Dayehaizao Crumpled and rolled, blackish-brown, some showing white frost-like powder, 30~60 cm long, the stem-like stipe cylindrical, with conical protrudings. Main branchings dichotomous, lateral branchings giving off from the axils of blades bearing on main branchings, with short spiny protrudings. The blades of primary segments lanceolate or obovate, 5~7 cm long, about 1 cm wide, margin entire or dentate. The blades of secondary segments slat-shaped or lanceolate, with small branchings bearing slat-shaped segments in the axils of blades. Air bladders blackish-brown, spheroidal or ovoid, some with stalks, apex obtuse-rounded, sometimes mucronate. Texture fragile, soft when moistened, swollen, fleshy and lubricant on soaking in water. Odour, seafood-like; taste, slightly salty.

Xiaoyehaizao Slightly small, 15~40 cm long, lateral branchings alternate, without spiny protrudings, blades slat-shaped or spatulate, apex slightly swollen, hollowed, air bladders axillary, fusiform or spheroidal, with relatively long stalks. Texture relatively hard.

Goiter, scrofula, swelling and pain of the testis; edema.

Resolving phlegm and hard mass.

In treating scrofula, tuberculosis and goiter, the drug is often used in combination with Thallus Laminariae seu Eckloniae, Concha Meretricis, Bombyx Batryticatus, etc. In treating swelling and pain of the testis, the decoction of the drug is taken. In addition, the drug can also be used to treat dropsy due to beriberi and edema, owing to its effect of inducing diuresis and relieving edema.