Hǎi Piāo Xiāo (海螵蛸), known in English as Cuttlefish bone (Sepiella maindroni (cuttlebone)), is a warm, salty and astringent Chinese herb from the Stabilise & bind category. It enters the Spleen and Kidney channels. Its main action: astringes, stops bleeding.
| Pinyin | Hǎi Piāo Xiāo (Hai Piao Xiao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 海螵蛸 |
| English | Cuttlefish bone |
| Botanical name | Sepiella maindroni (cuttlebone) |
| Category | Stabilise & bind |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Salty, Astringent |
| Channels | Spleen, Kidney |
| Dosage | 5–10g |
| Cautions | Yin deficiency with Heat |
Actions
- Astringes, stops bleeding
- Secures essence, stops vaginal discharge
- Controls acidity, relieves pain
- Absorbs Damp, closes sores (topical)
Indications
- Vomiting blood, nosebleed, uterine bleeding and blood in the stool
- Spermatorrhoea
- Red and white vaginal discharge
- Stomach pain with acid reflux
- Bleeding wounds, weeping eczema and non-healing ulcers (topical)
How to remember Hǎi Piāo Xiāo
Stabilise & bind herbs are mostly astringent and sweet, and most enter the Kidney channel.
- You can work these out
- Astringent: like most Stabilise & bind herbs
- Kidney channel: from its action “Secures essence”
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Stabilise & bind herbs vary in nature
- Salty: unusual for Stabilise & bind herbs (most are astringent or sweet)
- Spleen channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Stabilise & bind herbs
- Wǔ Wèi Zǐ
- Shān Zhū Yú
- Jīn Yīng Zǐ
- Qiàn Shí
- Lián Zǐ
- Fú Xiǎo Mài
- Wū Méi
- Ròu Dòu Kòu
- Hē Zǐ
- Chì Shí Zhī
- Chūn Pí
- Fù Pén Zǐ
- Sāng Piāo Xiāo
- Lián Xū
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Hǎi Piāo Xiāo?
Hǎi Piāo Xiāo is warm and salty and astringent.
Which channels does Hǎi Piāo Xiāo enter?
Hǎi Piāo Xiāo enters the Spleen and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Hǎi Piāo Xiāo?
Astringes, stops bleeding; Secures essence, stops vaginal discharge; Controls acidity, relieves pain; Absorbs Damp, closes sores (topical).
What is Hǎi Piāo Xiāo used for?
Vomiting blood, nosebleed, uterine bleeding and blood in the stool; spermatorrhoea; red and white vaginal discharge; stomach pain with acid reflux; bleeding wounds, weeping eczema and non-healing ulcers (topical).
Practise Hǎi Piāo Xiāo and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.