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Resembling clams or cockles. Color like soil. Hard and heavy like stone. Found ten *li* northwest of Qiyang County in Yongzhou, where it is dug from an earthen mound to a depth of over one *zhang* (approx. 3.3 meters). (Su Gong) It is also found on the sandy banks of rivers in Qiyang County. Some say it grows in caves, and can be collected at any time. (Su Song) There are two types of Shiyan (Stone Swallow). One type is mineral-like; this is the medicinal material. It resembles a swallow with patterns; round and large specimens are male, long and small ones are female. The other type is avian; these are "stone swallows" resembling bats found in stalactite caves, which feed on milk and can fly. See the section on Birds. (Li Shizhen)

Flavor: Sweet; Nature: Cool. Indications: Eye opacities (cataracts/obscuration), various types of strangury (dysuria), chronic thirst-disease (Xiaoke/Wasting-thirst), frequent diarrhea due to visceral dysfunction, intestinal wind and hemorrhoids that have persisted for years without healing, sallow complexion, loss of taste/appetite, turbid menstruation in women, and leukorrhea (red and white discharge) persisting for many years. Grind into juice daily for oral administration; one piece lasts three days as a standard. Alternatively, grind into powder, process by water flotation (Shui Fei), take half a *qian* to one *qian* daily, administered with rice drink. After one month, all ailments will subside. (Li Shizhen) Shiyan is a substance that unblocks orifices and promotes the movement of damp-heat. Observing formulas for treating hernia, where Chuanwu (Aconitum carmichaelii radix preparata), Chuanlianzi (Meliae fructus), and Huixiang (Foeniculi fructus) are used to dispel external cold, while Shiyan and Tudou (Gecko) are used to clear stagnant heat, it is known that this herb can unblock orifices and move dampness in the Lower Jiao. For painful strangury, use seven pieces of Shiyan, crushed to the size of millet seeds, combined with three *liang* of freshly cut white bark of Mulberry root (Sangbaipipi), mixed well, divided into seven doses. Each dose is decocted with one cup of water until reduced to 70%, taken on an empty stomach before noon. To strengthen teeth and relieve pain, use three pairs of Shiyan, quenched seven times in vinegar after calcination, combined with one *liang* each of Qingyan (Halitum) and Ruxiang (Olibanum), and half a *liang* of Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), ground into powder to rub on teeth. Rinse mouth with Jingjie (Schizonepetae herba) decoction. Another method: remove [previous ingredients?], use daily; after rubbing teeth, rinse and swallow with warm wine.

[Discussion] Shiyan obtains the essence of Earth Qi, and its flavor is sweet and nature cool. Even simple single-herb prescriptions often combine bone-related substances with Kidney treatments. Therefore, the efficacy listed by Li Shizhen for various diseases is likely not erroneous.

This refers to the earth contained during hibernation in winter, expelled and discarded when snakes emerge from hibernation in spring. Size like a pellet, hard like stone, yellow outside and black inside. (Su Song)
In ancient times, Shehuang (Snake Gallstone) was commonly used, but later, due to its scarcity, it was replaced by Shehanshi (Snake-Containing Stone).