Wa Leng Zi (瓦楞子) is the ark shell, recorded as Concha Arcae. It is salty in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Liver, Spleen and Lung channels. The catalogue files it among the substances that invigorate the Blood.

Pinyin

wa leng zi

Chinese

瓦楞子

Latin Name

Concha Arcae

English Name

arc shell·Ark Shell

Japanese

garyoshi·gayoshi

Korean

wareungja

Actions and indications

Invigorates Blood, transforms Phlegm, resolves stagnation, softens hardness and dissipates nodules

Fixed or moving masses in the abdomen, whether due to Phlegm, Qi stagnation or Blood stasis
Scrofula and goiter
Menstrual pain
Chronic cough with Phlegm
Enlarged liver and spleen

Neutralises acid and relieves pain

Chronic pain of the Stomach, or pain of Blood stasis as from an ulcer, with vomiting and sour regurgitation; calcined for this use
Acid reflux, and gastric or duodenal ulcers

Combinations

hai zao + kun bu + hai dai

Goiter and other Phlegm nodules

san leng + e zhu

Fixed abdominal masses.

zhe bei mu + xia ku cao + lian qiao

Phlegm-Fire scrofula

fu shi + zi wan + zhe bei mu + kuan dong hua

Cough from stubborn Phlegm.

xiang fu + tao ren

Qi and Blood Stagnation with dysmenorrhea

gan cao

Acid regurgitation with epigastric pain

hai piao xiao + chen pi

Acid regurgitation and pain in the epigastrium

san leng + e zhu + bie jia + dan shen

Masses, whether fixed or mobile, formed where Qi and Blood or Phlegm accumulate; hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, and tumors of the digestive tract

xiang fu + tao ren + mu dan pi + dang gui

Menstrual pain.

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 9-30g decoct for a long period of time; Pill or Powders: 1-10g

9-30 g

—

Cautions

pregnancy As a Blood-invigorating substance, avoid in pregnancy or use only under professional supervision

contraindication Deficiency without stagnation

caution Made from a mollusc shell: take care with shellfish allergy (one allergic reaction is on record), and it is not suitable for strict vegans

caution Mostly calcium carbonate, so a real calcium load: take care with high blood calcium, kidney stones, impaired kidney function, or existing calcium supplements and calcium-based antacids

Prepared forms (1)

wa leng zi Duan

瓦楞子·Concha Arcae

Wa leng zi duan (瓦楞子) is the calcined form of wa leng zi, the shell of an Arcidae ark clam supplied as Concha Arcae. The catalogue files it among the substances that invigorate the Blood, on the Liver, Spleen and Lung channels.

The catalogue records no separate actions, dose or cautions for this preparation. Unless noted above it follows wa leng zi.

wa leng zi

About wa leng zi

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Invigorates Blood, transforms Phlegm, resolves stagnation, softens hardness and dissipates nodules

Neutralises acid and relieves pain

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Prepared forms (1)

wa leng zi Duan

About wa leng zi

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Invigorates Blood, transforms Phlegm, resolves stagnation, softens hardness and dissipates nodules

Neutralises acid and relieves pain

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Prepared forms (1)

wa leng zi Duan

Related

Prepared forms