Shell of Haliotis diversicolor
Elongate ovoid, inner side somewhat ear-like; 7~9 cm long, 5~6cm wide, about 2cm high. The outer surface dark red, with many irregular spiral ribs and fine growth lines; the spire part small, the shell body large; with about 20 tubercular protuberances arranged from the apex of the spire part toward the right, each of the last 6~9 protuberances with an opening on the same level with the shell surface. The inner surface smooth, with pearlaceous colored luster. The shell relatively thick, texture hard, uneasily broken. Odorless; taste, slightly salty.

Shell of Haliotis discus
Oblong, 8~12cm long, 6~8cm wide, 2~3cm high. The outer surface grayish-brown, with many rough and irregular wrinkles, growth lines distinct, usually with attachements such as bryozoans or spirobis, each of the last 4~5 protuberances with an opening above the shell surface. The shell relatively thin.

Shell of Haliotis ovina
Subrounded, 4~8cm long, 2.5~6cm wide, 0.8~2cm high. The umbo near the mid-portion and higher than surface of the shell, the spire and the shell body each cover about one half of the shell surface, 2 rows of neat protuberances at the border of the spire, more conspicuous at the upper part, the last 4~5 protuberances with tubiform openings.

Shell of Haliotis rubber
Flat ovoid. 13~17cm long, 11~14cm wide, 3.5~6cm high. The outer surface brick-red, the spire occupying about one half of the shell surface, the spiral ribs and growth lines wavy ridged; with about 30 tubercular protuberances, each of the last 7~9 protuberances with an opening above the shell surface.

Shell of Haliotis asinina
Long and narrow, somewhat twisted, ear-like, 5~8cm long, 2.5~3.5cm wide, about 1cm high. The outer surface smooth, with patterns of jade green, purple, brown color, etc; the spire part small, the shell body large; each of the last 5~7 portuberances with an opening on the same level with the shell surface, mostly ellipsoidal. The shell thin, texture relatively fragile.

Shell of Haliotis laevigata
Ovoid, 11~14cm long, 8.5~11cm wide, 3~6.5cm high. Externally brick-red, smooth, the umbo higher than the shell surface, growth lines rather conspicuous; the spire part occupying about one third of the shell body, about 30 tubercular protuberances, each of the last 9 protuberances with an opening on the same level with the shell surface.

Headache and dizziness; blurred vision due to nebula, optic atrophy and night blindness.

1.Calming the liver and suppressing Yang hyperactivity

In treating dizziness, vexation, insomnia and ascending of liver-Yang due to deficiency of Yin, the drug is often used in combination with Concha Ostreae, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Rehmanniae, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, Flos Chrysanthemi, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, etc.

2.Removing nebula to improve visual acuity

In treating nebula, optic atrophy, night blindness and conjunctiva congestion with swelling and pain due to liver-heat, the drug can be used in combination with Flos Chrysanthemi, Flos Eriocauli, Periostracum Serpentis, etc. Another method of treatment of optic atrophy is putting the drug powder into the sheep liver, binding the liver with thread, cooking the liver in a clay pot and eating the liver every day (10g of the drug at a time).