Clam shell

Clam shell

(northeast animal medicine)

[source] it is the shell of clam Ruditapes.

[animal morphology] clam, also known as clam.

The shell is ovoid, thick and swollen. The top of the shell is slightly protruding, slightly curved forward, and located in the front of the dorsal edge. The meniscus is wide and oval. ? face is prismatic, ligament is long, protruding. The front edge of the shell is elliptical, and the back edge is slightly truncated. The surface is grayish yellow or grayish white, and some have banded patterns or brown spots. The shell surface has fine and dense radiating ribs, which interweave with the concentric growth patterns from the top of the shell to form a cloth pattern. The inner surface of the shell is grayish yellow and purplish. Each shell has three main teeth. The posterior adductor scar is round and the anterior adductor scar is half moon shaped. The scar of coat is obvious, the sinus of coat is deep, and the front end is round.

They live in mudflats near estuaries. It is distributed along the coast of China.

[chemical composition] it mainly contains calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate (about 1-2%), magnesium carbonate (about 0.5%), and a keratin "cutin shell". It also contains trace heavy metals (figures in brackets are micrograms per kilogram): copper (600), mercury (80), molybdenum (20), bismuth, tin and arsenic.

[function indications] northeast animal medicine: "clearing heat and detoxifying. It is used to treat acne and yellow water ulcer. "

[usage and dosage] external use: calcination, grinding and scattering.