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Cura x Cura

Hai Piao Xiao海螵蛸

Sepiae Endoconcha · Cuttlebone · Cuttlefish Bone

Astringent Herbs 收涩药《神农本草经》

Overview

The internal shell of the cuttlefish — salty, astringent and slightly warm. Everything it does is a form of holding in: it restrains bleeding, checks vaginal discharge and seminal loss, and, being largely calcium carbonate, buffers stomach acid, which is why it remains a mainstay for sour reflux and ulcer pain. Dry-fried Hai Piao Xiao is more astringent and easier to powder; the powder is also dusted onto wet, slow-healing sores.

Nature & Flavor

Salty, astringent · Slightly warm

Channels

Liver · Kidney

Typical Dosage

6–12 g in decoction
海螵蛸Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Restrains bleedingUterine bleeding, vomiting or coughing of blood, blood in the stool, and bleeding from wounds when the powder is applied directly.
  • Checks discharge and leakageSeminal emission and excessive vaginal discharge of deficiency-cold type.
  • Controls acid, relieves epigastric painSour regurgitation and gnawing stomach pain; the classic pairing is with Bai Ji for ulceration.
  • Externally, dries damp and closes soresWeeping eczema and ulcerated sores that are slow to close, as a dusting powder.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Hai Piao Xiao

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Uterine bleeding and other bleeding of deficiency-cold type
    - Excessive vaginal discharge, seminal emission
    - Acid reflux, gnawing epigastric pain, peptic ulcer
    - Topically: weeping sores, non-healing ulcers

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Acid refluxPeptic ulcerHeavy menstrual bleedingEczema

Contraindications

Cautions

Astringing and slightly warm: unsuitable in yin deficiency with marked heat, and constipating over long courses — pair it with a moistening or stool-moving herb if it is used for weeks. It comes from a marine animal, so ask about seafood and shellfish allergy before dispensing, and check that the patient accepts animal-derived material.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific classical prohibition — practitioner judgment applies

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.