This product is the internal shell of the cuttlefish species Sepiella maindronide Rochebrune or the golden cuttlefish Sepia esculenta Hoyle. It is produced in coastal provinces such as Liaoning, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. The bone-like internal shell is collected, washed, and dried. It is used in its raw form.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Salty and astrigent, slightly warm. act on liver and kidney channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Consolidate essence and stop discharge, astringe and stop bleeding, control acid and relieve pain, absorb dampness and heal sores.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for seminal emission, leukorrhea. Cuttlebone is warm and astringent, with the function of consolidating essence and stopping discharge. For treating kidney deficiency seminal emission, it is often used with Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit, Dodder Seed, Flatstem Milkvetch Seed, etc., to tonify the kidney and constrain seminal emission; for treating women's red leukorrhea, it can be used with Dahurian Angelica, Carbonized Human Hair.
2. Used for menorrhagia and metrostaxis, hematemesis, bloody stool, and traumatic bleeding. This product can astringe and stop bleeding. For treating menorrhagia and metrostaxis, it is often used with India Madder Root, carbonized windmill-palm petiole, Chinese Gall, etc., such as Thoroughfare-Securing Decoction; for treating hematemesis and bloody stool, it is often used with common bletilla pseudobulb to enhance the astringent and hemostatic effect; for treating traumatic bleeding, it can be used alone by grinding into powder and applying externally.
3. Used for stomachache and acid regurgitation. This product has a good acid-suppressing and pain-relieving effect. It is often used with Corydalis Tuber, common bletilla pseudobulb, Fritillaria BulbClam Shell, etc.
4. Used for eczema, damp sores, and non-healing ulcers. This product can be used externally to dry dampness and astringe sores. For treating eczema and damp sores, it is combined with Phelloendron Bark, Indigo, and calcined Gypsum to grind into powder and apply externally; for treating ulcers with much pus and long-term non-healing, it can be used alone by grinding into powder and applying externally, or combined with calcined Gypsum, alum, borneol, etc., to grind into fine powder and sprinkle on the affected area.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "For women with red and white fistula disease, vaginal discharge, amenorrhea, pudendal sores, swelling and pain, cold and heat, abdominal masses, and infertility."
2. Bielu: "Stops sores with excessive pus and non-healing."
3. Bencao Gangmu: "For women with blood depletion disease; liver injury, spitting blood, and bleeding; treats malaria, dissipates goiters. Grind into powder and apply to children's gan sores, smallpox with foul ulcers, men's pudendal sores, burns, and bleeding from falls... Mix with egg yolk to apply to children's carcinoma of the tongue and thrush; mix with Typha powder to apply to swollen tongue with bleeding like a spring; mix with Sophora Flower powder and blow into the nose to stop nosebleeds;... Mix with musk and blow into the ear to treat ear discharge and deafness."

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product mainly contains 80% to 85% calcium carbonate, along with conchiolin, mucilage, and small amounts of sodium chloride, calcium phosphate, magnesium salts, etc. The calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate in cuttlebone can neutralize hydrochloric acid, thereby alleviating excessive stomach acid.