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They are found everywhere along the coast. Initially, they attach to stones beside sea foam. Those exposed to the sun gradually condense into shape, growing up to tens of zhang in length. They resemble houses (fang), with most facing left (zuo gu). They open and close with the tides, ingesting small insects to fill their bellies. Inside the shell is meat, shaped like a horse's hoof or the palm of a hand, known as "Li Huang" (oyster meat). Sea people wishing to harvest this meat chisel open the shell and use fire to extract it.

The taste is salty and neutral, with a slightly cold qi. Its qi is thin while its flavor is strong; it belongs to Yin and descends. It enters the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, and Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. It benefits the kidneys, clears heat, secures essence, and astringes leakage. It treats... [Note: The original text here contains fragmented phrases likely referring to indications such as edema ("jian zhong") and essence loss, alongside a list of herbs including Ephedrae Radix et Caulis (Mahuang Gen), Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Sheng Dihuang), Longan Arillus (Longyan), Plantaginis Semen (Cheqianzi), Astragali Complanati Semen (Shayuanzi), Lotus Plumule (Lianxu), Sanguisorbae Radix (Diyu), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Dipsaci Radix (Xuduan), Isatis Folium (Qingdai), and Asparagi Rhizoma (Tiancong) - each two liang and half, processed into pills the size of wutong seeds, taken with Gardeniae and Sojae Preparata Decoction (Zhizi Chi Tang) for abdominal... For deficiency patterns using Oyster Shell (Muli), there lies the principle of promoting dampness resolution. These few words demonstrate the subtlety of transforming Yin.] With Licorice Root (Gancao), Trichosanthis Radix (Gualou), and Oyster Shell (Muli)... Do not use if sweating does not cease. Commentary: When using Ginseng Radix (Renshen), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), and Zingiberis Rhizoma (Ganjiang) to regulate qi, if this herb proves ineffective, it can be calcined to ash and decocted with three sheng of urine. This refers to the efficacy of Oyster Shell and Poria Decoction (Muli Ze Xie San), which can guide water obstruction, demonstrating significant merit.

[Discussion] Oyster Shell (Muli) is formed by the condensation of saltwater, an inert block-like object. However, its shell opens with the incoming tide and closes when the tide recedes, embodying the mechanism of transformation. [Note: The subsequent text in the source is severely garbled but seems to discuss Yin-Yang dynamics and suitability for deficiency-heat patterns.] Zhong Chun's comment: Even for various deficiency-cold patterns, when administering Yang-tonifying formulas, there is no contraindication to using this, as it calls Yang back into Yin. Especially... [For any disease characterized by deficiency and abundant heat, it is suitable to use.]

[Differentiation and Treatment] Select shells with the apex pointing north and the ventral side facing south. Those with the opening slanting eastward are considered "facing left" (zuo gu); those with pointed tips are superior. First, boil them in salt water for one shi hour...