Pinyin: Walengzi
Aliases
Wawuzi, Hanzike, Walonggepi, Xuegepi.
Source
Animal from the family Arcidae: *Arca subcrenata* LischkeArca subcrenata1. Lischke, Arca granosa.Arca granosaLinnaeus or Scapharca broughtoniiArca inflataReeve's shell.
Distribution
Distributed along the coastal areas of China. Mainly produced in coastal regions of Jiangsu, Shandong, Hebei, and other areas.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest in autumn and winter until the following spring, wash clean, briefly boil in boiling water, remove the meat, and dry.
Chemical Constituents
Contains calcium carbonate. Also contains small amounts of magnesium, iron, silicate, sulfate, chloride, and organic matter.
Properties and Channel Entry
Salty, neutral. Enters the Lung, Stomach, and Liver channels.
Functions and Indications
Resolves Phlegm and transforms Stasis, softens hardness and dissipates masses, controls acid and alleviates pain. Used for stubborn phlegm binding, viscous and difficult to expectorate; goiter, scrofula, abdominal masses and lumps, stomach pain with acid reflux.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct 9-15 g, preferably crushed and decocted first; grind into powder, 1-3 g per dose; or made into pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount, calcined and ground into powder for topical application.
Precautions and Contraindications
For those without blood stasis or phlegm accumulation, do not use.
Prescriptions
1. For stomach pain with acid reflux, belching, or even hematemesis: Calcite (Walenzi, vinegar-calcined seven times) 270 g, cuttlefish bone (Wuzeigu) 180 g, tangerine peel (Guang Chenpi, stir-fried) 90 g. Grind into a very fine powder. Take 6 g three times daily, after meals, with boiled water. (From *Empirical Prescriptions*) 2. For acute gastritis: Calcined Calcite (Duan Walenzi) 9 g, galangal (Liangjiang) 3 g, nutgrass rhizome (Xiangfu) 6 g, licorice (Gancao) 6 g. Grind together into a powder. Take 6 g each time, twice daily. (From *Qingdao Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine*) 3. For phlegm-fluid retention (Tanyin): Calcite shells (Walenzi), in any amount, calcined over charcoal fire and ground into powder. When the yellow-skinned melon (Gualou) is ripe, mash it together with the Calcite powder to form cakes, sun-dry, and grind again. Take 3 g mixed with honey water, or add to other herbs to make pills; its effect far surpasses that of seaweed powder (Haifen). (From *Comprehensive Medical Compendium of Past and Present*) 4. For burns and scalds: Grind calcined Calcite (Duan Walenzi) into a fine powder, add a small amount of borneol (Bingpian), mix thoroughly with sesame oil, and apply to the affected area. (From *Shandong Medicinal Animals*) 5. For skin cuts and frostbite ulcers: Calcite (Walenzi) 30 g, borneol (Bingpian) 15 g. Grind together into a powder and apply externally. (From *Qingdao Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine*) 6. For traumatic bleeding: Grind calcined Calcite (Duan Walenzi) into a powder and apply externally to the wound. (From *Qingdao Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine*)
