Secretium Anodonta
Aliases：Huó Bàng Shuǐ (Living Mussel Water, from Bencao Fengyuan), Bàng Qīng Shuǐ (Mussel Clear Water, from Quanzhou Bencao), Fāng Zhū Shuǐ, Bàng Shuǐ.
Bàng Lèi is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the internal secretion of Cristaria plicata (Leach), Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea), and Anodonta woodiana (Lea), and other related freshwater mussels belonging to the family Unionidae. This medicinal material was first recorded in the Qing Dynasty work Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (Supplements to the Compendium of Materia Medica) and is also known as “Huó Bàng Shuǐ” (Living Mussel Water) and “Bàng Qīng Shuǐ” (Mussel Clear Water).
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat, improves vision, and detoxifies. It is also recorded as having the effects of quenching thirst, calming the fetus, resolving phlegm, removing dampness, and relieving alcohol toxicity.
Indications
Indicated for diabetes (Xiao Ke), red eyes, burns and scalds, and nasal furuncles. It may also be used for infantile restlessness and fever, infantile convulsive disorders, and alcohol and mineral poisoning.
Modern Pharmacology
Modern pharmacological research has shown that active components extracted from mussel meat and mussel secretion 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 demonstrated that these components can inhibit tumor cell DNA polymerase α. In addition, pearl mussel mollusks have long been recorded in medicine for improving vision, quenching thirst, and relieving heat toxicity.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: take an appropriate amount, stewed for consumption; or boiled for drinking. For external use: apply an appropriate amount to the affected area, or use as eye drops.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold—as this product is cold in nature and may impair the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach.
Selected Formulas
For wasting thirst with polydipsia (Quanzhou Bencao) Take fresh mussel water, stew and consume. For red eyes and blurred vision (Rihuazi Bencao) Place Coptis powder inside the mussel shell to extract the juice, then apply to the eyes. For nasal furuncle (Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take one live river mussel, 0.3g of Bingpian (Borneol), and 0.6g of Pengsha (Borax). Grind the Borax and Borneol into fine powder, place inside the opened mussel shell. After the mussel dies, use the resulting aqueous solution as nose drops. For infantile convulsion with muteness in newborns (Benjing Fengyuan) Take live mussel water, grind ink with it, and drop a small amount into the mouth. After a short while, black feces will be passed, and the condition will be cured. For burns and scalds (Benjing Fengyuan) Take raw mussel, roast to obtain liquid, and apply to the affected area.
Daily Consumption
Stewed for oral administration: Take an appropriate amount of Bàng Lèi (mussel secretion) and stew it together with other ingredients for consumption. Eye drops for external use: Mix Bàng Lèi with Coptis powder, then apply as eye drops. It is used for red and blurred eyes.
Medicinal Parts
The internal secretion of Cristaria plicata (Leach), Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea), Anodonta woodiana (Lea), and other related freshwater mussels belonging to the family Unionidae.
Selection & Storage
The internal secretion of Cristaria plicata (Leach), Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea), Anodonta woodiana (Lea), and other related freshwater mussels belonging to the family Unionidae.
