Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Sepiae Endoconcha |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 海螵蛸 · Hai Piao Xiao |
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| Medicinal Part | Zoological substances |
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| Efficacy Category | Astringent |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried inner shell of Sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune or Sepia esculenta Hoyle. (Sepiidae). |
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| Nature & Flavour | Salty, Astringent; Warm |
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| Channels Entered | Spleen, Kidney |
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What Is Hai Piao Xiao?
Hai Piao Xiao (Cuttlebone / Sepium) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced along the coast of Shandong.
Nature & Flavour: Salty, Astringent; Warm
Channels Entered: Spleen, Kidney
Hai Piao Xiao: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Sepiae Endoconcha
Botanical Origin
The dried inner shell of Sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune or Sepia esculenta Hoyle. (Sepiidae).
Production Regions
Primarily produced along the coast of Shandong.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is clean and white.
Macroscopic Features
Sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune: Flat long oval shape, thick in the middle and thin on the edge, 9~14cm long, 2.5~3.5cm wide, about 1.3cm thick. Back side has porcelain-white spine-like bulge, two sides appear slightly reddish, with unobvious small verrucous spots, abdomen is white with an intricate wavy transverse layered pattern, and a shallow longitudinally-oriented groove at the middle; horn-like edge, translucent, tail is relatively wide and flat, without bone needle. Light, loose texture, easily broken; fractured surface is powdery, appears in loose layers. Slightly fishy odor; slightly salty taste. Sepia esculenta Hoyle: 13~23cm long, about 6.5cm wide. Back side has obvious verrucous spots, slightly arranged in layers; abdomen has dense wavy horizontal layers taken most portion of body, shallow longitudinal groove in the middle; tail is horn-like, edge is gradually wide, rolls upward towards abdomen, with one bone needle at the end tip, often broken and fallen off.
Traditional TCM Properties
Salty, Astringent; WarmSpleenKidney
Traditional Functions
Astringes and stops bleeding, secures essence and stops leukorrhea, neutralizes acid and stops pain, gathers dampness and heals sores.
How Hai Piao Xiao Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Hai Piao Xiao is classified among the Astringent herbs.
Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.
