More Information:
Other Common
Names
Tortoise Shell
Page Number In Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs
not in book
Pharmaceutical Latin
Plastrum Testudinis
Pinyin
Gui Ban
Treasures
Yin Jing
Treasure Rating
****
Atmospheric Energy
Cold
Taste
Sweet and salty
Organ
Meridian Systems
Kidney, Liver and Heart
Part
Used and Form
The plastron (undershell) of a fresh water
Tortoise
Primary Functions
To nourish Yin and subdue fire (hyperactive
Yang), to tonify the Kidney and to strengthen the skeleton, and to
cause the Qi to
ascend
Qualities
Tortoise plastron is an important tonic,
used routinely in "restorative" formulas for people who are
experiencing exhaustion. It replenishes bodily fluids, and settles
unruly wind, which manifests in Yin-deficiency cases as inflammation,
pain, cramps, fever, dehydration, insomnia, etc. Due to its Yin
nourishing ability and to the fact that it is a cold herb,
it is capable of extinguishing false fire conditions anywhere in the
body.
Yin Jing is easily depleted by excessive stress, over work, and
particularly by excessive marital activity (beyond the body's actual
capacity) and drug abuse. As the Yin Jing becomes depleted, Yang is
left uncontrolled and false fire conditions can easily develop,
resulting in hyperactive Yang. If the condition is left untreated,
severe damage will (not might) result. Yin
Jing is synonymous with life itself. It protects our youthfulness. When
a person runs low on Yin Jing, they age very quickly. When a person
runs
out of Yin Jing, they die. Therefore, Yin Jing deficiency is very
serious
and must be avoided at all cost. That is where herbs like Lycium,
Polygonum
and Steamed Rehmannia come into play. But if Yin Jing deficiency does
occur,
it must be treated as quickly and effectively as possible. That is
where
Tortoise plastron comes in. It is powerful, effective, and quick. If
the
symptoms of exhaustion do include hyperactive symptoms, such as
afternoon
fevers, inflammation, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, etc., blend
the
Tortoise Plastron with cold herbs like Dendrobium, raw Rehmannia,
Phellodendron,
Red Peony, Anemarrhena, etc. This combination will replenish fluids
(Yin)
and Kidney Yin (Yin essence).
If some one is thoroughly exhausted but is not yet showing such hot
symptoms, or if the hot symptoms have already been overcome but more
restorative therapy is required, then Tortoise Plastron and a variety
of cooling Yin herbs may be blended with Placenta hominis, Astragalus,
Ginseng (Panax or American, depending on conditions) and other Qi
tonics to create an awesome restorative formula.
Tortoise Plastron is also used to tonify the bones. For this it is
blended with herbs like Deer Antler, Drynaria, Dipsacus and Morinda.
Primary
Combinations
Combine with:
1. White Peony root and Uncaria stem to subdue hyperactive yang due to
deficient Liver, manifesting as dizziness, headache and blurred vision
2. Fresh Rehmannia, Oyster shell and Donkey skin glue for convulsions
due to dehydration and exhaustion of yin
3. Rehmannia (steamed) and Dragon Bone for low back pain due to yin
deficiency and to prevent premature ejaculation
4. Ganoderma, Polygala and Spirit Poria for confusion due to exhaustion
Varieties and
Grading
There are many kinds of Tortoise Plastron
available in China, but the selection is extremely limited in America.
Genuine, first grade tortoise plastron will be 3 to 6 inches long and 2
to 3 inches wide. It is a light yellow and purplish-brown elliptical
plate with purplish-brown radial veins lines. Each plastron is composed
of 12 smaller plates. The inner surface is yellow. Be sure to obtain
the plastron from a reliable herb dealer, since plastron from some
species is not very useful. There are many fakes and some of them look
very much like Chinemys reevesii. Most of the time, you will be
obtaining Tortoise Plastron as a component of a prepared formula and
you won't have to worry about selecting it.
Contraindications
The herb should be used with caution during
pregnancy.
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