Purple Cowrie Shell
Concha Mauritiae Arabicae
Zi Bei Chi

About

Properties in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Mild; salty

Part(s) used

Shell

Potential toxicity/side effects

Functions/effects it is traditionally believed to have

Treatment of: 1. palpitations, irritability, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep or infantile convulsions due to high fever. purple cowrie shell (zibeichi) is used with coptis root (huanglian), mother-of-pearl (zhenzhumu) and antelope's horn (lingyangjiao). 2. wind and heat in the liver meridian manifested as red, swollen and painful eyes or visual obstruction, or hyperactivity of liver yang manifested as dizziness, vertigo and headache. purple cowrie shell (zibeichi) is used with chrysanthemum flower (juhua), mulberry leaf (sangye) and uncaria stem (gouteng).

Conditions/symptoms it is traditionally used to treat

Treatment of: 1. palpitations, irritability, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep or infantile convulsions due to high fever. purple cowrie shell (zibeichi) is used with coptis root (huanglian), mother-of-pearl (zhenzhumu) and antelope's horn (lingyangjiao). 2