TCM Properties

Traditional Use

Secures essence and stops chronic leakage - Wu Zei Gu is a classic astringent for spermatorrhea, excessive vaginal discharge, and lower-burner instability patterns.
Stops bleeding while protecting tissue - the powdered shell is used internally for chronic bleeding patterns and externally for wounds, sores, and damp ulcerations.
Restrains acidity and relieves epigastric pain - like Hai Piao Xiao, this alternate-name record belongs to the cuttlebone tradition used for acid regurgitation and ulcer-type stomach discomfort.
Dries dampness and promotes healing externally - it can be applied to weeping lesions or traumatic bleeding where an absorbent, protective mineral powder is needed.

Wu Zei Gu and Hai Piao Xiao are usually the same medicated cuttlebone material, but this file preserves the alternate import name used in the source spreadsheet.
Modern dispensing often uses the shell as a powder for digestive acidity or external application rather than as a simple long-boiled decoction ingredient.

Wu Zei Gu with Qian Shi and Shan Zhu Yu - a traditional lower-burner astringent approach for chronic discharge and essence leakage.
Wu Zei Gu with Wa Leng Zi - a classic mineral pairing for acid regurgitation and gnawing epigastric discomfort.
Wu Zei Gu with Bai Ji in powders - a hemostatic and tissue-protective combination for ulcer bleeding and external sores.

Traditional Chinese materia medica texts treat Wu Zei Gu as an alternate name for cuttlebone, emphasizing its ability to secure essence, stop bleeding, and restrain acidity.
The slightly warm, salty, astringent profile explains why it is used both for lower-burner leakage and for sour regurgitation with Stomach discomfort.
IMPORT NOTE: this file is intentionally distinct from herb #298 because the historical import kept both Hai Piao Xiao and Wu Zei Gu as separate records even though the medicinal identity substantially overlaps.

Calcium carbonate and aragonite - the mineral framework underlying antacid and structural biomaterial effects
Chitin-associated shell fractions - relevant to wound-healing and hemostatic material research
Trace minerals and amino-acid residues - measured in Os Sepiae quality studies

A rat study found that cuttlebone accelerated healing of indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions, matching the traditional use of Wu Zei Gu for acid injury and ulcer pain (PMID 33082835).
Marine biomaterial research has shown that cuttlebone can function as a calcium-rich scaffold for bone repair applications, which helps explain its long-standing tissue-supportive reputation (PMID 29616431).
A newer multifunctional hydrogel study used nano-cuttlebone to improve hemostatic and antibacterial wound care performance, giving a modern parallel to the shell's external bleeding and sore applications (PMID 40245568).

As a calcium-rich shell medicine, Wu Zei Gu can reduce absorption of certain medications if taken together.
Only properly cleaned medicinal shell should be used because crude marine material may contain contaminants or variable mineral quality.
This is an astringent mineral drug, not a routine calcium supplement.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics - calcium-rich shell minerals can chelate the drug and reduce absorption; separate by several hours
Tetracycline antibiotics - concurrent mineral intake can lower antibiotic bioavailability; stagger dosing
Levothyroxine - calcium-containing minerals may impair thyroid hormone absorption; separate by at least 4 hours
Iron supplements - calcium can decrease iron absorption when taken together