Seahorse (3 from Hainan Island) (Tail tip curved, head resembles a horse head with crown-like protrusions, tubular long mouth, transverse ring ridges forming squares, dense protruding transverse stripes, shell bony and hard)
Seahorse (2 from lower Thailand, 3 small ones from upper Malaysia) (Horse head, snake tail, corrugated body)
【Naming】
【Source】
Shi Yi (Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica)
【Common Usage Degree】
E
【Origin】
The dried bodies, with internal organs removed, of Kallo’s seahorse (Hippocampus kalloggi Jordan et Snyder), Great seahorse (Hippocampus kuda Bleeker), Three-spot seahorse (Hippocampus trimaculatus Leach), Japanese seahorse (Hippocampus japonicus Kaup), or Spiny seahorse (Hippocampus hidtrix Kaup) of the Syngnathidae family. They are caught by fishing nets from fishing boats, and the fishermen dry them on the boat. They are not intentionally caught.
【Characteristics】
(1) Seahorse: Refers to the dried whole body of Kallo’s seahorse, Great seahorse, Three-spot seahorse, or Japanese seahorse. The body is long and slender, slightly curved or curled, 10-25cm long. The upper part is thick and flat, with a diameter of about 2-3cm, and the lower part is thin and square, with a diameter of about 1cm. The tail end is slightly pointed and curved. The head resembles a horse’s head, with a tubular long mouth and a pair of sunken eyes. The surface is yellowish-white or grayish-brown, slightly shiny. The upper part has 6 ridges, the lower part has 4 ridges, and is densely covered with protruding transverse stripes. The edges have teeth, and the back has fins. The bone is hard and not easily broken. It has a slightly fishy odor and a slightly salty taste.
(2) Spiny Seahorse: Refers to the dried whole body of the Spiny seahorse. It is similar in shape to the seahorse, but smaller, about 20cm long, and the entire body is covered with hard spines, 2-4mm long. Other characteristics are the same as the above species.
(3) Sea maggots: Also known as small sea foals, small seahorses. They are the larvae of seahorses. The shape is similar to that of a seahorse but smaller, generally less than 7cm in length.
【Processing】
1. Seahorse 2. Prepared Seahorse 3. Wine-processed Seahorse
【Identification】
The best are those that are large, complete, dry and clean, have hard bones, and are white in color and free from insects. Smaller, darker, or incomplete ones are of lower quality.
【Identification Terminology】
1. Horse head, snake tail, corrugated body: The head of the seahorse slightly resembles a horse’s head, the middle part is thick and square, with 6-7 longitudinal ridges, like corrugations. The tail gradually thins, curves inward, and has 4 longitudinal ridges, like a snake’s tail.
2. Swollen belly seahorse: Refers to male seahorse medicinal material.
3. Sunken belly seahorse: Refers to female seahorse medicinal material.
【Chapter】
Vertebrates