Blatta Byzantina

Sweet Hoof
Unguis odoratus, Anguis odoratus, Onycha, Onyx Marina, Conchula Indica
Azfar al-tib (Unani)
Jia Xiang “Shell Incense” (TCM)

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Gart der Gesundheit, Johannes von Cuba, 1487

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Above: Unguis odoratu, Blatta Byzantina
(Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578)

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Strombus dianae
Iconographia Zoologica, 19th century

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Chicoreus virgineus
(Photo by Llez)

Zoological name:

Neogastropod whelks (predatory sea snails including Muricidae)
Several species have been given by various sources as a source of Blatta Byzantina:

  1. Strombus dianae, S. lentiginosus
  2. Chicoreus virgineus (Murex anguliferu)
  3. Chicoreus ramosus (Murex inflatus) (best for fumigation)
  4. Hexaplex trunculus
  5. Rapana venosa (Veined Rapa Whelk, or Asian Rapa Whelk) (TCM)

Parts used:

Operculum of the shell

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, dry. Pungent, Sweet, Aromatic
“It is Hot and Dry in the Second degree”. (Avicenna)

Constituents:

Operculum: Thymine, adenine, adenosine, tryptophan
Trace element, mg per kg: Calcium 6356;  Sulfur 6300;  Sodium 3597;  Potassium 1614;. Magnesium 918;  Phosphorus 689;  Iron 311;  Silicon (acid soluble) 289;  Aluminium 40;  Total arsenic 25.7; Selenium 23.3;  Boron1 6.7;  Zinc 14.4;  Copper 6.0;  Chromium 3.1;  Manganese 2.8;  Vanadium 2.0; Lead 0.3;  Molybdenum 0.3;  Barium 0.2;  Cadmium 0.2;  Silver 0.2;  Cobalt 0.1;  Mercury 0.002
Smoke from fumigation contains Cresol and phenol; Pyridine; Acetamide;

Uses:

1. Clears Damp, Moves Qi, Opens Obstructions:

-obstructions of the Liver or Spleen; Jaundice
-obstructed Urine
-“painful sensation of fullness in heart and abdomen”. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)

2. Moves the Blood, Resolves Phlegm, Softens Hardness:

-hardness of the Spleen
-hard Tumors
-Scrofula

3. Moves the Blood, Clears Damp, Promotes Menstruation:

-Amenorrhea; Chlorosis
-hardness of the Uterus
-Infertility; used to help promote conception
-promote expulsion of the Placenta
-“Its fumigation brings a Hysteric patient to senses”. (Avicenna)

4. Settles Wind, Clears Damp:

-Epilepsy, Paralysis
-arthritis, rheumatism

5. Externally:

-the fumes are used for Epilepsy and Hysteric Fits

Dose:

Powder: 500mg–3 grams

Preparation:

“They are macerated in water and salt for three days, then washed with hot water until their flavour and foul smell disappear, and are then dried. They are then thoroughly cooked with spices, put into Meccan sand and dried, then grilled, care being taken not to burn them”. (Al-Hushaki)

Main Combinations:

1. Scrofula from Cold-Phlegm:
i. Blatta Byzantina with Frankincense, Spikenard, Clove
i. Blatta Byzantina with Euphorbium, Aloeswood, Pearl, Frankincense, Spikenard, Clove (as in Marvelous Powder Against Scrofula)
2. Infertility:
i. Blatta Byzantina with Parsnip seed, Turnip seed, Cinnamon, Pennyroyal, Spikenard, Pearl (as in Confection for Impregnation)
ii. From Cold, Blatta Byzantina with Cinnamon, Ginger, Long Pepper, Turnip seed, Indian Spikenard, Nutmeg (as in Warming Confection for Infertility)
iii. Blatta Byzantina with Cinnamon, Ivory
3. Parkinsonism, Shaking Palsy, Wind diseases from Cold, Blatta Byzantina with Pearl, Cinnamon, Aloeswood, Clove, Spikenard, Licorice, Nutmeg, Pearl, Tabasheer (as in Warming Pearl Powder of Mesue)

Major Formula:

Warming Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Calidum) (Mesue)
Marvelous Powder Against Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova)
Warming Confection for Infertility (Wirtzung)
Confection for Impregnation (Renodeus)
Confection for Infertility from Cold

Cautions:

1. “It causes heaviness to the head and headache”. (Rhazes)
2. Not suitable for long-term use. Heavy metals including arsenic, chromium, selenium, aluminium, boron and vanadium exceed 10x the safe acceptable level for human consumption.

Main Preparations used:

Levigated Powder; Spirit, Oil, Essential Salt, Volatile Salt

Dioscorides:
“Onyches is the cover of a kind of shell-bearing animals; it is like the shell of the purple-fish. It is found in India in stagnant and foetid waters. Its smell is aromatic because this animal lives on nard. A kind is also found in Babylonia which is black and small. Both are aromatic and their smell resembles slightly the smell of Castoreum. Both are useful as fumigations for Hysteria of the uterus”

1. Anti-inflammatory (Adenosine)
2. Analgesic
3. Muscle relaxant
4. Anti-tumor and immunomodulatory components (Thymine and adenine)

A Useful Article on Shell Operculum as medicine:
Volatile and bioactive compounds in opercula from Muricidae
molluscs supports their use in ceremonial incense and traditional medicines

DISCLAIMER

This Website is intended for the study of Traditional Medicine. Some of the information is Intended for Historical reference only and may be illegal or dangerous if used by unskilled hands. MedicineTraditions cannot be held responsible for the use or misuse of the information contained herein, nor can it be held responsible for injury, sickness or death due to use or misuse of the information contained herein.

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