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Shi Jue Ming石決明

Haliotidis Concha · Abalone Shell

Herbs that Pacify the Liver and Extinguish Wind 平肝息风药Ming Yi Bie Lu 《名医别录》

Overview

The shell of the abalone, salty and cold, and the standard heavy anchoring herb for Liver yang that has risen. Its name says what it was valued for — settling the Liver so that the eyes see clearly — and it remains the first choice where headache, dizziness, irritability and red, sore, light-sensitive eyes appear together. Being a shell it is crushed and decocted before the other ingredients. The calcined form loses the cooling edge and is used instead to astringe: for acid reflux and, powdered, on non-healing sores.

Nature & Flavor

Salty · Cold

Channels

Liver

Typical Dosage

6–30 g in decoction, crushed and cooked first
石決明Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Calms the Liver, anchors rising yangHeadache at the vertex or temples, dizziness, tinnitus, irritability, flushing and a wiry pulse from Liver yang rising, often with raised blood pressure.
  • Clears Liver heat, brightens the eyesRed, swollen, painful or light-sensitive eyes; blurred vision and superficial visual obstruction where Liver heat is the driver.
  • Astringes and settles acidity (calcined)Calcined and powdered, it is used for acid reflux and burning epigastric pain, and applied externally to slow-healing sores.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Shi Jue Ming

No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Liver-yang headache and dizziness with irritability
    - Tinnitus and flushing on a Liver-yang background
    - Red, sore, light-sensitive eyes; blurred vision from Liver heat
    - Acid reflux and burning epigastric pain (calcined form)

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

HypertensionHeadacheVertigoConjunctivitisAcid reflux

Contraindications

Cautions

Salty, cold and heavy: unsuitable for Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold with poor appetite and loose stools, and for dizziness that comes from deficiency rather than from rising yang. It must be crushed and pre-decocted or it will not extract. It is a shellfish product — patients with a shellfish allergy should avoid it, and anyone with a history of seafood reactions should be asked before it is prescribed.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution during pregnancy — cold and heavily descending, so it is given only under practitioner supervision.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Ming Yi Bie Lu《名医别录》(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.