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Haige (Clam Shell)

Taste: bitter, salty. Nature: neutral. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: cough with rebellious qi, wheezing, chest fullness and irritability, chest pain accompanied by aversion to cold and fever; treats impotence. Also known as Kui Ge (Quahog). Grows in the East Sea. (Shuqi [Stemonae Rhizoma] serves as its assistant herb; it is inhibited by Dog Gallbladder, Kansui Radix, and Genkwa Flos.)

The *Tang Bencao* commentary states: This substance is of good quality when fine like sesame seeds, moist, lustrous, and clean. Those coarse as half an apricot kernel are not used in medicine. It is also called Tun Er Ge (Pig Ear Clam), which is coarse and poor in quality. Current examination of other versions' notes states: Those excreted from the abdomen of geese are extremely lustrous and smooth, primarily treating acute pain due to twelve types of water retention, and promoting urination through the bladder and large and small intestines. Coarse ones, resembling half a sloe plum kernel, are unusable and are also named Tun Er. Ministers Yuxi et al. respectfully note according to the *Shuben Tujing*: Currently produced in the South Sea sand rapids of Jimo County, Laizhou. Collected in April and May, washed from sand. It should be boiled for fifty ke (approx. two hours) in Ban Tian He (Half-Day River) water, then mixed with Goji berry juice, stored in bamboo tubes, and steamed for one fu shi (approx. four hours); do not use the bones of the Youbo insect, which resembles Haige but lacks surface luster. Ingestion causes madness and dizziness; resolve with vinegar and honey. Wu Shi states: For Haige, Shenneng considered it bitter, Qibo considered it sweet, and Bian Que considered it salty. The head has large patterns, resembling grinding teeth. Collection time is unrestricted. Xiao Bing states: Stops thirst, nourishes the five zang organs, treats sores in individuals taking Dan Shi (mineral pills). *Yaoxing Lun* states: Haijie is also Bai Haige, classified as a minister herb. Also named Ziwei. Taste: salty, slightly toxic. Treats edema due to water qi, promotes urination, treats cough and rebellious qi. Primarily treats goiter on the neck. Ri Huazi states: Treats vomiting and rebellious qi, impotence, chest and hypochondriac distension and urgency, lower back pain, five types of hemorrhoids, and uterine bleeding and leukorrhea in women. This refers to fresh clam meat. Excreted after geese eat them; those with patterns and colors are Wen Ge (Hard-shell Clam), those without are Haige. Locals often fake this drug using rotten clam shells from the coast, polished smooth by wind and waves.

The *Tujing* states: Haige and Wen Ge both grow in the East Sea; currently found in Dengzhou, Laizhou, and Cangzhou. Tao Hongjing considers those fine like sesame seeds, moist, lustrous, and clean to be Haige. Haige is rotten shell in the sea, naturally rounded and clean after long washing by wind and waves; size varies, and older ones are better, not necessarily requiring extraction from goose abdomens. Wen Ge is the shell before rotting, retaining texture; this indicates they are the same substance at different stages, hence two names. However, true aged Haige is rare. Sea people often fake it with other clam shells polished smooth by wind and waves, which lack efficacy. Another type, Youbo Gu, closely resembles Haige but lacks luster; ingestion causes madness and dizziness, resolved with vinegar and honey. The *Ben Jing* states Haige is also named Kui Ge. There is a separate entry for Kui Ge stating: Shape is perfectly round, hollow at both ends, patterned on the surface, indicating a different species. According to *Shuowen Jiezi*: A thousand-year-old swallow transforms into Haige; Kui Ge transforms from bats, hence also named Fu Lao. Collection time is unrestricted. Zhang Zhongjing's *Shanghan Lun* states: When disease is in the yang level, sweating should be used to resolve it. If mistakenly irrigated with cold water, the heat is suppressed and cannot escape, causing increased irritability and millet-grain-like skin eruptions. If the patient desires water but does not feel thirsty, Wen Ge San (Hard-Shell Clam Powder) is indicated. Wen Ge 5 liang, single ingredient, ground and sifted. Take one fang cun bi (measuring spoonful) mixed with boiling water, using 5 he of liquid. This formula is widely used by physicians and is highly effective.

Lei Gong states: When using, do not use Youbo Xun Gu. This insect bone truly resembles Haige but lacks surface luster. Accidental ingestion causes running madness. Process 1 liang by boiling in Jiangshui (fermented grain liquid) for one fu shi. Then add Digupi (Lycii Cortex) and Boye (Platycladi Cacumen), boil for another fu shi, remove, wash three times in Dongliushui (flowing eastward river water), dry, grind finely into powder, and use. For every 1 liang, use 2 liang of Digupi, finely cut, and wash with flowing eastward river water.

*Yanyi* states: Chen Zangqi's description of Haige and Wen Ge is correct. There are no geese in the sea now, so how could there be excrement containing clams? If the clam shell contains meat, it can be eaten; once the meat is gone, how could it pass through many feces? This theory likely arises because they lack sharp edges. In fact, wind and waves eliminate these edges over time. To treat Shanghan where sweat does not emerge and limbs twitch, mix Haige and Chuan Wutou (Aconiti Radix Preparata) each 1 liang, and Chuanshanjia (Manis Squama) 2 liang, into powder. Mix with wine paste to make pills, about 1 cun in diameter, flatten, and apply to the sole of the affected foot. Cover with scallion white, bind with cloth. Soak feet in hot water up to the knees in a warm room. Add hot water as it cools until whole-body sweating occurs. Soak once every one or two days until effect is achieved.