The source is from the internal shell of the mollusk sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune, or Sepia esculenta Hoyle, family Sopidae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in such coastal provinces as Liaoning, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang and collected from April to August. The internal shell is taken out, cleaned, dried in the open air until the smell of seafood disappears. The crude is used.

Medicinal Properties: Salty and astringent in flavor, slightly warm in nature, and attributive to the liver and kidney meridians.

Actions: Astringe to stop bleeding, stop emission and leukorrhea, control acid regurgitation to arrest pain, eliminate dampness and promote sore healing.

Application
1. It is used for metrorrhagia and metrostaxis and bleeding from the lung or stomach, and that due to trauma. In treating metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, it is often used in combination with Qiancaogen ( Radix Rubiae ), Zonglüitan (Petioulus Trachycarpi Carbonisatus), and Wubeizi (Galla Chinensis), etc., such as Guchong Tang (Decoction). In treating bleeding from the lung or stomach, the powder is used together with same amount of the powder of Baiji (Rhizoma Btetillae), that is, Wu Ji San (Powder). In treating traumatic bleeding, the powder can be applied to the local area.

2. It is used for emission and leukorrhea. In treating emission, it is used together with such Chinese medicinal herbs for benefiting the kidney to stop nocturnal emission as Shanzhuyu ( Fructus Corni ), Tusizi ( Semen Cuscutae ) , and Shayuanzi ( Semen Astragali Complanati). In treating abnormal leukorrhea with bloody discharge, it can be used in combination with Baizhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae) and Xueyutan (Crinis Carbonisatus), such as Baizhi San (Powder).

3. For stomachache with acid regurgitation, it can be used together with Beimu (Bulbus Fritillariae), such as Wu Bei San (Powder).

4. It is used for skin pyogenic infection, eczema, ulcer with profuse pus. In treating skin pyogenic infection and eczema, it is used together with Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri) and Qingdai ( Indigo Naturalis), which can be ground into powder and applied to the local area. In treating ulcer with profuse pus, it can be ground into powder and applied to the local area, or used together with Duanshigao (Gypsum Fibrosum Usta) and Duanlonggu ( Os Draconis Usta ), Baizhi ( Radix Angelicae Dahuricae), and Bingpian (Borneolum), etc. which are ground into fine powder for applying to the wound areas.

Usage and Dosage:
6-12 g is used in decoction for oral use and 1.5 -3 g in powder. Just right amount is used for external use.

Notes:
It is not suitable for those with heat of yin-deficiency type.