Mǔ Lì (牡蛎), known in English as Oyster shell (Ostrea gigas (shell)), is a cool, salty and astringent Chinese herb from the Calm shen category. It enters the Liver and Kidney channels. Its main action: calms Liver, anchors Yang, calms Shen.
| Pinyin | Mǔ Lì (Mu Li) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 牡蛎 |
| English | Oyster shell |
| Botanical name | Ostrea gigas (shell) |
| Category | Calm shen |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Salty, Astringent |
| Channels | Liver, Kidney |
| Dosage | 15–30g (decoct first) |
| Cautions | Spleen/Stomach Cold deficiency; no accumulation or stagnation |
Actions
- Calms Liver, anchors Yang, calms Shen
- Softens hardness, dissipates nodules
- Astringes — stops sweating, spermatorrhoea, leucorrhoea
Indications
- Liver Yang rising with dizziness, irritability
- Scrofula, goitre
- Night sweats
- Spermatorrhoea
- Uterine bleeding
How to remember Mǔ Lì
Calm shen herbs are mostly sweet, and most enter the Heart, Liver and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Kidney channel: like most Calm shen herbs
- Liver channel: from its action “Calms Liver”
- Learn by heart
- Cool: Calm shen herbs vary in nature
- Salty: unusual for Calm shen herbs (most are sweet)
- Astringent: unusual for Calm shen herbs (most are sweet)
Formulas containing Mǔ Lì
Other Calm shen herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Mǔ Lì?
Mǔ Lì is cool and salty and astringent.
Which channels does Mǔ Lì enter?
Mǔ Lì enters the Liver and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Mǔ Lì?
Calms Liver, anchors Yang, calms Shen; Softens hardness, dissipates nodules; Astringes — stops sweating, spermatorrhoea, leucorrhoea.
What is Mǔ Lì used for?
Liver Yang rising with dizziness, irritability; scrofula, goitre; night sweats; spermatorrhoea; uterine bleeding.
Which formulas contain Mǔ Lì?
Guì Zhī Gān Cǎo Lóng Gǔ Mǔ Lì Tāng, Zhèn Gān Xī Fēng Tāng and Dà Dìng Fēng Zhū.
Practise Mǔ Lì 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.