牡蛎∶味咸而涩，性微凉。能软坚化痰，善消瘰 ，止呃逆，固精气，治女子崩带。《神农本草经》谓其
主温疟者，因温疟但在足少阳，故不与太阳相并为寒，但与阳明相并为热。牡蛎能入其经而祛其外来之邪。主
惊恚怒气者，因惊则由于胆，怒则由于肝，牡蛎咸寒属水，以水滋木，则肝胆自得其养。且其性善收敛有保合
之力，则胆得其助而惊恐自除，其质类金石有镇安之力，则肝得其平而恚怒自息矣。至于筋原属肝，肝不病而
筋之或拘或缓者自愈，故《神农本草经》又谓其除拘缓也。
牡蛎所消之瘰 ，即《神农本草经》所谓 。而其所以能消 者，非因其咸能软坚也。盖牡蛎之原质，
为炭酸钙化合而成，其中含有沃度（亦名海典），沃度者善消瘤赘瘰 之药也（医方篇消瘰丸下附有验案可参观）。
龙骨、牡蛎，若专取其收涩可以 用。若用以滋阴，用以敛火，或取其收敛，兼取其开通者（二药皆敛
而能开），皆不可 。
若作丸散，亦可 用，因 之则其质稍软，与脾胃相宜也。然宜存性，不可过 ，若入汤剂仍以不 为佳。
今用者一概 之，殊非所宜。
石决明∶味微咸，性微凉。为凉肝镇肝之要药。肝开窍于目，是以其性善明目，研细水飞作敷药，能除目
外障，作丸散内服，熊消目内障（消内障丸散优于汤剂）。为其能凉肝，兼能镇肝，故善治脑中
充血作疼作眩晕，因此证多系肝气肝火挟血上冲也。是以愚治脑充血证，恒重用之至两许。其性又善利小便，
通五淋，盖肝主疏泄为肾行气，用决明以凉之镇之，俾肝气肝火不妄动自能下行，肾气不失疏泄之常，则小便
之难者自利，五淋之涩者自通矣。此物乃鳆甲也，状如蛤，单片附石而生，其边有孔如豌豆，七孔九孔者佳，
宜生研作粉用之，不宜 用。
牡蛎：味道咸而涩，性质微凉。能够软化坚硬、化解痰浊，善于消除瘰疬（颈部淋巴结结核），止住呃逆，固摄精气和白带，治疗女子崩漏和带下病。《神农本草经》说它能主治温疟，是因为温疟的病位仅在足少阳胆经，所以不与太阳经相并表现为寒证，而是与阳明经相并表现为热证。牡蛎能进入足少阳经而祛除外来的邪气。说它能主治因惊恐愤怒引起的情志病，是因为惊悸源于胆，愤怒源于肝；牡蛎味咸性寒属水，以水滋养木（肝胆），则肝胆自然得到滋养。而且它的性质善于收敛，具有保全合和的力量，则胆得到帮助而惊恐自然消除；它的质地类似金石，有镇静的力量，则肝得到平抑而愤怒自然平息。至于筋脉原本属于肝，肝不生病，那么筋脉的或拘急或弛缓的症状自然痊愈，所以《神农本草经》又说它能解除筋脉拘急弛缓。
牡蛎所消除的瘰疬，就是《神农本草经》所说的“癥瘕积聚”之类。而它之所以能消除这些病症，并不是因为咸味能软化坚硬。大概牡蛎的原质，是由碳酸钙化合而成，其中含有碘（也叫海典），碘是善于消除肿瘤赘生物和瘰疬的药物（在医方篇消瘰丸下方附有验证案例可供参考）。龙骨和牡蛎，如果专门取其收涩作用，可以使用煅制品。如果用来滋阴，用来敛降虚火，或者取其收敛作用兼取其开通之效的（这两味药都既能收敛又能开通），都不可以使用煅制品。
如果制作成丸剂或散剂，也可以使用煅制品，因为煅烧后其质地稍软，对脾胃适宜。但是应该保留药性，不可过度煅烧，如果入汤剂煎煮，仍然以不使用煅制品为佳。现在使用者一概使用煅制品，非常不适宜。
石决明：味道微咸，性质微凉。是清凉肝脏、镇压肝气的要药。肝开窍于眼睛，所以它的性质善于明目，研细后用水飞法处理作为外敷药，能除去眼外的障翳；制成丸散内服，能消除眼内的障翳（消除内障的丸散优于汤剂）。因为它能凉肝，兼能镇肝，所以善于治疗脑中充血引起的疼痛和眩晕，因为这个证候多是由于肝气、肝火挟带血液上冲所致。所以我治疗脑充血证候，常常重用此药至一两左右。它的性质又善于通利小便，通治五种淋证（石淋、血淋、膏淋、劳淋、热淋），大概是因为肝主疏泄，为肾运行气机，用决明来凉肝镇肝，使得肝气肝火不妄动，自然能下行，肾气不失疏泄的正常功能，那么小便困难的自然通畅，五种淋证涩滞的自然而通了。这物是鲍鱼的壳，形状像蛤蜊，单片附着在石头上生长，边缘有孔像豌豆，七孔九孔的为佳品，宜生研成粉使用，不宜煅烧使用。
Oyster Shell (Muli): Salty and astringent in taste, slightly cool in nature. It can soften hardness and resolve phlegm, is excellent at eliminating scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis of the neck), stops hiccups, consolidates essence and leukorrhea, and treats metrorrhagia and leukorrhea in women. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it mainly treats warm malaria (Wen Nue). This is because warm malaria resides solely in the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder channel, thus not combining with the Taiyang channel to manifest as cold, but combining with the Yangming channel to manifest as heat. Oyster shell can enter this channel and dispel exogenous pathogens. It is stated to treat fright, indignation, and anger because fright originates from the Gallbladder and anger from the Liver. Oyster shell is salty, cold, and belongs to Water; by nourishing Wood (Liver and Gallbladder) with Water, the Liver and Gallbladder naturally receive nourishment. Furthermore, its nature is good at astringency, possessing the power of preservation and harmony; thus, the Gallbladder receives assistance, and fright is naturally eliminated. Its texture resembles metal and stone, possessing sedative power; thus, the Liver is pacified, and indignation and anger naturally subside. Since sinews originally belong to the Liver, if the Liver is not diseased, the sinews' conditions of either spasm or flaccidity will heal themselves. Therefore, the *Shenneng Bencao Jing* also states it removes spasm and flaccidity.
The scrofula eliminated by oyster shell refers to the "masses and accumulations" mentioned in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Its ability to eliminate these is not due to the salty flavor softening hardness. Rather, the original substance of oyster shell is composed of calcium carbonate, containing iodine (also known as sea iodine). Iodine is a drug that effectively eliminates tumors, growths, and scrofula (see verified cases under the formula Xiaoluo Wan in the Medical Formulas section for reference). Dragon Bone (Longgu) and Oyster Shell (Muli), if used specifically for their astringent properties, may be used calcined. However, if used to nourish Yin, to consolidate and descend fire, or to utilize their astringent properties while also leveraging their opening effects (both herbs are astringent yet capable of opening), they must not be used calcined.
If prepared as pills or powders, calcined forms may also be used, as calcination makes the texture slightly softer, making it more suitable for the Spleen and Stomach. However, the medicinal property should be preserved, and over-calcination should be avoided. If used in decoctions, it is best not to use the calcined form. Currently, users universally employ the calcined form, which is highly inappropriate.
Abalone Shell (Shijueming): Slightly salty in taste, slightly cool in nature. It is an essential herb for cooling and suppressing the Liver. The Liver opens into the eyes; therefore, its nature is excellent for brightening the eyes. When ground finely and processed by wet grinding (water flying) for external application, it can remove external eye opacities. When made into pills or powders for internal use, it can eliminate internal eye opacities (pills and powders for eliminating internal opacities are superior to decoctions). Because it cools the Liver and suppresses the Liver, it is excellent for treating pain and vertigo caused by cerebral congestion, as such syndromes are mostly due to Liver Qi and Liver Fire carrying blood upward. Therefore, when I treat cerebral congestion syndromes, I frequently use heavy doses, up to one tael (approx. 30-37g). Its nature is also excellent at promoting urination and unblocking the five types of strangury (Lin syndrome). This is because the Liver governs dispersion and excretion, facilitating the movement of Qi for the Kidney. By using Shijueming to cool and suppress the Liver, ensuring Liver Qi and Liver Fire do not move recklessly, they naturally descend. The Kidney's Qi retains its normal function of dispersion and excretion; thus, difficult urination naturally becomes free, and the stagnation of the five types of strangury naturally resolves. This substance is the shell of the abalone (Foujia). It resembles a clam, growing as a single plate attached to rocks. The edges have holes like pea seeds; those with seven or nine holes are considered superior. It should be ground raw into powder for use and should not be calcined.