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Salty in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats malignant sores (malignant ulcers), erodes five types of hemorrhoids (five kinds of anal vascular cushions pathology), counters cough and rebellious Qi, chest bi syndrome (chest obstruction with pain), lower back pain with hypochondriac stiffness, bleeding from large orifices of shu li (scrofula/lymph node tuberculosis), and metrorrhagia and leukorrhea (uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge). It grows in the East Sea. The shell has patterns on the surface; it can be harvested at any time.

Tao Hongjing stated: "Sea clams are extremely smooth and glossy. It is said they are obtained from goose droppings; only after being washed twenty or thirty times do they become excellent. Nowadays, people often take 'xiangzi' shells and grind them to resemble sea clams. Wen蛤 (Clam Shell) varies in size and has purple spots. Although this is a different species yet belongs to the same category, if distinguished separately, there would be too many varieties. Therefore, it is now treated as an appendix and classified under secondary grade."

There are four such items in total. The annotation in *Xinxiu Bencao* states: "Wen蛤, the large ones have a diameter of three cun, and the small ones have a diameter of five or six fen. They resemble the containers used by women today for holding rouge, which are certainly not of the sea clam family. All things between Heaven and Earth serve purposes between Heaven and Earth; why limit their quantity to define primary or secondary grades!" Current research based on Chen Cangqi's *Bencao* states: "Sea clams primarily treat water retention. Take two liang, grind them for three days first, then combine with Han Fangji (Root of Stephania Tetrandra), date flesh, and Xingren (Apricot Seed) each two liang, and Tinglizi (Seed of Lepidium/Turmeric) six liang. Boil and grind into a paste to make pills. Take ten pills per dose to promote urination and drain water." Ministers Yu Xi et al., according to *Shuben Tujing*, state: "Those with spotted patterns on the back are currently produced in the South Sea of Yexian, Laizhou, and are harvested in mid-March. Xiao Bing states they are produced in Mizhou. Tao Hongjing states: 'According to records, sea clams are rotten shells from the sea, lying long in mud and sand, naturally rounded and clean through wave erosion. They vary in size, with smaller and older ones being preferred. Not all come from goose bellies. Wen蛤 refers to shells before rotting, still retaining patterns. This distinction is based on new versus old; originally, both belong to the same class. If geese eat clam shells, would they select those with or without patterns? Su Gong’s statement is quite misguided. Even rotten clam and mussel shells have specific therapeutic uses, differing from raw usage. Tao’s classification as secondary grade is appropriate.' The *Shuowen Jiezi* states: 'A thousand-year-old swallow transforms into a sea clam, also known as Fulao; a bat transforms into a sea clam, and nowadays they also reproduce and grow.'"

The description of Wen蛤 in *Tujing* is found under the entry for Sea Clam.

*Qianjin Yi Fang*: Treats acute gan erosion affecting the mouth and nose over several days, nearly consuming the tissue and endangering life. Burn Wen蛤 to ash, mix with grease from the twelfth lunar month, and apply externally.

The content from *Yanyi* is found under the entry for Sea Clam.