Library

(Chou zhen qie. From Song Dynasty *Jiayou Bencao*).

[NAMES]
(None)

[COLLECTED COMMENTARIES]
Chen Cangqi stated: Scilla (Scilla, a type of bivalve mollusk) grows in the mud of the sea. It is two or three cun long and as thick as a finger, with openings at both ends.
Li Shizhen stated: Scilla is a small clam-like creature in the sea. Its shape varies in length and size, resembling the horse knife clam (*Scapharca subcrenata*), [missing character], and clams found in rivers and lakes; there are many such species.
People in Fujian and Guangdong cultivate them in fields, waiting for tidal mud to accumulate and enrich the soil, which they call "scilla fields." They refer to its meat as "scilla intestine."

[MEAT]
[FLAVOR AND PROPERTY]
Sweet, warm, non-toxic.
Meng Shen stated: It should not be consumed after recovering from epidemic febrile diseases (Tianxing Bing).

[INDICATIONS]
Tonifies deficiency, treats cold dysentery; boil and eat it. Removes pathogenic heat and restlessness in the chest; eating it after meals is suitable for those taking mineral pills (Danshi). Treats postpartum deficiency in women (from *Jiayou Bencao*).

(from *Bencao Shiyi*)

[COLLECTED COMMENTARIES]
Chen Cangqi stated: It belongs to the clam family. It grows in Silla, where locals consume it.

[FLAVOR AND PROPERTY]
Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.

[INDICATIONS]
Clears heat and aids digestion. Made into soup with Kelp (Kunbu), it treats Qi stagnation (Chen Cangqi).

(Song Dynasty *Jiayou Bencao*)

[NAMES]
Shen (pronounced like 'Shen').
Li Shizhen stated: Che'ao is colloquially mispronounced as Chang'e. The term "Shen" here refers to the same name but different substance as the "Shen" associated with dragons and flood dragons. *Zhou Li* records: The Turtle Officer manages mutual creatures, presenting turtles and Shens in spring, and tortoises and fish in autumn. Thus, "Shen" seems to be a general term for large clams, not specifically referring to Che'ao.

[COLLECTED COMMENTARIES]
Chen Cangqi stated: Che'ao lives in the sea; it is a large clam, i.e., Shen. It can exhale air to form mirages resembling towers. In spring and summer, this phenomenon is occasionally seen near islands and shores.
Su Song stated: Found in both the South and North Seas, collected at any time. Its meat tastes like clams but is less hard. In recent times, its shell is often used for treating carbuncles and sores.
Li Shizhen stated: Its shell is purple-red, lustrous like jade, with floral spots. Sea people roast it with fire until the shell opens, then take out the meat to eat. Zhong Yun said: Che'ao, Bay Clam (Hao), and Oyster (Li) lack internal features like eyebrows and eyes, and their rough shells are tightly sealed. They have no fragrance or odor, differing little from tiles and gravel. They are suitable for kitchens and perpetual food. Luo Yuan said: Sparrows entering the Huai River transform into clams; pheasants entering the sea transform into Shens. This transformation is compared to... walls. It can also be ground into powder for facial decoration, commonly called clam powder; sometimes pearls are produced within it, making its uses numerous. Also, *Linhai Shuitu Ji* states: Those resembling Che'ao but with misaligned shells are called Yijiao. Those resembling Che'ao but with thin shells are called Gulu. Those resembling Che'ao but smaller are called Yangti, produced in Luojiang. Ancients believed these were transformed from pheasants, referring to the Shen of dragons/flood dragons, whereas Chen and Luo believed it referred to the Shen of clams, which seems erroneous. See details under Dragon/Flood Dragon in the Scale section.

[MEAT]
[FLAVOR AND PROPERTY]
Sweet, salty, cold, non-toxic.
Meng Shen stated: Do not eat excessively.

[INDICATIONS]
Resolves alcohol toxicity, treats polydipsia (Xiaoke), and carbuncles/swellings (Chen Cangqi).

[SHELL]
[FLAVOR AND PROPERTY]
Same as the meat.

[INDICATIONS]
For boils, furuncles, and swelling/toxins. Calcine until red, quench in vinegar twice, grind into powder, mix equally with Licorice Root (Gancao), and take with wine. Also apply mixed with vinegar externally (from *Rihua Bencao*). Eliminates accumulations, resolves alcohol toxicity, treats carbuncles, back-sores, and pain (Li Shizhen).

[INNOVATIONS]
Li Shizhen stated: Che'ao is salty in flavor and cold in qi, descending, representing Yin within Yin. It enters the Blood level, so Song dynasty physicians used it to treat carbuncles, aiming to expel evil substances, claiming miraculous effects. However, one must carefully assess the patient's Qi and Blood status, as well as age and constitution before use. Nowadays, surgeons rarely know how to use it.

[FORMULAS] Two new formulas included.

Che'ao Zhuan Du San (Scilla Toxin-Transforming Powder): Treats back carbuncles and sores, regardless of depth or size, promoting the discharge of pathogens to prevent progression. Use Che'ao (i.e., Chang'e, those with dark purple backs, sealed with salt mud, calcined red to remove fire toxicity) 1 liang, Raw Licorice Root (Gancao) powder 1.5 qian, Calomelas (Qingfen) 5 fen, ground into powder. Take 4 qian per dose with one Trichosanthes Fruit (Gualou) and one bowl of wine, decocted to one cup, mixed with the powder. Discharge evil substances by the fifth watch (early morning); if not discharged, take again. Severe cases may require no more than two doses. (from *Waike Jingyao*).

Liuwei Che'ao San (Six-Ingredient Scilla Powder): For the same indications as above. Use four Che'ao (sealed with yellow mud, calcined red to remove toxicity, ground into powder). Thirty stems of Juncus Effusus (Dengxin), one Trichosanthes Fruit (Gualou, kernels roasted until fragrant), two qian of Licorice Root Nodes (Gancao Jie, roasted). Combine as one dose. Decoct the three ingredients in two bowls of wine until half remains, strain, add one spoonful of honey, mix with 2 qian of Che'ao powder and a small amount of Nifen (Calomelas/White Mercuric Oxide), take warm on an empty stomach. Continue until evil phlegm and toxins are discharged. (from *Benshi Fang*).