Oyster Shell – 1 lb (454 g)

Oyster Shell, known in Chinese as 牡蛎 (Mǔlì) and scientifically as Concha Ostreae, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Oyster Shell carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Oyster Shell helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Oyster Shell provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Oyster Shell has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Oyster Shell, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Lihai, Muhai, Haoke, and Hailizi shell. It is the shell of animals from the family Ostreidae, including the Pacific oyster Ostrea gigas Thunberg, the Dalian bay oyster Ostrea talienwhanensis Grosse, or the near-river oyster Ostrea rivularis Gould. It is distributed along the coastal areas of China. It can be harvested year-round, with the flesh removed, washed clean, and sun-dried.

[Properties] Taste: salty; nature: slightly cold. Enters the Liver, Heart, and Kidney meridians.

[Actions] Calms Liver Yang and suppresses hyperactivity; heavily sedates and calms the spirit; softens hardness and dissipates nodules; astringes and stabilizes.

[Applications]
1. Used for symptoms of Liver Yang hyperactivity and internal Liver Wind. For example, to treat headache, dizziness, eye distension, tinnitus, facial redness and heat, irritability, and anger due to Liver Yin deficiency with Liver Yang rising. Often combined with Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Gui Ban (Testudinis Plastrum), and Dai Zhe Shi (Hematitum), as in the formula Jian Ling Tang (建瓴汤). For late-stage febrile diseases with Yin and blood deficiency and internal wind causing hand and foot spasms and twitching, often combined with Gui Ban, Bie Jia (Trionycis Carapax), Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla), as in Da Ding Feng Zhu (大定风珠).
2. Used for palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, and excessive dreaming. Commonly combined with Long Gu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi) and Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen). For Yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity, add Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma). For Heart blood deficiency, add Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chi Shao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Ejiao.
3. Used for scrofula, goiter, and abdominal masses caused by phlegm and blood stasis. For scrofula, often combined with Xuan Shen and Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus), as in Xiao Luo Wan (消瘰丸). For goiter, commonly combined with Hai Zao (Sargassum), Kun Bu (Laminaria), Huang Yao Zi (Forsythiae Fructus), and Tu Bei Mu (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus). For abdominal masses and accumulations, combined with Dan Shen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), Bie Jia, and Xia Ku Cao (Prunellae Spica).
4. Used for spontaneous sweating, night sweating, seminal emission, and uterine bleeding. For spontaneous sweating, night sweating, palpitations, and shortness of breath, combined with Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Fu Xiao Mai (Tritici Levis Fructus), and Ma Huang Gen (Ephedrae Radix), as in Mu Li San (牡蛎散). For Kidney deficiency with unstable essence causing seminal emission, spermatorrhea, and soreness and weakness of the lower back and legs, combined with Sha Yuan Zi (Astragali Complanati Semen), Qian Shi (Euryales Semen), and Lian Xu (Nelumbinis Stamen), as in Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan (金锁固精丸). For uterine bleeding and abnormal vaginal discharge, combined with Long Gu, Wu Zei Gu (Sepiae Endoconcha), and Qian Cao (Rubiae Radix).
Additionally, calcined oyster shell has acid-neutralizing and analgesic effects and can be used to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers, either alone or combined with chicken eggshell and Shi Jue Ming (Haliotidis Concha), ground into powder and taken internally.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 9–30 g; powder, 4–6 g; or incorporated into pills and powders. External use: appropriate amount; dry powder sprinkled; mixed into a paste; or used as dusting powder. For astringing and acid-neutralizing analgesic effects, use calcined oyster shell; for calming Liver Yang and softening hardness, use raw oyster shell.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: Oyster shell mainly contains calcium carbonate, also contains calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, magnesium, aluminum, strontium, silicon, and iron oxide.
2. Pharmacological effects: Hot water extracts of oyster shell enhance immune function; oyster shell suspensions tend to prolong hexobarbital-induced sleep time; calcined oyster shell has preventive effects on experimentally induced gastric ulcers in animals; oyster shell water extracts have significant anesthetic effects on frog sciatic nerve; exhibit certain inhibitory effects on tumor cells; calcium salts in oyster shell have antacid, mild sedative, and anti-inflammatory effects; can densify capillaries to reduce vascular permeability.