre Pteria |
Category
Substances that Calm the Spirit: Substances that Anchor, Settle and Calm the Spirit (Substances that Calm the Liver and Extinguish Wind)Properties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet Salty | Cold | Heart Liver | 10-60g cook first 15-30g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Calms the Liver, anchors Yang and drains Liver Fire | Liver Yang Rising due to Liver Yin Deficiency with dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus and insomnia |
Clears the Liver and improves vision | Blurred vision due to Liver Deficiency Liver Heat with red eyes, photophobia and superficial visual obstruction |
Sedates fright and calms the Spirit | Palpitations, anxiety, insomnia and other problems secondary to Shen disturbance |
Stops bleeding | Bleeding from the Upper Jiao |
Promotes healing and reduces itching of the skin | Eczema and itching (topically as a powder) |
Neutralizes Stomach acid and relieves pain | Peptic ulcers with pain and regurgitation |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Fossilia Dentis Mastodi | Fr. Ligustri Lucidi | Flos Chrysanthemi |
Liver Yin Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising. | Headache and dizziness from Liver Yang Rising. | Red eyes, photophobia with or without superficial visual obstruction due to Wind-Heat Attacking the Liver channel. |
| Sm. Sesame Nigri | Fossilia Dentis Mastodi | Rx. Polygalae |
Cloudy vision with dull eyes from Liver Deficiency. | Irritability, dizziness, palpitations with anxiety and insomnia from Heart and Liver Yin Deficiency. | Insomnia and palpitations. |
| Haematitum | Fossilia Dentis Mastodi | Rx. Paeoniae Alba |
Epistaxis or hematemesis. | Strongly calms and anchors Spirit. Restrains Liver Yang. | Neurasthenia. |
Rz. Atractylodis | Flos Chrysanthemi | Rx. Curcumae |
Dizziness, blurred vision, night blindness due to Liver Deficiency. | Photophobia, redness, swelling and pain of the eyes. | Heart Fire. |
Notes
- Its anti-convulsive and sedative effects are weaker than those of Margarita Zhen Zhu.
- Its effect on dizziness, tinnitus and palpitations is stronger than that of Margarita Zhen Zhu.
- It is produced from the burned shells of pearl-bearing shellfish.
- Ophthalmology makes frequent use of this substance.
- It is said to calm the Liver, anchor Yang, calm the Shen, settle childhood convulsions, reduce focal distention from Heat and superficial visual obstruction, and treat hematemesis, epistaxis and metrorrhagia.
- Zhen Zhu Mu and Concha Haliotidis Shi Jue Ming both cool Liver Heat and sedate Liver Yang Rising, and they are frequently combined for these conditions. Zhen Zhu Mu additionally enters the Heart channel to calm the Spirit, whereas Shi Jue Ming enters the Liver channel alone.
- Zhen Zhu Mu and Margarita Zhen Zhu share similar actions. Zhen Zhu Mu cannot nourish Yin or generate flesh; it is used mainly to calm Liver Yang Rising with headache, dizziness, tinnitus and insomnia, or to cool the Liver when Liver Heat has produced red eyes and photophobia.
- Calcined Mother-of-Pearl Duan Zhen Zhu Mu reduces Stomach hyperacidity, and for burns it is applied topically as a paste made with Vaseline or vegetable oil.