The tortoise shell refers to the dorsal and ventral shells of the turtle. If only the ventral shell is used, it is calledTortoise ShellResearch has confirmed that there is not much difference in efficacy between the dorsal and ventral shells of turtles, so both can be used. Turtle shells are hard and are often processed by stir-frying with sand and quenching with wine, which makes them crispy and easy to decoct, while also removing the fishy smell.
I. Efficacy of Tortoise Shell:
Tortoise Shell tastes sweet, salty, and is cold in nature. It enters the Liver, Kidney, and Heart meridians. Its functions includeNourish Yin and Subdue Yang, Nourish Kidney and Strengthen Bones, Nourish Blood and Tonify Heart。
Commonly used forYin deficiency with tidal fever, bone-steaming night sweats, dizziness and blurred vision, internal stirring of deficient wind, flaccidity and weakness of sinews and bones, heart deficiency with forgetfulness, profuse uterine bleeding and excessive menstruationTreatment of conditions such as
Summary of Famous Works by Renowned Authors:
"The Classic of Materia Medica": "It primarily treats red and white vaginal discharge, breaks up abdominal masses and malaria, treats five types of hemorrhoids and genital ulcers, relieves dampness-induced paralysis and weakness of the limbs, and addresses delayed closure of the fontanelle in infants."
Compendium of Materia Medica: "Treats soreness and pain in the waist and legs, tonifies the heart and kidneys, benefits the large intestine, stops chronic dysentery and diarrhea, aids in difficult childbirth, reduces abscesses and swelling, and when burned to ash, can be applied to leg ulcers."
Ben Cao Tong Xuan: It has the effect of replenishing water and controlling fire, thus it can strengthen tendons and bones, benefit the mind and intelligence, stop coughing, halt chronic malaria, remove stagnant blood, and stop fresh bleeding.
Jade Carving Medical Explanation: "Draining fire and nourishing yin, cooling the stomach and lubricating the intestines."
"Compendium of Materia Medica": "Tonifies the heart and benefits the kidneys, nourishes yin and enhances intelligence. Treats deficiency of yin blood, consumptive fever with bone-steaming sensation, soreness and pain in the waist and legs, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, prolonged cough and malaria, abdominal masses and metrorrhagia, hemorrhoids and difficult childbirth, as well as syndromes of yin deficiency and blood weakness."
II. Compatibility and Application of Tortoise Shell:
1. Used for yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity, or febrile disease damaging yin, or yin deficiency with fever, etc. The nature and flavor of tortoise shell are salty and cold, especially good at nourishing yin and suppressing yang, as well as clearing heat. For treating liver yang hyperactivity, dizziness and blurred vision, it is often combined with raw rehmannia root, chrysanthemum, abalone shell, etc.
If treating febrile disease damaging yin, internal stirring of deficient wind, dizziness and vertigo, and even convulsions and syncope, it is often combined with donkey-hide gelatin, raw rehmannia root, oyster shell, and turtle shell.
If treating yin deficiency with effulgent fire, bone-steaming taxation heat, cough with expectoration of blood, night sweating, and seminal emission, it is often combined with prepared rehmannia root, anemarrhena rhizome, and phellodendron bark, namelyMajor Tonify Yin Pill。
2. Used for kidney deficiency, weak sinews and bones, and external floating of deficient yang. Tortoise plastron can nourish the kidneys and strengthen bones, replenish yin and subdue yang. For treating kidney deficiency with weak sinews and bones, it is often combined with prepared rehmannia root, phellodendron bark, achyranthes root, and cynomorium, namelyHuqian Wan。
If treating deficiency yang floating upward, red face and cold feet and other symptoms, it is often combined with aconite, amomum fruit, licorice, etc., that isSubduing Yang Elixir。
If treating flaccidity of sinew and bone with dual vacuity of qi and blood, it is often combined with Phellodendron Bark, Dried Ginger, Achyranthes Root, and Aged Tangerine Peel, namelyKidney Tonifying Pill。
For treating impotence, it is often combined with Gastrodia elata, Asparagus cochinchinensis, Achyranthes bidentata, Rehmannia glutinosa, and fried Ziziphus jujuba, namelyGastrodia and Tortoise Shell Soup。
3. For palpitations due to heart deficiency, insomnia, and forgetfulness. Tortoise shell also has the effect of nourishing blood and tonifying the heart. For treating insomnia and forgetfulness, it is often combined with dragon bone, calamus, and polygala root, namelyKong Sheng Zhen Zhong Dan。
In addition, tortoise shell can nourish yin and blood, and can be used for conditions such as deficiency heat with uterine bleeding or excessive menstruation. It is often combined with herbs such as Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and Rehmannia glutinosa.
Sun Simiao treated metrorrhagia and metrostaxis with qi deficiency and exhaustion by using tortoise shell combined with oyster, grinding them into powder for oral administration.
III. Usage and Dosage of Tortoise Shell:
Tortoise shell is often used in decoctions and is also suitable for making pills and powders. The usual dosage in decoctions ranges from a few grams to several tens of grams. It must be calcined before use.
Wang Ang said: "The larger ones are better. Both the upper and lower shells can be used. They can be roasted with butter, or roasted with wine, roasted with lard, or calcined into ash for use."
IV. Application Notes for Tortoise Shell:
Turtle shell is salty and cold, easily promoting yin and damaging yang, thereforeContraindicated for those with spleen and stomach deficiency cold; use with caution during pregnancy。
Turtle shell has a strong effect in nourishing yin, which often contradicts the "Yang-Supporting Theory" in traditional Chinese medicine. In clinical application, it must not be used indiscriminately as a tonic.
Huang Yuanyu said, "Tortoise shell is salty and cold, draining fire, damaging the spleen and injuring the stomach. Prolonged use leads to cold stomach and slippery intestines, inevitably resulting in death. Zhu Danxi and other mediocre practitioners created formulas to nourish yin, using tortoise plastron, rehmannia, anemarrhena, and phellodendron to treat internal injury and deficiency fatigue syndromes, thereby uprooting yang and depleting vitality."
In the above discussion, Huang Yuanyu's thought of supporting yang is vividly expressed on paper, which is worthy of vigilance and enlightenment.
