Calcined Concha Arcae is a common Chinese medicinal material, derived from the shells of Arca subcrenata, Arca granosa or Arca inflata (animals of the Arcidae family), which are processed through calcination. Its applications in traditional Chinese medicine are as follows:
Calcined Concha Arcae mainly contains calcium carbonate and phosphate. It can neutralize gastric acid and form a protective membrane, and is often used to relieve symptoms caused by excessive gastric acid, such as epigastric pain, acid regurgitation, and heartburn. It has an auxiliary therapeutic effect especially on conditions like gastric ulcers and chronic gastritis. For example, in the Empirical Prescriptions (Jingyan Fang), a formula consisting of 270g of Concha Arcae (calcined with vinegar 7 times), 180g of Cuttlefish Bone (Os Sepiae), and 90g of Tangerine Peel (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, stir-fried) is used to treat stomach pain with acid regurgitation.
Its salty and cold nature can soften abnormal phlegm-stasis masses accumulated in the body. Clinically, it is mostly used for conditions such as goiters (e.g., thyroid nodules), scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis), and abdominal masses. It can be taken orally as a decoction or applied externally in combination with other mass-dissipating medicines.
Calcined Concha Arcae tastes salty and has a neutral property. It enters the Lung, Stomach, and Liver Meridians, and has the effect of resolving phlegm and removing blood stasis. It is suitable for people with intractable phlegm accumulation (thick and difficult to cough up) and blood stasis obstruction.
After calcination, its astringent property is enhanced, which can promote vascular contraction and accelerate platelet aggregation. It is suitable for bleeding symptoms such as hematemesis (vomiting blood), hematochezia (blood in stool), and metrorrhagia (abnormal uterine bleeding). Especially for gastrointestinal bleeding or gynecological functional uterine bleeding, it has the characteristic of stopping bleeding without causing blood stasis retention.
- Anti-inflammatory and Wound-Healing: Calcined Concha Arcae also has a certain anti-inflammatory effect and helps with wound healing. For external bleeding from injuries, it can be ground into powder and applied externally.
- Sedative and Liver-Yang-Calming: It also has a mild sedative effect, which can regulate the function of the central nervous system and lower blood pressure, thereby exerting the effect of calming Liver-Yang. It can be used to treat symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, headache, and insomnia.
