Carnis Unionis
Aliases：Hán Jiāng (Juice-containing Mussel), Hé Wāi (Wavy Mussel, from Bencao Zaixin / New Materia Medica), Hé Gé Lí (River Clam, from Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine).
Bàng Ròu (Freshwater Mussel Meat) is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the meat of Cristaria plicata (Leach), Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea), and Anodonta woodiana (Lea), and other related freshwater mussels belonging to the family Unionidae. Bàng Ròu was first recorded in the Tang Dynasty work Shiliao Bencao (Dietetic Materia Medica).
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat, nourishes Yin, improves vision, and detoxifies. It is also recorded as having the effects of clearing heat, quenching thirst, removing heat toxins, relieving alcohol intoxication, removing dampness, and promoting diuresis.
Indications
Indicated for feverish restlessness, diabetes (Xiao Ke), metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding), leukorrhea (abnormal vaginal discharge), hemorrhoids and anal fistula, and red eyes. It may also be used for eczema, thirst, red eyes, alcohol intoxication, and difficult urination.
Modern Pharmacology
Anticancer effects: Active components extracted from mussel meat and mussel fluid exhibit significant anti-tumor effects against mouse ascites hepatoma and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, with tumor weight inhibition rates of 30%–59.2%. In vitro experiments have shown that these components can inhibit tumor cell DNA polymerase α. Extracts of Anodonta mussels have demonstrated in vivo antitumor activity against S180, Ehrlich carcinoma, Lewis lung carcinoma, B16 melanoma, and P388 leukemia. The extract can enhance the phagocytic function of mouse peritoneal macrophages, non-specifically activate their tumor-killing activity, enhance specific T lymphocyte immune activity, and increase the tumor-killing ability of natural killer cells. Hepatoprotective effects: Mussel meat polysaccharides can significantly inhibit serum ALT activity, reduce liver tissue NO content, improve hepatocyte hydropic degeneration and fatty changes, and inhibit inflammatory reactions. Skin repair effects: Mussel meat polysaccharides have been shown to repair UVB-damaged cells. DPP-IV inhibition: Pearl mussel meat can be used to prepare bioactive peptides with dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-IV inhibitory activity.
Ingredients
Polysaccharides: Abundant content, an important active component of mussel meat. Protein: Crude protein content approximately 51.07%. Total sugars: Approximately 26.65%. Crude fat: Approximately 7.45%. Ash: Approximately 7.19%. Minerals: Calcium (approximately 3.39%), phosphorus, iron, manganese, magnesium, copper, zinc, and others. Vitamins: Vitamins A, B₁, and B₂. Amino acids: Contains various amino acids; nutritional value is higher than that of soybean protein.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: cook and eat, 90–150 g (3–5 liǎng). For external use: burn to preserve its properties, grind into powder and mix for topical application; or use the aqueous solution as nose drops.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold—as mussel meat is cold in nature and may impair the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach. Not suitable for those with diarrhea or loose stools—its cold nature may aggravate diarrhea symptoms. Contraindicated in patients with unresolved external pathogenic factors—Suixiju Yinshi Pu (Suixiju Dietetic Manual) records: "Excessive consumption causes cold in the middle; it is contraindicated in those with unresolved external pathogenic factors, Spleen deficiency, and loose stools." Excessive consumption may induce wind-heat and stir cold Qi—Bencao Yanyi (Extended Materia Medica) records: "Excessive consumption induces wind-heat and stirs cold Qi." Contraindicated in patients with Yin deficiency, fluid depletion, and clear, copious urination—as mussel meat has strong diuretic effects and may deplete body fluids. Not suitable for those allergic to seafood or freshwater shellfish. Use with caution during pregnancy.
Selected Formulas
For metrorrhagia and leukorrhea (Guangxi Medicinal Animals) Take 60g of fresh mussel meat, 15g of Ginkgo seed, 12g of Huangqi (Astragalus), 12g of Dangshen (Codonopsis), and 9g of Danggui (Angelica). Stew in soup and consume. For hemorrhoids (Guangxi Medicinal Animals) Take half a bowl of fresh mussel meat, wash, stir‑fry with oil, then add a little salt, oil, and ginger for seasoning. Add water and cook until tender to make one bowl. Take in one dose on an empty stomach in the morning and evening every other day. For improving eyesight (Guangxi Medicinal Animals) Take 60g of fresh mussel meat and 9g of Chanhua (cicada flower). Stew in soup and consume. For infantile congenital toxins and eczema (Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take one fresh river clam, burn until charred while retaining its properties, grind into fine powder, mix with sesame oil, and apply to the affected area. For nasal furuncle (Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take one live river clam, 1 fen of Bingpian (Borneol), and 2 fen of Pengsha (Borax). Grind the Borax and Borneol into fine powder, place inside the clam shell. After the clam dies, use the resulting solution as nose drops. For diabetes (dietary therapy) Take live mussel, extract the meat, crush to obtain juice, stew until cooked, and take warm several times daily. For hypertension and jaundice hepatitis (dietary therapy) Take 150–250g of live mussel meat and 100g of Yumixu (corn silk). Cook together in soup and consume. For general debility and excessive leukorrhea in women (dietary therapy) Take 150g of mussel meat, pan‑fry with peanut oil until fragrant, add 2–3 tablespoons of rice wine, 1 tablespoon of ginger juice, and an appropriate amount of water. Cook, season with salt, eat the meat, and drink the soup.
Daily Consumption
Cooking: Take 90–150 g of fresh mussel meat, wash thoroughly, boil in water until cooked, season to taste, and consume. It may be cooked alone as a soup, or stewed with corn silk, bitter melon, Chinese yam, and other ingredients. Soup: May be stewed with Prunella vulgaris (Xià Kū Cǎo), Cassia seed (Jué Míng Zǐ), and other ingredients to enhance its heat-clearing and vision-improving effects. Stir-frying: Wash fresh mussel meat, stir-fry with oil first, then add seasonings and cook. External use: Burn to preserve its properties, grind into powder, and mix for topical application; or use the aqueous solution as nose drops.
Medicinal Parts
The meat of Cristaria plicata (Leach), Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea), Anodonta woodiana (Lea), and other related freshwater mussels belonging to the family Unionidae.
Selection & Storage
Use fresh. For short-term storage, it may be refrigerated.
