Chinemys
reevesii.Mauremys reevesii
龟
板 Guī băn, 龟甲
Gui Jia Fresh
water tortoise plastron Family:
Testudinidae
The plastron is the nearly flat part of the shell structure of a turtle, what one would call the belly or ventral surface of the shell. The word Testudinis which is often associated with naming this herb is simply Latin for Tortoise. It is farmed commercially in China.
It is found in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. This species is semiaquatic, and basks in the sun on rocks or logs and can often be found leaving water to do so. They can usually be found in marshes, relatively shallow ponds, streams, and canals with muddy or sandy bottoms.
PART USED: Tortoise shell and plastron
FLAVOR: Salty, sweet, sour
CHANNEL: Kidney, Liver FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Nourishing Yin
1. Nourish Yin.[1] Suppress hyperactive Yang.[1] Reduce fever.[1]
2. Benefit Kidney and strengthen bone. Balances the Liver action and controls the Yang.[1]
3. Softens the hard and loosens up congestion.[1]
4. Regulate menstruation and relieve metrorrhagia.
INDICATIONS
1. Yin deficiency[1] with Fire hyperactivity: Chronic fevers,[1] night sweat, aching bones.[1] Nocturnal emission, dizziness and tinnitus. Periodic fever, tuberculosis. Kidney Yin deficiency;[1] fatigue, chronic cough, seminal emission, pains and aches of back and legs.
2. Yin deficiency with Wind hyperactivity manifested as convulsion. Twitching, sore loins and knees, vaginal bleeding, hemorrhoids.[1]
3. Hypofunction of Liver and Kidney manifested as:
-Flaccidity of the waist and lower limbs. Weakness of the tendons and bones.
- In infants - delayed ability of standing and walking, delayed growth of teeth, delayed closure of fontanelle.[1]
4. Yin Deficiency with blood heat manifested as metrorrhagia, menorrhagia and leukorrhagia.[13] Amenorrhea.[1]
5. Malaria.[1,2]
6. Flatulence.[1]Chronic dysentery.[2]
7. Stiffness of sides, moveable "mass" in abdomen.[1]
8. Infantile convulsions.[1]
PREPARATIONS: Decoction 10-30 g.[3] Tortoise shell 9-15 g.[1] Tortoise plastron 9-24 g.[2]
