"Water - That which soaks and descends is salty"

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Herb Documents

Properties & Channels

Drug Interactions

Incompatible Herbs

Toxic or Endangered

Latin Name Notes

Bie Jia (Chinese Soft Shelled Turtle Shell)

Herb 2 of 15 in Herbs that Tonify Yin

Channels:
LIV, SP

Properties:
Salty, Cold

Latin Name:
Carapax Amydae Sinensis

Actions

Nourishes the Yin, Clears Heat, and Anchors the Yang
For long standing febrile disorders where Blood and Yin have been damaged, with symptoms such as afternoon or low grade fever, Steaming Bone Syndrome, thirst, night sweating, nocturnal emissions, 5 palm heat, and consumption.

Also for rising Yang and internal Liver Wind due to deficiency of Liver Yin with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, red eyes and face, anger, muscle spasms, tremors, and convulsions.
Invigorates the Blood, Softens Hardness and Dissipates Nodules
For amenorrhea and masses in the lower abdomen due to Blood Stagnation or Yin and Blood Deficiency in the Ren Mai and Chong Mai.

Also for Malarial disorders characterized by nodules and masses.

Contraindications and Cautions

Do not use during pregnancy.
Do not use in cases of Spleen Deficiency with loose stool or diarrhea.
Do not use in cases where an exterior disorder is present.

Herb-Drug Interactions

This section is being researched, and is not completed.

Toxicity and Overdose

This section is being researched, and is not completed.

Dosage

10-30 grams

Notes

Use raw Bie Jia to nourish the Yin. Fry with vinegar to increase Bie Jia's effect on nodules and swellings.

This Herb Appears in the Following Formulas:

Da Ding Feng Zhu (Major Arrest Wind Pearl)
Formulas that Extinguish Internal Wind
Qing Gu San (Cool the Bones Powder)
Formulas that Clear Heat from Deficiency
Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang (Artemisia Annua and Soft Shelled Turtle Shell Decoction)
Formulas that Clear Heat from Deficiency
San Jia Fu Mai Tang (Three Shell Decoction to Restore the Pulse)
Formulas that Extinguish Internal Wind

References

Herbs

13. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (Revised Edition)
- Dan Bensky

25. Lancet 2000 January 8;355(9198):134-138 (Article)
- Fugh-Berman A.

17. Handbook of Chinese Herbs (Second Edition)
- Him Che. Yeung

12. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology (First Edition)
- John K. Chen, Tina T. Chen

26. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals (Third Edition)
- Max Wichtl

Formulas

15. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies (First Edition)
- Dan Bensky

18. Handbook of Chinese Herbal Formulas (First Edition)
- Him Che. Yeung

16. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Study Guide (First Edition)
- Qiao Yi

Only use Chinese herbs or formulas under the direct care and supervision of a licensed Acupuncturist/Herbalist.
Some of the substances included on this website are no longer used, and are included for historical reference only.