turtle shell

　　The turtle shell is the carapace of the turtle Trionyx sinensis Wiegmann, a member of the turtle family. Mainly produced in Hubei, Hunan, Anhui and other places. It can be caught all year round. After killing, scald it in boiling water until the hard skin on the carapace can peel off. Take it out, remove the remaining meat, dry it in the sun, fry it with sand and quench it with vinegar.

　　[Medical properties] Sweet, salty, cold. Returns to the liver and kidney meridians.

　　[Efficacy] Nourishes yin and subdues yang, reduces fever and removes steam, softens and resolves hard knots.

　　【application】

　　1. Liver and kidney yin deficiency syndrome. This product can also nourish the yin of the liver and kidneys, and is suitable for all syndromes of yin deficiency and internal heat, yin deficiency and wind movement, and yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity caused by yin deficiency in the liver and kidneys. For syndromes of yin deficiency and internal heat, the nourishing power of this product is not as good as that of tortoise shell, but it is good at reducing deficiency heat and removing bone steam, so it is particularly useful clinically. In the late stage of febrile disease, when Yin fluid is depleted, evil factors submerge in Yin, night fever and early cooling, and the fever subsides without sweating, it is often used together with paeonol bark, raw rehmannia root, Qinghao and other products, such as Qinghao Biejia Decoction ("Tiao Bian of Febrile Disease"). For the treatment of yin and blood deficiency, bone steaming and hot flashes, it is often used together with Radix Gentiana, Digupi and other products. It is mainly used to treat yin deficiency, wind, and fistulas in the hands and feet. It is often used together with donkey-hide gelatin, raw rehmannia, Ophiopogon japonicus and other products.

　　2. Accumulation of symptoms. This product has a salty taste and is good at softening and dispersing stagnation. It is suitable for hepatosplenomegaly and other diseases such as mass accumulation. It is often combined with medicines that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, promote qi and reduce phlegm, such as Biejiajian Pills ("Jingui Synopsis"). It is used together with paeonol bark, peach kernels, insects, Magnolia officinalis, pinellia and other products to treat malaria that does not heal over time and hard lumps under the ribs.

　　[Usage and Dosage] Decoction and take, 9~24g. It is better to fry first. After this product is quenched with sand-fried vinegar, the active ingredients are easier to decoct; it can remove its fishy smell, is easy to crush, and is convenient for preparation.

　　[Identification and Medication] Both turtle shells and turtle shells can nourish the yin of the liver and kidneys, calm the liver and subdue yang. It is suitable for treating symptoms such as bone steam, hot flashes, night sweats, spermatorrhea, and liver yin deficiency and liver yang hyperactivity such as headache and dizziness. But tortoise shells are good at nourishing the kidneys, and turtle shells are good at relieving deficiency heat. In addition, tortoise shell also has the functions of strengthening bones, nourishing blood, nourishing the heart, etc. It is also commonly used to treat symptoms such as liver and kidney deficiency, weak muscles and bones, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, women with metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, insufficient heart blood, insomnia, forgetfulness and other symptoms. Turtle shell also has the effect of softening and dispersing stagnation, and it often accumulates in intra-abdominal syndrome.

　　[Abstract from ancient books]

　　1. "Shen Nong's Materia Medica": "It is mainly used to treat heart and abdomen syndrome, hard accumulation, cold and heat, and remove polyps...".

　　2. "Compendium of Materia Medica": "It is also a medicine for removing malaria due to yin deficiency and heat, and relieving labor-heat and bone steaming." If the Jueyin blood is blocked and the evil knot gradually develops into cold and heat, it will cause lumps, swelling, malaria, stranguria, and bone steaming, which is the main symptom of salty disease. ”

　　【Modern Research】

　　1. Chemical composition: This product contains animal glue, collagen, keratin, 17 kinds of amino acids, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, iodine, vitamin D and trace elements such as zinc, copper, manganese.

　　2. Pharmacological effects: Turtle shell can reduce the plasma CAMP content of experimental hyperthyroid animals; can increase the lymphoblast transformation rate, prolong the existence time of antibodies, and enhance immune function; can protect the adrenal cortex function; can promote hematopoietic function and increase hemoglobin content; can inhibit connective tissue hyperplasia, so it can dissipate masses; prevent cell mutations; and has a certain sedative effect.

　　3. Clinical research: According to reports, 100 patients with hepatosplenomegaly were treated by grinding equal parts of turtle shells and pangolins into fine powder, taking 4g each time, preferably with honey after meals. One course of treatment was 2 months (Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1989, 7:315); grind turtle shells and cannon shell beads roasted in vinegar at a dosage of 3:2 and grind them into fine powder. Take 6g each time, twice a day. The serum protein ratio of liver disease is reversed. After taking the medicine for 24 to 107 days, a certain effect is achieved (Shanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1990, 5:24).