Hai Piao Xiao (Cuttlebone) (Sword-shaped back): Long oval and flat, thin edges, wide tail with flat sides, white ventral surface with water wave patterns, brittle white dorsal surface with small wart-like protrusions, light and porous texture, easily broken, with multiple layers.

Stir-fried Hai Piao Xiao (Cuttlebone)

【Naming】

Hai Piao Xiao (Cuttlebone)

 【Source】

Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic – Middle Grade

 【Common Use Level】

D

 【Botanical Origin】

The dried cuttlebone of the spineless cuttlefish Sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune, the Japanese spineless cuttlefish Sepia esculenta Hoyle, or the Hercules cuttlefish Sepia hercules Pilshry.

 【Appearance】

It is long oval and flat, with thin edges and a thick middle, 9~14cm long, approximately 2.5~3.5cm wide, and 1.2~1.5cm thick in the middle. The ventral surface is white with water wave-like patterns. The dorsal surface is brittle white with inconspicuous small wart-like protrusions, with a distinct ridge in the center. The surface has a layer of hard, brittle membrane, and the horny edge is translucent. It is light, porous, brittle, and easily broken. It has a slightly fishy odor and a slightly salty taste.
The cuttlebone of Sepiella maindroni is long and oval, 9-14cm long. The ventral surface is soft, chalky, and white, with water wave-like transverse stripes and no spine at the rear end. The cuttlebone of Sepia esculenta is slightly longer than the previous species, with transverse stripes slightly rhomboid, and a thick spine at the rear end. The cuttlebone of Sepia hercules is large, up to 27cm long, with dense small white spots on the dorsal surface, an arc-shaped transverse stripe surface, and a thick spine at the rear end.

 【Processing】

1. Used raw. 2. Stir-fried Hai Piao Xiao (Cuttlebone)

 【Identification】

The best quality of all the above medicinal materials are those that are dry, large, white, and intact.

 【Identification Terminology】

1. Sword-backed Cuttlebone: Hai Piao Xiao (Cuttlebone) is long oval and flat, thin at the edges and thick in the middle, resembling a sword back.

 【Category】

Invertebrate Category