Pinyin: Xuan Shen  Chinese: 玄參
Pharmaceutical: Radix Scrophulariae
Taxonomy: Scrophularia ningpoensis
English: Chinese Figwort Root / Ningpo Figwort Root

Tastes: Bitter, sweet, salty, light cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Stomach, Kidney, Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and cools the Blood
   Xue Stage Heat or Blood Heat with hemorrhage (hematemesis), fever, dry mouth and a purplish tongue
2. Nourishes Yin
   Yin Deficiency with Heat signs especially as sequelae from Warm Febrile Disease with Dry Lungs, insomnia, constipation, an unclear Shen and irritability
   Yin Deficiency dry Lungs
   Heart Yin Deficiency
3. Softens hardness and dissipates nodules (Transforms Phlegm-Heat)
   Neck lumps (goiter, scrofula) due to Phlegm Fire
   Severe throat pain and swelling
4. Drains Fire
   Extreme throat pain or red, swollen eyes
5. Relieves toxicity
   Ying Stage Heat
6. Calms the Spirit agitated by Parasites damaging the Yin
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of diarrhea due to spleen deficiency. It is antagonistic to Li Lu.

Pinyin: Mu Li  Chinese: 牡蛎
Pharmaceutical: Concha Ostreae
English: Oyster Shell

Tastes: Salty, astringent, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Heavily settles and calms the Spirit
   Agitated Heart and Spirit with palpitations with anxiety, restlessness and insomnia
2. Calms the Liver, benefits Yin and anchors Floating Yang
   Liver Yin Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising or Yin Deficiency with internal Heat with restlessness, irritability, palpitations and spontaneous sweating
3. Prevents leakage of fluids
   Continuous sweat after febrile disease or in patients with steaming bone disorder
   Loss of fluids due to Deficiency with night sweats, spontaneous sweating, nocturnal emissions, spermatorrhea or vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding
4. Softens hardness and dissipates nodules
   Various kinds of lumps particularly neck lumps such as goiter or scrofula
5. Absorbs acidity and alleviates pain (calcined)
   Excessive Stomach pain with a sour taste in the mouth
6. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of animal parts which can, with protracted taking, fortify the bones and joints (骨节 Gu Jie), kill evil ghosts (邪鬼 Xie Gui), and prolong life. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.
Cautions: The high mineral content of this medication may prevent the oral absorption of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics.

Caution should also be taken due to the possibility of heavy metal absorption from the oysters' environment. If decocting it is advisable to leave the dregs at the bottom as heavy metal particles will naturally sink. It is still probably advisable to avoid for long term use unless the source is known to be clean.

Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Xuan Shen, Bai Shao and Wu Wei Zi or Tian Ma.

If viewed from a western perspective as a source of calcium which may cause sleep disturbances, then supplementation or inclusion of high calcium/magnesium content herbs (e.g. Kun Bu which is also salty and softens nodulation) could be considered, especially if other signs such as oesteoporosis or muscle cramps are present and the risk of side effects from calcium/magnesium supplements are low (stones, calcified arteries, GI issues). However, this assumes a mechanism which does not match many of the traditional patterns for which it is prescribed.

Pinyin: Bei Mu  Chinese: 贝母
Pharmaceutical: Bulbus Fritillariae
Taxonomy: Fritillaria spp.
English: Fritillaria Bulb

Tastes: Bitter, sweet, lightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, transforms Phlegm and stops coughing
   Acute Lung Heat patterns with productive cough
2. Clears Heat and dissipates nodules
   Phlegm-Fire causing neck swellings (Chuang Yung) Lung and breast abscesses

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated to Wu Tou.