The efficacy and function of Ke

We are all familiar with Ke. Ke is not only edible but also has very high medicinal effects. Eating Ke regularly can play a very good health-preserving and health-care role.

[Other names] Ma Ke, Ma Ke snail (Xu Biao's "Yiwuzhi"), "珬" ("Tongdian"), and red deer shell ("Zoological Dictionary").

[Source] The shell of the concave clam of the family Mylidae. It is usually harvested in winter and spring.

[Original form] There are 2 shells, which are hard and thick, oblong in shape, about 40 to 58 mm long, about 3/4 of the length in height, and about 1/2 of the length in width. The left and right sides appear. The top of the shell is smooth, located in the middle of the dorsal edge, slightly forward, and higher than the dorsal edge. From the top of the shell to the front and rear edges, it is semicircular, and the lune and shield are extremely wide and heart-shaped. There are very obvious growth lines on the shell surface, forming concentric concave lines in the middle and above the ventral edge. The top of the shell is slightly blue and the belly is yellowish brown. From the top of the shell to the ventral surface, there are radial color bands of different widths and different colors from the shell surface. The inner surface of the shell is yellowish-white, the main teeth and lateral teeth at the hinge are lamellar, there is a strong internal ligament behind the main teeth, the mantle mark is rough and obvious, and the mantle sinus is deep and blunt; the posterior adductor muscle mark is slightly larger and nearly circular, and the anterior adductor muscle mark is smaller and peach-shaped. The edge of the mantle is double-layered, with tentacles on the inner edge and a smooth outer layer. The foot is large, with a diamond-shaped cross section at the end. The water tube is short, fused, and has small tentacles at the end.

[Habitat distribution] Lives on the bottom of shallow sea. Distributed in the shallow sea areas of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea.

【Functions and indications】 ① "Bielu": "It is used to eliminate cataracts and pterygium, and can be scraped and acupunctured."

【Usage and Dosage】 For external use: grind into powder and apply to eyes.

[Additional prescription] For treating eye pain followed by cataract, farsightedness, itching and astringency: 3 fen of Ma Ke, 0.5 qian of white camphor, 1 qian of white alum ash. Grind together into powder. Use copper chopsticks to scoop up a grain of rice and dip it in it. (Sheng Hui Fang)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Tang Materia Medica".

This is all I have to say about the effects of Ke. I hope it will be helpful to you. Although the value of Ke is very high, we must be cautious when eating it.