Zhen Zhu珍珠
Margarita · Pearl
Overview
Pearl, taken from pearl oysters and freshwater mussels, washed and ground to an impalpable powder. It belongs to the heavy, settling spirit-calmers: sweet, salty and cold, it weighs down a startled spirit, brightens the eyes and clears film from them, and — applied rather than swallowed — closes ulcerated sores and smooths the skin. It is never decocted; the mineral does nothing in boiling water, so it is levigated to a very fine powder and taken in capsules or pills, in fractions of a gram.
Nature & Flavor
Sweet, salty · ColdChannels
Heart · LiverTypical Dosage
0.1–0.3 gActions
4 core actions
- Settles fright, calms the spiritPalpitations with easy startling, restless sleep and anxiety; convulsive states in children in the classical literature.
- Brightens the eyes, removes filmRed, sore eyes and superficial corneal opacity, mostly as an ingredient in traditional eye powders.
- Draws out toxin, generates fleshApplied topically to chronic ulcers and to mouth and throat sores that will not close.
- Smooths and brightens the skinThe basis of its long cosmetic use, applied externally in powders and creams.
In Formulas
Formulas containing Zhen Zhu
No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.
Indications & Clinical Uses
- Palpitations, easy startling and restless sleep
- Red, painful eyes and corneal film, largely as an eye powder
- Chronic non-healing ulcers and mouth sores, applied externally
- Facial blemishes and rough skin, in topical preparations
Western Medical Keywords
Searchable condition terms
Contraindications
Cautions
Not decocted, and never swallowed as coarse grit — only the levigated powder is taken internally, in the very small amount a practitioner specifies, and not above 1 g a day. Heavy, cold and hard to digest, it is avoided where the Spleen and Stomach are weak and cold and where there is no heat to settle. It is a shellfish product: anyone with a shellfish allergy should say so before taking it. Quality on the open market varies widely, so take it as dispensed rather than as an unlabelled cosmetic powder.
Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies; heavy settling minerals are used sparingly during pregnancy.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only
References
- Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
3. 《中华本草》.
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.