Turtle Shell, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It is the shell of the turtle Chinemys reevesi (Gray), belonging to the genus Chinemys in the family Testudinidae. It has the effects of nourishing yin and subduing yang, benefiting the kidneys and strengthening the bones, nourishing the blood and tonifying the heart, and stabilizing the menstrual cycle to stop excessive bleeding.It is primarily used to treat yin deficiency with internal heat, bone-consuming fever and night sweats, persistent low-grade fever in the late stages of febrile diseases, yin-deficient consumptive cough, hemoptysis and epistaxis, dizziness due to liver yang hyperactivity, internal wind arising from deficiency, weakness and atrophy of tendons and bones, failure of the fontanelle to close, heart deficiency with palpitations, insomnia and forgetfulness, excessive menstrual bleeding and metrorrhagia, red and white vaginal discharge, syphilitic sores, and abscesses and swellings caused by toxic infections.
Turtle Shell
Turtle Shell, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It is the shell of the turtle Chinemys reevesi (Gray), belonging to the genus Chinemys in the family Testudinidae. It has the effects of nourishing yin and subduing yang, benefiting the kidneys and strengthening the bones, nourishing the blood and tonifying the heart, and stabilizing the menstrual cycle to stop excessive bleeding.It is primarily used to treat yin deficiency with internal heat, bone-consuming fever and night sweats, persistent low-grade fever in the late stages of febrile diseases, yin-deficient consumptive cough, hemoptysis and epistaxis, dizziness due to liver yang hyperactivity, internal wind arising from deficiency, weakness and atrophy of tendons and bones, failure of the fontanelle to close, heart deficiency with palpitations, insomnia and forgetfulness, excessive menstrual bleeding and metrorrhagia, red and white vaginal discharge, syphilitic sores, and abscesses and swellings caused by toxic infections.
Chinese Name : 龟甲
Latin Name : Testudinis Carapax Et Plastrum
Aliases : Shenwu, turtle shell, decayed turtle shell, decayed turtle, turtle carapace, lower turtle shell, turtle plate, bottom turtle shell, abdominal turtle shell, mud-dragging plate, Yuanwu plate, Kan plate, turtle shell, turtle plate
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Taste: salty, sweet; Nature: cold; Enters the Liver and Kidney meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Nourishes yin and subdues yang; strengthens the kidneys and fortifies the bones; nourishes blood and tonifies the heart; consolidates the menstrual cycle and stops metrorrhagia.
Indications
Mainly used for yin deficiency with internal heat, bone-steaming night sweats, the late stage of febrile diseases with persistent low-grade fever, yin-deficient consumptive cough, hemoptysis and epistaxis, dizziness due to liver yang hyperactivity, internal wind arising from deficiency, weakness and atrophy of tendons and bones, failure of the fontanelle to close, heart deficiency with palpitations, insomnia and forgetfulness, metrorrhagia and menorrhagia, red and white leukorrhea, syphilitic sores, and abscesses and swellings caused by toxic infections.
Usage and Dosage
Internal Use: Decoct 10–30 g, adding it to the decoction first; or boil into a paste; or incorporate into pills or powders. External Use: Burn to ash while retaining its properties, grind into a fine powder, and apply as a poultice mixed with oil.
Precautions
Contraindicated for pregnant women and those with cold-dampness in the stomach.
Chemical Constituents
It contains protein (approximately 32%) and collagen, including various amino acids such as aspartic acid, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine, and leucine. It also contains 50% calcium carbonate.
Pharmacological Actions
1. Effects on the Endocrine System: Decoctions of turtle shell have a thyroid-suppressing effect. 2. Effects on the Immune System: Turtle shell enhances cellular and humoral immune functions, increases lymphocyte transformation rates, and elevates serum IgG levels. 3. Anti-atherosclerotic effects: Turtle Shell Nourishing Yin Tablets can inhibit the formation of atherosclerosis. 4. Effects on the reproductive system: A decoction of turtle shell in wine has a stimulating effect on the uterus and can significantly enhance uterine contractility. 5. Effects on the central nervous system: Turtle and Deer Oral Solution can significantly prolong the duration of sleep induced by sodium pentobarbital and has a sedative effect. 6. In addition, turtle shell has certain effects, including reducing adrenal function, anti-mutagenic, anti-tumor, anti-hyperlipidemic, hypoxic tolerance, blood-nourishing, hemostatic, increasing coronary blood flow, antibacterial, and lowering serum copper levels.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Daily Herbal*: Treats soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, and inability to stand for long periods.
2. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: Treats soreness and pain in the lower back and legs. Tonifies the heart and kidneys, benefits the large intestine, stops chronic dysentery and diarrhea, treats difficult childbirth, and resolves abscesses and swellings. When burned to ash, it is applied topically to treat leg sores.
3. *Compendium of Medical Essentials: Pharmacological Properties*: Treats bone-consuming fever, hemoptysis, epistaxis, hemorrhoids with bleeding, and conditions characterized by yin deficiency with blood heat.
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. Yin deficiency with excessive yang, yin deficiency with internal heat, and internal wind arising from deficiency: This herb excels at nourishing kidney yin and also nourishes liver yin; therefore, it is suitable for the aforementioned conditions caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency.For symptoms of yin deficiency with excessive yang, such as dizziness and vertigo, this herb also subdues yang and is often used in combination with Tian Dong, Bai Shao, and Mu Li, as in the “Decoction for Calming the Liver and Subduing Wind” (from *A Synthesis of Chinese and Western Medicine*).To treat yin deficiency with internal heat, bone-steaming fever, night sweats, and seminal emission, it is often combined with ingredients that nourish yin and clear heat, such as Shu Di Huang, Zhi Mu, and Huang Bai, as in the Da Bu Yin Wan (from *Dan Xi Xin Fa*).As this herb is cold in nature and also clears deficiency-heat, it is suitable for treating yin deficiency with wind disturbance, manifested as mental fatigue and tremors, when combined with ingredients such as Ejiao, Biejia, and Shengdi, as in the Da Dingfeng Zhu formula (from *Treatise on the Differentiation of Warm Diseases*).
2. Kidney deficiency with bone atrophy and failure of the fontanelle to close: This herb excels at nourishing the kidneys and liver, and it also strengthens the bones; therefore, it is frequently used for conditions of kidney deficiency characterized by weak tendons and bones,soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, and difficulty walking, as well as pediatric conditions such as pigeon chest, kyphosis, and failure of the fontanelle to close. It is often combined with Shu Di Huang, Zhi Mu, Huang Bai, and Suo Yang, as in the Hu Qian Wan formula (from *Dan Xi Xin Fa*); it may also be used with Zi He Che, Lu Rong, Shan Yao, and Dang Gui—herbs that tonify the spleen and kidneys, and nourish essence and blood.
3. Deficiency of Yin and Blood, Palpitations, Insomnia, and Forgetfulness: This herb enters the Heart and Kidney channels; it can nourish the blood, tonify the Heart, calm the spirit, and stabilize the mind. It is suitable for palpitations, insomnia, and forgetfulness resulting from deficiency of Yin and Blood and inadequate nourishment of the Heart and Kidney. It is often combined with Acorus tatarinowii, Polygala tenuifolia, and Dragon Bone, as in the Confucius the Great Sage’s Pill for the Pillow (now abbreviated as Pillow Pill) (*Qianjin Fang*).
4. In addition, this herb can also stop bleeding. Because it excels at nourishing the liver and kidneys and has a cold nature, it is particularly suitable for cases of yin deficiency with blood heat, as well as metrorrhagia and menorrhagia resulting from instability of the Chong and Ren meridians. It is often used in combination with herbs such as Raw Rehmannia (Sheng Di), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), and Sanguisorba (Di Yu), which nourish yin, clear heat, cool the blood, and stop bleeding.
Related Compatibility
1. Turtle Shell combined with Ginseng: Turtle Shell excels at nourishing yin and clearing heat; Ginseng excels at tonifying qi and generating body fluids. When combined, these two herbs can nourish yin, clear heat, tonify qi, and generate body fluids. This combination is suitable for conditions such as yin-deficiency fever, deficiency of both qi and yin, and bone-steaming night sweats.
2. Turtle Shell combined with Prepared Rehmannia Root: Turtle Shell excels at nourishing yin and clearing heat; Prepared Rehmannia Root excels at nourishing yin and blood.When combined, they enhance the effects of nourishing yin, clearing heat, and nourishing blood. This combination is suitable for night sweats and fatigue caused by yin and blood deficiency.
3. Turtle Shell combined with Soft-shelled Turtle Shell: Turtle Shell nourishes yin and subdues yang with strong yin-nourishing power; Soft-shelled Turtle Shell nourishes yin and subdues yang with superior fever-reducing power. When combined, they enhance the effects of nourishing yin, subduing yang, reducing fever, and eliminating bone-steaming fever.It is indicated for the late stages of febrile diseases where pathogenic heat has not yet been fully resolved, manifesting as persistent low-grade fever and symptoms such as fever at night and coolness in the morning.
4. Tortoise Shell combined with Anemarrhena Rhizome: Tortoise Shell excels at nourishing yin and also clears heat; Anemarrhena Rhizome excels at clearing heat and also nourishes yin. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of nourishing yin and clearing heat. This combination is indicated for yin-deficiency-induced chronic cough, hemoptysis, and epistaxis.
5. Turtle Shell Combined with Pangolin Scale: Turtle Shell excels at nourishing yin and cooling the blood; Pangolin Scale excels at promoting blood circulation and resolving abscesses. When combined, these two herbs can nourish yin, cool the blood, promote blood circulation, and resolve abscesses. This combination is suitable for syphilitic sores, boils, and toxic swellings.
6. Turtle Shell combined with Acorus: Turtle Shell excels at nourishing yin and blood, tonifying the heart, and calming the spirit; Acorus excels at opening the orifices, calming the spirit, transforming dampness, and stimulating appetite. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of nourishing yin and blood, as well as calming the spirit and stabilizing the mind. This combination is suitable for conditions such as yin and blood depletion due to overwork, heart deficiency with palpitations, insomnia, and forgetfulness.
7. Turtle Shell Combined with Mulberry Parasite: Turtle Shell nourishes the liver and kidneys and strengthens tendons and bones; Mulberry Parasite dispels wind-dampness, tonifies the liver and kidneys, and strengthens tendons and bones. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys and strengthening tendons and bones. This combination is suitable for conditions such as deficiency of the liver and kidneys, weakness of tendons and bones, atrophy and numbness of the feet and knees, and even complete inability to walk accompanied by progressive wasting of the body.
8. Turtle Shell Combined with Placenta: Turtle Shell excels at nourishing kidney yin and strengthening tendons and bones; Placenta excels at warming the kidneys, replenishing essence, and tonifying qi and blood. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of replenishing essence and marrow, tonifying the liver and kidneys, and strengthening tendons and bones. This combination is indicated for liver and kidney deficiency, weakness and flaccidity of tendons and bones, failure of the fontanelle to close in infants, and delayed walking and teething.
9. Turtle Shell Combined with Eucommia Bark: Turtle Shell excels at nourishing the liver and kidneys and replenishing true yin; Eucommia Bark excels at tonifying the liver and kidneys and strengthening tendons and bones. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys and improving vision. This combination is suitable for conditions such as liver and kidney yin deficiency, declining vision, and blurred vision.
Medicinal Identification
1. Turtle Shell vs. Turtle Shell Gelatin: The two are similar in nature, taste, meridian tropism, functions, and main indications; however, turtle shell gelatin has a stronger medicinal effect and excels at nourishing yin, nourishing blood, and stopping bleeding.
2. Raw Turtle Shell vs. Vinegar-Processed Turtle Shell: There were more than 10 ancient methods for processing turtle shell; today, the two main methods still in use are raw turtle shell and vinegar-processed turtle shell.Raw Turtle Shell is hard in texture and has a fishy odor; it excels at nourishing yin and subduing yang, and is primarily used to treat conditions such as internal liver wind and hyperactive liver yang. After being stir-fried with sand and quenched in vinegar, it becomes brittle and crumbly, making it easy to pulverize, facilitating the extraction of active ingredients, and eliminating its unpleasant odor and taste.Vinegar-processed turtle shell is more potent in tonifying the kidneys, strengthening the bones, nourishing yin, and arresting bleeding; it is frequently used for conditions such as fever due to overwork with hemoptysis, weakness and atrophy of tendons and bones, night sweats, and swollen, painful hemorrhoids. Experimental studies show that the extraction rate of processed turtle shell (the lower part of the shell) is four times higher than that of the raw product, indicating that roasting with sand and quenching with vinegar indeed facilitates the release of its active components.Other reports indicate that the decoction yields of raw, sand-roasted, and sand-roasted-and-vinegar-quenched upper turtle carapace are 8.6%, 15.4%, and 15.2%, respectively; the order of total amino acid content is vinegar-quenched > sand-roasted > raw; and the order of total nitrogen content is vinegar-quenched > sand-roasted > raw.
3. Dragon Bone and Turtle Shell: Both have a sweet taste and enter the Heart, Liver, and Kidney meridians. They are both capable of calming the Liver and subduing Yang, consolidating the meridians and stopping seminal emission, and calming the spirit. They are similarly used to treat Yin deficiency with hyperactive Yang, dizziness and vertigo, instability of the Chong and Ren meridians, uncontrolled uterine bleeding and leukorrhea, as well as palpitations, insomnia, and forgetfulness.However, dragon bone has an astringent taste, neutral nature, and heavy texture; it is a key herb for calming the mind and soothing the spirit, and excels at astringing and consolidating. When used externally, it dries dampness, heals sores, promotes tissue regeneration, and stops bleeding. It is used for restlessness, palpitations, insomnia, kidney deficiency with seminal emission, damp sores and itchy rashes, chronic ulcers that fail to heal, and bleeding from external injuries.Tortoise shell has a salty taste and a cold nature; it is particularly effective at nourishing yin and subduing yang, tonifying the kidneys, and strengthening the bones. It also nourishes the blood and tonifies the heart, and can be used to treat yin deficiency fever, internal wind due to deficiency, weakness and atrophy of tendons and bones, failure of the fontanelle to close, as well as heart deficiency with palpitations, yin deficiency with blood heat, and metrorrhagia and menorrhagia.
4. Prepared Rehmannia Root and Turtle Shell: Both have a sweet taste and enter the Liver and Kidney meridians. They both nourish yin, replenish blood, consolidate the menstrual cycle, and stop metrorrhagia and menorrhagia. Together, they treat weakness and soreness in the lower back and knees due to Liver and Kidney yin deficiency; tidal fever and bone-consuming fever; dizziness and tinnitus caused by deficiency of essence and blood; metrorrhagia and menorrhagia; and red and white leukorrhea.However, Prepared Rehmannia Root is slightly warm in nature, moist and rich in texture; it primarily tonifies blood while also nourishing yin, benefiting essence, and replenishing marrow. It further treats blood deficiency of the Heart and Liver, a sallow complexion, palpitations and insomnia, irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia and menorrhagia, and leukorrhea.Tortoise shell has a salty taste and a cold nature; it enters the Heart meridian, possesses strong yin-nourishing properties, and can also calm the liver and subdue liver yang, strengthen the kidneys and fortify the bones, nourish the blood, and tonify the heart. It is also used to treat fever due to yin deficiency, dizziness caused by liver yang hyperactivity, internal wind arising from deficiency, weakness and atrophy of tendons and bones due to liver and kidney insufficiency, sluggish gait and loose teeth, palpitations due to heart deficiency, insomnia, and forgetfulness.
Related Medicines
Yin-Nourishing Blood Pressure-Lowering Capsules, Healthy Walking and Body-Strengthening Pills, Great Yin-Tonifying Pills, and Astragalus-Winter Melon Heart-Nourishing Oral Solution.
Related Prescriptions
Great Yin-Tonifying Pills (*Danxi’s Heart Method*), Confucius’ Pill of the Pillow (*Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies*), Tiger-Hiding Pills (*Danxi’s Heart Method*), and Mulberry Cuttlefish Powder (*Extended Commentary on the Materia Medica*).
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Can be harvested year-round. Kill the turtle and remove the tendons and bones. Wash the turtle shell and dry it in the sun; this is called “blood-treated shell.” Boil it and then dry it in the sun; this is called “scalded shell.”
Processing Methods
1. Turtle Shell: Take the raw material, soak it in water, steam it in a pot for 45 minutes, remove it, place it in hot water, and immediately use a stiff brush to thoroughly remove all skin and flesh. Wash it clean and sun-dry it.
2. Vinegar-Treated Turtle Shell: Place river sand in a pot and roast over high heat. Add the cleaned turtle shell slices and stir-fry until the surface turns yellow and becomes crisp. Remove from heat, sift out the sand, and immediately quench in vinegar. Remove and dry. Use 20 kg of vinegar for every 100 kg of turtle shell slices.
3. Wine-Treated Turtle Shell: Place clean river sand in a pot and roast over high heat. Add the cleaned turtle shell slices and stir-fry until they turn a deep yellow and become crispy. Remove from the pan, sift out the sand, and immediately immerse in wine while still hot to set the crisp texture. Remove and sun-dry. Use 18 kg of wine for every 100 kg of turtle shell.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container in a cool, dry place; seal tightly to prevent moisture and insect infestation.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The carapace and plastron of this product are connected by a carapacial bridge; the carapace is slightly longer than the plastron and is often separated from it. The carapace is long-elliptical and arched, measuring 7.5–22 cm in length and 6–18 cm in width; its outer surface is brownish or blackish-brown, with three ridges;there is a single nuchal scute, narrower at the front and wider at the back; five vertebral scutes, with the first vertebral scute longer than or nearly equal in width to its length, and the second through fourth vertebral scutes wider than they are long; four paired, bilaterally symmetrical costal scutes; 11 marginal scutes on each side; and two anal scutes. The plastron is plate-like, nearly oblong-elliptical, 6.4–21 cm long and 5.5–17 cm wide;The outer surface is pale yellowish-brown to brownish-black, consisting of 12 scutes, each often bearing purplish-brown radial patterns. The mid-sutures of the ventral, thoracic, and femoral scutes are long; those of the gular and anal scutes are next longest; and those of the humeral scutes are the shortest. The inner surface is yellowish-white to grayish-white; some specimens may have slight traces of blood or residual flesh. After thorough cleaning, 9 bony plates are visible, interlocked in a serrated pattern;The front end is bluntly rounded or flat-cut, while the rear end has a triangular notch; on both sides, remnants of wing-like carapacial bridges remain, curving diagonally upward. The texture is hard. It has a faint fishy odor and a slightly salty taste. Larger, intact specimens that are clean and free of residual meat are considered superior; it is traditionally believed that specimens with blood plates are of higher quality.
Properties of Processed Slices
1. Turtle Shell: (Plastron) Consists of small, irregular fragments with a pale yellow or yellowish-white surface featuring radial patterns. The edges are serrated, and the texture is hard.
2. Vinegar-Treated Turtle Shell: Resembles a turtle shell in shape, with a yellow surface; it is brittle and has a slight vinegar odor.
3. Wine-Treated Turtle Shell: Resembles the vinegar-treated turtle shell in shape but has a slight wine odor.
Botanical Information
Morphological Characteristics
The body is flattened and oval-shaped, with hard shells on both the back and belly. The typical dimensions of the shell are 120 mm × 85 mm × 55 mm, though the longest specimens can exceed 200 mm. The front of the head is smooth, while the rear is covered with fine, granular scales; the snout is rounded and pointed, with toothless jaws and a hard, keratinous beak; the eyes are slightly protruding; the eardrums are distinct; the neck is slender and long;entirely covered with fine scales, and the neck is retractable. The upper surfaces of the carapace and plastron consist of keratinous plates formed from the epidermis; the undersides consist of bony plates derived from the dermis. There are three distinct longitudinal ridges along the central spine and on either side, though these are less pronounced in male turtles.The carapace is brownish-black; the nuchal scutes are narrow at the front and wide at the rear; there are five vertebral scutes arranged symmetrically on both sides; four costal scutes on each side; 11 marginal scutes on each side; and two nearly rectangular anal scutes. The plastron is nearly equal in length to the carapace; it is pale yellow, though some are brown, and consists of six pairs of scutes;There are two triangular throat scutes; two humeral scutes with broad, convex outer margins; two pectoral and two abdominal scutes, all of which are relatively large; two femoral scutes with outer margins wider than the midline; and two anal scutes with concave posterior margins. The carapace and plastron are connected on both sides of the body by carapacial bridges, forming the body cavity.The limbs are relatively flat; the forelimbs have five digits with claws, while the hindlimbs have toes—all except the fifth toe are clawed, and there are webbing between the digits or toes; the tail is of medium length, generally 20–30 mm, and relatively slender. The sides of the head and throat feature yellow-green longitudinal stripes edged with black; the dorsal surface of the head and neck is dark brown, while the ventral surface is slightly lighter.The outer edges of each scute on the carapace are yellow; the patterns on the scutes resemble coins, hence the common name “coin turtle.” The lower outer edges of each scute on the plastron are darker in color; the dorsal surfaces of the limbs are grayish-brown or dark brown, while the ventral surfaces are slightly lighter. The dorsal surface of the tail is brownish. The area around the cloaca is light in color, becoming brownish toward the rear.
Distribution Area
It is distributed in Hebei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, and Taiwan.