Shellfish is a valuable medicinal material, known as the treasure of the medicine. Shellfish "family" according to the origin and varieties of different, can be divided into three categories of mother of pearl, zhejiang mother of pearl and soil mother of pearl.

Sichuan Baymu, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the lily family, the underground bulb of the Baymu, curly leaf Baymu, Roche Baymu, Gansu Baymu, Ribs sand Baymu. It is named because it is mainly produced in Sichuan, but it is also produced in Tibet, Gansu, Xinjiang, North China and Northeast China. Szechuan mother of pearl barley is slightly cold in nature and sweet and bitter in taste, into the heart and lung meridian, function of moistening the lungs, cough, phlegm, clinical often used with saxifrage, maitake, asparagus, mulberry leaves, chrysanthemum, etc. for hot phlegm, dry phlegm, lung deficiency cough, cough, phlegm phlegm, phlegm, phlegm with blood, as well as the heart and chest stagnation, lung impotence, pulmonary carbuncle, such as treatment of the disease. However, cold phlegm, wet phlegm should be prohibited. Modern pharmacological research has confirmed that Chuanbeimu contains a variety of alkaloids such as Chuanbeimu alkaloids, Chuanbeimu alkaloids have a variety of pharmacological effects such as lowering blood pressure, excitation of the uterus.

Zhebeimu is the underground bulb of the perennial herb Zhebeimu of the lily family. Because the main production in Zhejiang and named, so referred to as zhebei. Because of its origin in Xiangshan, Zhejiang Province, it is also known as the elephant shellfish, referred to as elephant shellfish. Because of its appearance is larger than the Sichuan shellfish, so it is also known as big shellfish, referred to as big shellfish. At present, it is also produced in Jiangsu, Anhui, Hunan and other places. Zhebei has a bitter taste and cold nature, entering the heart and lung meridian, its function is to clear away heat and resolve phlegm, disperse knots and detoxification, and it is often used clinically with ginseng, oyster, dandelion, smallpox pollen, forsythia, fresh rehmannia, xiakucuo, seaweeds, kombucha, curcuma, and so on, in the treatment of coughs of phlegm-heat-depleted lungs, and the treatment of carbuncle-poisoning and swelling pains, and the treatment of scrofula; and it is also combined with squid bone, calcinated corrugated seeds, baiji, lianlian, wu zhoujiu, zhuzhu, and Qing bianxia, and other medicines. It can cure stomachache, acid reflux and heartburn. Modern pharmacological research has confirmed that Zhebeimu contains Zhebeimu alkaloids and other alkaloids, Zhebeimu alkaloids can relieve bronchial smooth muscle spasm, reduce bronchial mucous membrane secretion, dilate the pupil, lower blood pressure, excitation of the uterus and many other pharmacological effects.

The earth shellfish, is the tuber of the perennial climbing plant pseudo-shellfish of the Cucurbitaceae family. It is mainly produced in Hebei, Shaanxi, Shanxi and other places. It is cool and bitter in nature, and can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and dissipate knots, and eliminate carbuncle and pus. It is often used in combination with oyster, smallpox pollen, Coix lacryma, fritillaria, soapberry, andrographis paniculata, Xiaku Cao, seaweed, and kombucha for treating carbuncle, scrofula and phlegm nuclei, sores and swollen poisons, epidemic parotitis, acute lymphadenitis, and lymphatic nodes and other diseases.

The above three types of shellfish are commonly used for 6 to 12 grams, because of its anti aconite, so it can not be used with aconite and its "brother" Tianxiong, epiphyllum.

Two, identification

1, Chuanbei (Chuanbei)

[Source] Liliaceae (Liliaceae) plant dark purple shellfish Fritillaria unibracteata Hsiao et K.C. Hsia or Chuanbei F. cirrhosa D. Don, F. delavayi Fr. delavayi Fr., and dried bulbs of F. przewalskii Maxim.ex.Batalin.

[Characteristics] Pine shellfish Conical or heart-shaped, 3-10mm high, 3-10mm in diameter, with a whitish surface. The tip is more pointed, a few obtuse rounded, the base is flat, the center is slightly concave, smooth. The outer scale leaves are 2-valved, of different sizes, with the larger valve embracing the smaller one, closed at the top, and containing a cylindrical heart bud with a slightly pointed tip and 1-2 small scale leaves. The texture is hard and brittle, the section is white, powdery. Gas slightly, taste slightly bitter.

The green shells are flat spherical or conical, ovoid, 4-14mm high, 4-16mm in diameter, with a yellowish-white surface. The outer scale leaves are 2-valved, similar in size, relatively embracing, cracked at the top, with heart buds and 2-3 small scale leaves inside. Gas no, taste slightly bitter.

Furnace shell oblong-conical or ovate-conical, long ovoid, 7-25mm high, 5-25mm in diameter, the surface of the white or light brown-yellow, some have yellow-brown or brown spots, the outer layer of the scale leaves 2 petals, similar in size, apically dehiscent or slightly pointed, the base is slightly pointed or rounded. The odor is slight, and the taste is bitter.

All of the above to the quality of solid, powdery enough, white color is preferred.

2. Shellfish Habits (1)--Hubeibeimu (Hubeibeimu)

[Source] Dried bulb of Fritillaria hupehensis Hsiao et K.C. Hsia, Liliaceae. bulb.

[Properties] Flat spherical or conical, 8-23mm high, 7-35mm in diameter, surface whitish to yellowish white. The tip is obtuse-rounded to flat or pointed, the base is flat, slightly concave in the middle, with root scars, smooth. The outer scale leaves are 2-valved, with different or similar sizes, the large ones heart-shaped, clasping each other, most of them cracked at the top, with 1-3 heart buds and small scale leaves inside. The texture is hard and brittle, easy to break, the section is white, powdery, slightly gas, taste bitter.

All of the above to a uniform, full, white color, powdery enough for the best.

3, Shellfish habits (2) - a round shellfish (Yilunbeimu)

[Source] Liliaceae (Liliaceae) plant Fritillaria maximowiczii Freyn's dried bulbs.

[Characteristics] Conical or ovoid, 4-12mm high, 4-8mm in diameter, with a yellowish or yellowish brown surface. The tip is obtuse and pointed, with numerous scale buds at the base, generally with longitudinal wrinkled grooves, extending from the base to the tip. The texture is hard, difficult to break, and the section is gelatinous. Gas slightly, taste slightly bitter.

The one that is even, full, white in color and powdery is the best.

Previous versions

Commonly used to resolve phlegm and relieve cough. It is the dried bulb of Chuanbeimu and Zhebeimu of the lily family. It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and other places in China; Zhebeimu is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui and other places in China. It is bitter and sweet in taste, and slightly cold in nature; Zhebeimu is bitter in taste and cold in nature. It belongs to lung and heart meridian. Effects: Resolving phlegm and cough, clearing away heat and dispersing lumps. It can be used for treating hot phlegm cough, external cough, yin deficiency cough, phlegm, phlegm, phlegm, yellowish thick, lung carbuncle, breast carbuncle, carbuncle, scrofula and so on. Modern pharmacological experiments have proved that the mother of pearl has the effect of suppressing cough, lowering blood pressure and elevating blood sugar.

Xinjiang Beimu, is a kind of and Chuanbei. Zhejiang shellfish is a valuable Chinese herbal medicine. It includes: Yili Shellfish. FERGAN SHEllen. Several varieties, collectively referred to as the Xinjiang shellfish. In addition to the beach shellfish is born in the sandy beach, the other three kinds of shellfish are born in the grassland and mountain and under the bushes. Yibei is mainly produced in Yining. Huocheng; Fergan's mussels are distributed in many places in Xinjiang; Roulea mussels are mainly produced in Tacheng area; Beach mussels are produced in Huocheng. Chabchal.

As early as in the Qing Dynasty, Xinjiang shellfish has been developed and utilized. At that time to the northern region of Changji. Qitai County for the distribution market, through the northern route of the ancient Silk Road, with camel transportation. Horse pack, exported to Tianjin and other ports, commonly known as "ancient shellfish". Because the quantity is very small, the price is expensive.

In the past, Xinjiang shellfish mostly wild. In order to meet the needs of domestic health care and export, the pharmaceutical research department began to cultivate it at the end of the 1950s, and succeeded in the experiment. In the future, it will continue to increase its production steadily.

Commonly used to resolve phlegm and cough medicine. The dried bulbs of the lily family plants Chuanbeimu and Zhebeimu. Chuanbeimu is mainly produced in China's Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and other places; Zhebeimu is mainly produced in China's Zhejiang Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui and other places. Sichuan Beimu taste bitter, sweet, slightly cold nature; Zhejiang Beimu taste bitter, cold nature. It belongs to lung and heart meridian. Efficacy: Resolving phlegm and relieving cough, clearing away heat and dispersing lumps. It can be used for treating hot phlegm cough, external cough, cough of yin deficiency, phlegm, phlegm, phlegm and yellowish thick, lung carbuncle, breast carbuncle, carbuncle and poison, scrofula and so on. Modern pharmacological experiments have proved that the mother of pearl has the effect of suppressing cough, lowering blood pressure and elevating blood sugar.

Botanical form:

There are several sources, which are Chuanbeimu, Dark Purple Beimu, Gansu Beimu and Sokosha Beimu.

Chuanbeimu: a perennial herb, bulb conical, stem erect, 15-40cm high. 2-3 pairs of leaves, often opposite, a few in the middle of the intermediate scattered or whorled, lanceolate to linear, apex slightly curled or not curled, sessile. Flowers solitary at stem apex, campanulate, pendulous, each flower with 3 narrowly oblong leaflike bracts, apex ± curved into a hook. Tepals 6, usually purple, less often greenish yellow, with purple spots or small squares, nectary fossa conspicuously projecting on north side; capsule with 6 longitudinal wings. Flowers 5--Jul, fr. Aug--Oct.

Leaves of DARK PURPLE BEAUMONT are alternate or subopposite except for 1-2 pairs below, the apex not curled, leafy bracts 1. Perianth dark purple, slightly yellow squiggly, nectary fossa inconspicuous. Wings on fruit ribs very narrow. Fl. in June, fr. in Aug.

Toxicity and flavor: Chuanbeimu is bitter, sweet and slightly cold. Attributed to the lung and heart meridians.

Functions: The taste is bitter, slightly cold, to the lung meridian, with the function of clearing heat and phlegm cough, can be used for the treatment of phlegm and heat cough and asthma, cough phlegm yellow and thick evidence; and sweet, so good to moisturize the lungs to stop coughing, treatment of lungs have a dry cough sputum less viscous evidence, and yin deficiency cough cough cough and other evidence of deficiency; and also the function of dispersal of the knot and open up the depression, treatment of the phlegm-heat knot caused by the chest tightness and heartburn of the evidence, and the scrofula and phlegm nuclei and other diseases. In addition, the mother of pearl barley and squid bone, licorice for bulk, that is, Wu Bei San, effective in the treatment of gastric ulcer.

How to use: Internal use: 3-10g; finely powdered and dashed, 1-1.5g of anti aconite each time. Cold-damp cough should not be used.

Chinese medicines: Autumn Pear Cream, Chuanbei Pei Pa Koa Lozeng, Nourishing Yin and Clearing Lung Pills, Niu Huang and Clearing Lung Bulletin, Tie Di Pill, Zhi Bao Ingot, Snake Gallbladder and Chuanbei Capsules, Bei Mu and Gua Wei Wan San

Chinese medicinal diets: Chuanbei Rock Sugar Soup, Stuffed Pear with Chuanbei