urce is from the plastron of Chinemys reevesii, family Testudinidae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunan, and Anhui, etc.. The animal can be caught all year round and after it is killed, the tendon and meat are removed, the plastron is remained and the plastron is cleaned and dried in the sun, which is called Xueban; after it is boiled in boiling water to death, the plastron is fetched out and dried in the sun, which is called Tangban. the crude one or the one roasted with vinegar can be used for medication after it is stir-baked with sand.

Medicinal Properties  Sweet and salty in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the liver, kidney and heart meridians.

Actions  Nourish yin and suppress the hyperactive yang, benefit the kidney and strengthen the bone, enrich the blood and nourishing the heart, regulate menstruation and relieve bleeding.

Application

It is used for deficiency of yin causing hyperactivity of yang with dizziness or yin-deficiency resulting in wind stirring manifested as convulsion of hands and feet. For the former, it is usually combined with Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba ) , Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae ),  Longgu ( Os Draconis ),  and Daizheshi (Haematitum), such as Zhengan Xifeng Tang (Decoction); for the latter, with Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmannia), Maimendong ( Radix Ophiopogonis ), Biejia ( Carapax Trionycis ), and Ejiao ( CoUa Corii Asini ), etc., such as Da Dingfeng Zhu (Bolus).

For yin-deficiency with fire hyperactivity manifested as hectic fever, night sweat and nocturnal emission, it is usually combined with Shudihuang (Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparata ), Zhimu ( Rhizoma Anemarrhenae), and Huangbai ( Cortex Phellodendri), etc., such as Da Buyin Wan (Pill).

For insufficiency of the liver and kidney manifested as weakness of the tendons and bones, flaccidity of the neck and delayed closure of fontanel in infants, it is combined with Shudihuang (Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparata ) , Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba ) , etc..

For deficiency of the heart manifested as palpitation, insomnia and amnesia, it can be combined with Longgu ( Os Draconis), Yuanzhi (Radix Polygalae), and Shichangpu (Rhizoma Acori Graminei), etc., such as Kongsheng Zhenzhong Dan (Bolus).

For yin-deficiency and blood-heat manifested as metrorrhagia and metrostaxis or menorrhagia, it is usually combined with Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba ), Huangbai ( Cortex Phellodendri ), and Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi), etc., such as Gujing Wan (Pill).

Usage and Dosage  10 -30 g is used in decoction for oral use, which is broken and decocted first.

Notes  It is not suitable for deficiency of spleen-yang and stomach-yang.

Biejia  Carapax Trionycis

The source is from the shell of Trionyx sinensis Wiegmann, family Trionychidae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Hebei, Hunan, and Anhui, etc.. The animal can be caught all year round. Mter it is caught and its head is removed, it is boiled in boiling water for one to two hours and then the shell is fetched out, the remaining meat in the shell being got rid of, and dried in the sun. The crude one or the one prepared with vinegar after stir-baked with sand can be used for medication.

Medicinal Properties  Salty in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the liver and kidney meridians.

Actions  Nourish yin and suppress the hyperactive yang, soften and disperse the lumps.

Application

It is used for febrile disease with consumption of yin, hyperactivity of liver-yang and deficiency-wind stir-ring inside. For deficiency of yin leading to hyperactivity of yang manifested as dizziness, it is combined with Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae), Muli ( Concha Ostreae ) and Juhua (Flos Chrysanthemi) ; for the late stage of febrile disease and wind stirring inside due to yin-deficiency manifested as wriggling hands and feet, dry and dark red tongue, can be combined with Muli ( Concha Ostreae ) , Ejiao ( Colla Corii Asini ) , and Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba ), etc., such as Sanjia Fumai Tang (Decoction).

For yin-deficiency with fever, hectic fever and night sweating,  it is usually combined with Qinjiao (Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae ) , Digupi (Cortex Lycii), and Zhimu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae), etc., such as Oinjiao Biejia San (Powder); for the late stage of febrile disease with consumption of yin fluid manifested as night fever that brings down in the morning, emaciation, rapid pulse, red tongue with little coating, also, usually combined with Qinghao ( Herba Artemisiae Annuae ), Mudanpi ( Cortex Moutan Radicis ), and Shengdihuang ( Radix Rehmanniae ), etc., such as Qinghao Biejia Tang (Decoction).

For abdominal mass and amenorrhea due to blood stasis, it is usually combined with Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi), Qingpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride ) , Sanleng (Rhizoma Sparganii), and Ezhu (Rhizoma Zedoariae), etc., such as Biejiajian Wan (Pill).

Usage and Dosage  10 -30 g is used in decoction for oral use, broken and decocted first. The raw is suit-able for nourishing yin and suppressing the hyperactive yang and the one roasted with vinegar for softening and dispersing the lumps.

[PDF]Restoratives for nourishing yin