Hai Piao Xiao (海螵蛸) — Cuttlefish Bone | TCM Herb Guide

At a Glance

Herb: Hai Piao Xiao
Chinese name: 海螵蛸 (Hǎi Piāo Xiāo)
Latin name: Sepia esculenta / pharaonis cuttlebone
Nature: Slightly Warm
Taste: Salty / Astringent
Meridian: Liver / Kidney / Stomach
Category: Herbs that Stabilize and Bind
Introduction: Hai Piao Xiao (海螵蛸), Os Sepiae seu Sepiellae, is the internal shell of Sepia esculenta or related cuttlefish, a calcium carbonate-rich structure harvested from coastal waters. In TCM it astringes to stop bleeding and leukorrhea, absorbs stomach acid to relieve pain, and promotes healing of ulcers both internally and topically. Modern research confirms its calcium carbonate content buffers gastric acid, while polysaccharides accelerate wound healing and exhibit hemostatic properties.

Uterine bleeding, metrorrhagia from deficiency — combines with Qian Cao, Mu Li, Long Gu
Leukorrhea from spleen-kidney deficiency — combines with Shan Yao, Qian Shi, Bai Guo
Gastric and duodenal ulcer: acid reflux, epigastric pain — combines with Zhe Bei Mu, Bai Ji
Seminal emission and premature ejaculation — combines with Sha Yuan Ji Li, Long Gu
External: eczema, non-healing ulcers, burns — grind and apply topically

Dosage: 6–12 g in decoction; 1.5–3 g as powder swallowed for gastric ulcer
Contraindicated in yin deficiency with excess heat — astringent nature may trap heat
Avoid in patients with hypercalcemia or kidney stones (high calcium content)
May cause constipation in large doses — monitor bowel function
Topical: grind to fine powder and dust on wounds or mix with sesame oil

Wu Bei San (乌贝散): Hai Piao Xiao + Zhe Bei Mu — absorbs acid, stops pain; classic formula for peptic ulcer
Gu Chong Tang (固冲汤): Hai Piao Xiao, Long Gu, Mu Li, Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, Shan Zhu Yu, Bai Shao — consolidates chong, stops uterine bleeding
Wan Dai Tang variant: Hai Piao Xiao added to stop profuse leukorrhea

茜草 (Qiàn Cǎo) — uterine bleeding and menorrhagia from stasis with deficiency (固冲汤 component). 2. 白及 (Bái Jí) — gastric ulcer with bleeding and acid hypersecretion (乌及散). 3. 黄柏 (Huáng Bǎi) + 苦参 (Kǔ Shēn) — damp-heat leukorrhea. 4. 山茱萸 (Shān Zhū Yú) + 煅龙骨 (Duàn Lóng Gǔ) — spermatorrhea and night sweating from kidney deficiency. 5. 外用: 研末外敷 — skin eczema, ulcers, and bleeding wounds. Source: 医学衷中参西录 (固冲汤), 本草纲目.

CaCO₃ neutralizes gastric HCl
- Antacid: raises gastric pH
- Antacid: protects ulcer base
chitin scaffolding
- Hemostatic: activates platelet adhesion
- Hemostatic: CaCO₃ promotes clot stabilization
- Hemostatic: reduces gastric and uterine bleeding in clinical studies
chitin
- Wound healing: promotes fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition
- Wound healing: used in wound dressings internationally
Astringent
- reduces excessive secretions in leukorrhea, diarrhea, and spermatorrhea
Bone healing
- provides calcium and phosphate for callus mineralization
alkaline pH
- Topical anti-eczema: inhibits skin bacteria and fungi
- Topical anti-eczema: reduces pruritus

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (《神农本草经》): ‘Governs women’s red and white spotting with vaginal discharge, amenorrhea, genital erosion, swelling and pain, cold-heat accumulation masses, and infertility.’
Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》): ‘Cuttlefish Bone is an herb of the jue yin blood aspect; its salty flavor travels in the blood; hence blood deficiency, blood masses, amenorrhea, uterine flooding and vaginal discharge, dysentery, and infantile malnutrition are all jue yin diseases.’
Ben Cao Bei Yao (《本草备要》): ‘Salty and warm; enters the Liver and Kidney blood aspect; unblocks blood vessels, expels cold-damp, stops vaginal discharge, astringes and secures, neutralizes acid, stops bleeding, and closes sores.’