The efficacy and function of conch shell

Chinese medicine has different effects on our body and can regulate our body. Today we will introduce a Chinese medicine: conch shell. What are its specific effects and functions? Let’s take a look.

[Source] The source of the medicinal material: the operands of the Muricidae family animals such as the ophiopogonid snail and the ophiopogonid snail.

[Original morphology] 1. Veined red snail, the shell is slightly pear-shaped, hard and thick, the general shell height is 50-120cm, the width is 45-95mm, the large one can reach 150mm in height and 120mm in width, there are about 6 whorls, the width of each layer increases rapidly, and the glenohumeral line is shallow. The shell tip is thin and smooth. The spiral part is low. The middle and upper parts of the body whorl are extremely swollen, and the base gradually shrinks. The shell surface is rough with neatly arranged spiral ribs and fine growth lines. The shoulder angle tubercle is protruding, and the tubercle on the body whorl is triangular, particularly prominent, and sometimes spiny. There are 3-4 thick ribs with tubercles below the shoulder angle. Shell surface yellowish brown with brown spots. The shell opening is large, long and oval, the inside is apricot red with a slight gloss. The anterior groove is short and wide, the outer lip is thick, and the edge has notches corresponding to the spiral ribs. The inner lip is thin at the back, with an unclear posterior groove. It is attached to the body whorl, thickened at the front, and curled outward, forming a false umbilicus together with the spiral ribs at the front of the body whorl. The operculum is horny, oval, firm, thick and brown-red, with the core located at the edge of the outer lip. The body is soft, with a mouth on the front and ventral side of the head, and a pair of antennae on the head, each with a small black eye. The feet are broad and gray-black.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: 1. Juvenile snails mostly live among the rocks near the low tide line; adults mostly live in fine sand or muddy seabed several meters to tens of meters below the low tide line. Can prey on other mollusks. The males and females are dioecious, and the spawning period is about May to August. The eggs are laid in narrow egg sacs of chitin. Each egg sac contains hundreds to thousands of eggs. When the water temperature is 23-26℃, they will turn into disc larvae in 3-4 weeks, break out of the sac, grow into young snails after a period of time, and reach sexual maturity in 2 years.

【Nature and flavor】 Salty; neutral

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies. Mainly used for otitis media; stubborn sores

【Usage and Dosage】 For external use: take appropriate amount, dry and grind into powder for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Now you know the function of the conch shell. I didn’t know before that conch shells are such valuable things, which shows that our knowledge is not broad enough. So in the future life, learning more about it can be a good way to maintain health. In fact, if you want to maintain your health, there is knowledge everywhere in life.