Seahorse, Hai Ma 海马
Pipefish, Hai Long 海龙
Seahorse-Hai Ma
Pipefish-Hai Long
Seahorse (Hippocampus spp.) and Pipefish (Syngnathus acus)
Illustrated natural history of the animal kingdom, Goodrich, 1859
A seller at the old Chengdu Medicine Market specialising in Seahorse and Pipefish
These types of stalls are no longer seen at the new Chengdu Medicine market. (Adam, 2009)
Dried Seahorse (Adam)
Zoological name:
Seahorse: there are 46 known species of Sea Horse, at least 13 species supply the market:
- Hippocampus kelloggii; Great Sea Horse)
- H. kuda; Chinese Seahorse
- H. trimaculatus; Guang Hai Ma, Bright Sea Horse
- H. histrix; Ci Hai Ma, Spiny Sea Horse
- H. japnicus, Xiao Hai Ma, Small Sea Horse
- H. coronatus
- H. abdominalis; Pot-belly Sea Horse
- H. mohnikei
- H. spinosissimus
Pipefish. a number of species supply the market:
- Syngnathus acus, S. cyanospilus, S. crenulatus, S. djarong, S. guntheri, S. schlegeli
- Solenognatus hardwickii
- Syngnathoides biaculeatus
- Trachyrharnpus serratus
Parts used:
Dried Animal
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Sweet, Salty
Classification:
Uses:
1. Strengthens Kidneys, Tonifies Yang:
-Impotence (TCM); Aphrodisiac (Pliny)
-debility in the elderly
-Lower Back pain (TCM); Sciatica (West)
-Paralysis (West)
-Promotes Labor
-Urinary incontinence (TCM, West)
2. Moves the Blood, Resolves Stasis:
-Pain from blood stasis or Trauma
-Scrofula, chronic lymphadenitis
-fixed and mobile Abdominal Masses, Tumors, Cancer
3. Resists Poison:
-swelling due to Sores and Boils (TCM)
-resists Poison (Pliny)
-also listed to Kill Worms (Lemery)
4. Calms the Mind:
-“an excellent remedy against rage” (Lemery)
5. Externally:
-ashes applied to Alopecia (Pliny, Lemery)
-Lichen, Spots on the face ashes of Seahorse mixed with water (Pliny)
Dose:
Seahorse and Pipefish are used in similar doses.
Powder: 1–2 grams
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Often added to large jars of alcohol with other tonic drugs, a small glassful taken daily.
Comment:
1. Seahorse and Pipefish are used similarly and have similar doses. However, some authors have stated Pipefish to be stronger in effect than Seahorse. This supports preferring use of Pipefish as they appear not be to listed by CITES, whereas many Seahorse species are threatened due to over harvesting (often for dried curios).
Substitute:
1. Seahorse and Pipefish are very similar in function and uses, both being sources of androgens. They may substitute each other.
2. Gecko or Skink can be used as a substitute. Sea Horse was recommended as a substitute for Gecko (Ge Jie). (Li Shi Zhen)
3. Of Shrimps: “their nature corresponds to that of Sea Horses”. (Li Shi Zhen)
Preparation:
1. Roasted or Baked Sea Horse:
It can be roasted for use. This makes it more warming, removes some of the smell and facilitates powdering.
2. Wine-Prepared Sea Horse:
The Seahorse or Pipefish is soaked in alcohol briefly, then stir-fried until yellowed and crisp. This makes it more warming, better to move the Blood and resolve stasis, as well as reducing the objectionable smell and facilitating powdering.
3. Ashed Sea Horse:
Sometimes ashed for use, mostly in the West, and usually for external use.
Main Combinations:
1. Tonify Kidney Yang:
i. Seahorse with Red Ginseng (proven to increase testosterone and enhance sperm)
ii. Seahorse with Velvet Deer Horn (Lu Rong),
iii. Seahorse, Ginseng, Dragon bone, Deer Horn, Gecko, Dang Gui, prepared Rehmannia Shu Di, Walnuts, Astragalus Huang Qi, Clove, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu (equal parts)
iv. Pipefish, Gecko, Deer Penis and Testes, Ginseng, prepared Rehmannia Shu Di, Dang Gui, Astragalus Huang Qi, Velvet Deer Horn (Lu Rong), Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Aloeswood, Cinnamon bark
2. Tonify Yin, Pipefish with Donkey Hide Gelation (E Jiao)
3. Urinary Frequency at night, Seahorse, Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Jujubes (Da Zao)
4. Boils and Sores in weak children, make a soup of Sea Horse and Pork.
5. Labor, the Sea Horse can be carried during pregnancy. When close to the due date, the Sea Horse is baked and powdered and taken. Some texts said holding a Sea Horse in the hand during labor facilitated birth.
6. Cancer, Seahorse ashes were given with Bean meal for Cancer in ancient Greece
7. Alopecia:
i. Seahorse ashes, Niter, Hogs Lard (Pliny)
ii. Seahorse ashes mixed wiyj oil and pitch.
Major Formulas:
Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy.
2. Not used for Yin deficient Heat. Also not for Kidney insufficiency or Renal failure..
3. Not used during acute conditions (Cold, Flu etc.).
CITES listing:
A number of Seahorse species are listed by CITES Appendix 2 (those that aren’t presently endangered but could be if trade isn’t monitored).
Main Preparations used:
GENERAL / REVIEW:
–The genus Hippocampus–a review on traditional medicinal uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological properties.
SPECIES:
–Morphology and molecular identification of the zoological origin of medicinal seahorses in Chinese herbal markets.
–Identification of marine traditional Chinese medicine dried seahorses in the traditional Chinese medicine market using DNA barcoding.
–[Market survey and identification of hippocampus (Haima)].
–[Survey on medicinal resources of Syngnathidae].
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:
–Anti-inflammatory activity of 3beta-hydroxycholest-5-en-7-one isolated from Hippocampus trimaculatus leach via inhibiting iNOS, TNF-alpha, and 1L-1beta of LPS induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.
INCREASE BODY WEIGHT:
–Safety and effectiveness of seahorse extract (Hippocampus comes L.) on the hematological profile and body weight of male rats induced by depo medroxyprogesterone acetate.
ANTI-FATIGUE:
–The genus Hippocampus–a review on traditional medicinal uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological properties.
ANTI-AGING:
–The genus Hippocampus–a review on traditional medicinal uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological properties.
ANTI PHOTO-AGING:
–Anti-Photoaging Effects of Antioxidant Peptide from Seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) in In Vivo and In Vitro Models.
DEPRESSION:
–Seahorse treatment improves depression-like behavior in mice exposed to CUMS through reducing inflammation/oxidants and restoring neurotransmitter and neurotrophin function.
INCREASE TESTOSTERONE:
–The seahorse (Hippocampus comes L.) extract ameliorates sperm qualities, testosterone level, and serum biochemistry in rats induced by depo medroxyprogesterone acetate.
–Study on the Effect of a Mixture of Hippocampus kuda Extract and Panax Ginseng on Testosterone Content and Semen Quality in Experimental Rats.
ENHANCES SPERM QUALITY:
–The seahorse (Hippocampus comes L.) extract ameliorates sperm qualities, testosterone level, and serum biochemistry in rats induced by depo medroxyprogesterone acetate.
–Study on the Effect of a Mixture of Hippocampus kuda Extract and Panax Ginseng on Testosterone Content and Semen Quality in Experimental Rats.
MALE REPRODUCTIVE DYSFUNCTION:
–Hippocampus kuda protein hydrolysate improves male reproductive dysfunction in diabetic rats.
BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH):
–Protective effects of seahorse extracts in a rat castration and testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia model and mouse oligospermatism model.
DECREASES PSA LEVELS:
–Brassicasterol from Edible Aquacultural Hippocampus abdominalis Exerts an Anti-Cancer Effect by Dual-Targeting AKT and AR Signaling in Prostate Cancer.
ANTI-TUMOR:
–Bioassay-guided isolation of a novel protein with antitumor activity from Trachyrhamphus serratus (Syngnathidae).
–Purification, characterization and antitumor activities of a new protein from Syngnathus acus, an officinal marine fish.
ANTI-CANCER:
PROSTATE: Brassicasterol from Edible Aquacultural Hippocampus abdominalis Exerts an Anti-Cancer Effect by Dual-Targeting AKT and AR Signaling in Prostate Cancer.
