涩肠，补水，软坚
咸以软坚，化痰，消瘰 结核，老血瘕疝；涩以收脱，治遗精崩带，止嗽敛汗（或同麻
黄根、糯米为粉扑身，或加入煎剂）固大、小肠；微寒以清热补水，治虚劳烦热，温疟赤痢
，利湿止渴，为肝、肾血分之药（王好古曰∶以柴胡引之，去胁下硬；茶引之，消颈核；大
黄引之，消股间肿；以地黄为使，益精收涩，止大小便利；以贝母为使，消积结）。盐水煮
一伏时， 粉用。亦有生用者，贝母为使。恶麻黄、辛夷、吴茱萸。得甘草、牛膝、远志、
蛇床子良（海气化成，纯雄无雌，故名牡）。
涩
蛤蜊壳 为粉。与牡蛎同功（海藏曰∶肾经血分药。宋徽宗宠妃病痰嗽，面肿不寐，李
防御治之，三日不效，当诛，李技穷忧泣，忽闻市人卖嗽药，一文一帖，吃了今夜得睡，色
淡碧，李市之。恐药猛悍，先自试，觉无害，共并三帖为一以进，妃服之，是夕寝安嗽止，
面肿亦消。帝大悦，赐直万金。李不知其方，惧得罪。伺得市人，重价求之，乃蚌壳研粉，
少加青黛也。以淡荠水，加麻油数滴，调服。《圣惠方》∶白蚬壳研粉，米饮调，治咳嗽不
止）。
肉，咸冷，止渴解酒（牡蛎、蛤蜊、海蛤、文蛤，并出海中，大抵海物咸寒，功用略同
。江湖蛤蚌，无咸水浸渍，但能清热利湿，不能软坚）。
文蛤。背有花纹，兼能除烦渴，利小便。
【牡蛎】
具有涩肠、滋阴补水、软化坚硬结块的功效。
其味咸，能软化坚硬结块，化解痰浊，消除瘰疬结核（颈部淋巴结结核），消散陈旧性瘀血及腹内肿块、疝气；其性涩，能收敛固脱，治疗遗精、崩漏及带下病，止咳并收敛汗液（也可与麻黄根、糯米一同研成粉末扑洒全身，或加入煎剂中服用），以固摄大肠和小肠；其性微寒，能清除虚热并补充津液，治疗虚劳引起的烦热、温疟及赤痢，通利湿气并止渴，是作用于肝、肾血分的药物。（王好古说：用柴胡作为引经药，可消除胁下的硬块；用茶作为引经药，可消除颈部的核状肿物；用大黄作为引经药，可消除大腿间的肿胀；用地黄作为使药，可增强益精和收涩的作用，制止大小便失禁；用贝母作为使药，可消除积聚的结块）。将牡蛎用盐水煮一个昼夜后，研磨成粉使用。也有生用的情况，此时常配伍贝母。忌与麻黄、辛夷、吴茱萸同用。若与甘草、牛膝、远志、蛇床子同用，效果更佳。（传说牡蛎由海水之气化生，纯雄性而无雌性，因此得名“牡”）。
【蛤粉】
即蛤蜊壳研磨成的粉末。功效与牡蛎相同。（李东垣《珍珠囊》称其为肾经血分的药物。宋徽宗宠爱的妃子患有痰嗽，面部浮肿且失眠，李防御医生治疗她，三天没有见效，面临被处死的危险，李医生技艺穷尽，忧愁哭泣。忽然听到市井小贩叫卖治咳嗽的药，一文钱一帖，吃完当晚就能入睡，药色淡碧。李医生买下了它。担心药性猛烈悍急，先自己试服，觉得无害，于是将三帖合为一帖进献给妃子。妃子服用后，当晚睡眠安稳，咳嗽停止，面部浮肿也消退了。皇帝非常高兴，赏赐万金。李医生不知道药方，害怕获罪。暗中寻找那个卖药的人，出高价求得药方，原来是蚌壳研成的粉末，稍微加了一点青黛。用淡荠菜水，加几滴麻油调服。《圣惠方》记载：白蚬壳研成粉末，用米汤调服，治疗咳嗽不止）。
蛤蜊肉，味咸性冷，能止渴并解酒毒。（牡蛎、蛤蜊、海蛤、文蛤，都出产于海中，大致上海产贝类咸寒，功效类似。江湖中的蛤蚌，没有经过咸水浸泡，只能清热利湿，不能软化坚硬结块）。
文蛤。背部有花纹，兼能除烦止渴，通利小便。
[Muli]
Astringes the intestines, nourishes Yin and replenishes fluids, and softens hardness.
Its salty flavor softens hardness, resolves phlegm, eliminates scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis of the neck), dissipates old blood stasis, abdominal masses, and hernias; its astringent nature consolidates leakage, treats spermatorrhea, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea, stops coughing, and restrains sweating (it can also be mixed with Mahuang Gen [Ephedrae Caulis Et Rhizoma Nudae Radix], Nuomi [Oryza Sativa Japonica Group Semen], and powdered for external application, or added to decoctions) to secure the Large Intestine and Small Intestine; its slightly cold nature clears heat and replenishes fluids, treating deficiency labor with vexation and heat, warm malaria, and bloody dysentery, promoting diuresis to relieve thirst, serving as a herb acting on the Blood aspect of the Liver and Kidney (Wang Haogu stated: Guided by Chaihu [Bupleuri Radix], it removes hardness in the hypochondrium; guided by tea, it消scrofula in the neck; guided by Dahuang [Rhei Radix et Rhizoma], it reduces swelling between the thighs; used as an envoy with Dihuang [Rehmanniae Radix Preparata], it benefits essence and enhances astringency, stopping incontinence of urine and feces; used as an envoy with Beimu [Fritillariae Bulbus], it dissipates accumulated nodules). Boil Muli in salt water for one full day (24 hours), then grind into powder for use. It may also be used raw, often paired with Beimu. Contraindicated with Mahuang [Ephedrae Herba], Xinyi [Magnoliae Flos], and Wuzhuyu [Evodiae Fructus]. Harmonizes well with Gancao [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma], Niuxi [Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix], Yuanzhi [Polygalae Radix], and Shechuangzi [Cnidii Fructus]. (Legend has it that Muli is formed from the qi of seawater, being purely male without female, hence named "Mu" meaning male).
[Ge Fen]
Powder made from Clam Shell (Gaoli Ke). Its efficacy is similar to Muli (Li Dongyuan in *Zhenzhu Nang* described it as a medicine for the Blood aspect of the Kidney Meridian. The favored consort of Emperor Huizong of Song suffered from phlegm-cough, facial edema, and insomnia. Physician Li Fangyu treated her for three days without effect, facing execution. Despairing, Li heard a street vendor selling cough medicine for one coin per dose, claiming sleep would be achieved that night. The medicine was pale green. Li purchased it. Fearing the potency might be too harsh, he tested it on himself first, finding no adverse effects. He combined three doses into one for the consort. After administration, she slept peacefully that night, the cough ceased, and facial edema subsided. The Emperor was greatly pleased and bestowed ten thousand gold pieces. Unaware of the prescription, Li feared punishment and secretly sought the vendor, offering a high price for the formula. It turned out to be clam shell powder with a small amount of Qingdai [Indigo Naturalis]. It was taken mixed with light shepherd's purse water and a few drops of sesame oil. *Shenghui Fang* records: White clam shell powder mixed with rice drink treats persistent coughing).
Clam meat, salty and cold, stops thirst and resolves alcohol toxicity. (Muli, Gaoli, Hai Ge, Wen Ge are all produced in the sea. Generally, marine products are salty and cold with similar functions. Freshwater clams and mussels, not soaked in saline water, can only clear heat and promote diuresis, but cannot soften hardness).
Wen Ge (Venerupis philippinarum). Has patterns on its back, additionally relieves vexation and thirst, and promotes urination.