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Turtle Shell, Gui Ban 龟板

Fresh Water Turtle Plastron
Gui Ban (Plastron, TCM)
Gui Jia Jiao (Gelatin, TCM)
Chinemys reevesii
(Illustration by Kawahara Keiga, Naturalis Biodiversity Center) (Wikimedia)

Turtle shell, Gui Ban

Turtle Shell Gelatin (Gui Jiao Jiao)

Zoological name:
Chinemys reevesii (syn. Mauremys reevesii)

Parts used:
1. Plastron (underside of shell)
2. Gelatin prepared from the Plastron

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, Salty, Sweet

Classification:
N. Yin Tonic

Uses:
1. Nourish the Yin, Calms Rising Yang:
-night sweats, dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo.
-internal Wind from Kidney and Liver weakness (as often seen in old age)
-spasms or tremors of the hands and feet.
-Yin-Deficient Heat with night sweats, tidal fever, and a dry mouth and throat;
-Hectic fever, Consumption;
-chronic and persistent Coughs.
-Traditionally used for Fright and Anger.
-Taken for a long time (in small doses), it lightens the step, removes hunger, thereby aiding fasting. (Classical TCM)
-Constant use also was said to be invigorating, and to benefit understanding (Classical TCM)

2. Strengthens the Kidneys and Bones:
-Kidney deficiency with weakness and pain of the lower back and legs
-rheumatism, inflammation of the bones,
-Spermatorrhea.
-poor skeletal development in children including Rickets and failure of the Fontanel to close.
-Paralysis
-heaviness and weakness of the Limbs.

3. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-uterine bleeding and excessive menstruation from strong heat in the blood.
-chronic Dysentery, Malaria etc.

4. Nourishes the Blood and Yin:
-Uterine Bleeding and Leukorrhea from chronic Kidney weakness
-good postnatal tonic for women.
-masses and accumulations

5. Tonifies the Heart, Nourishes Blood:
-palpitations with anxiety, insomnia, restlessness and poor memory associated with Heart weakness.


TURTLE SHELL GELATION Gui Jaio Jiao
This has the same effect as the Plastron, but is richer and is more focused on nourishing Yin.


DOSE:
Prepared and Raw shell are used in similar doses.
Of the Plastron (Shell) in Decoction: 15–45 grams
Of the Plastron (Shell) in Powder: 1–3 grams
Of the Gelatin: 3–9 grams dissolved in decoction or in wine

PREPARATION:
1. Vinegar=Prepared Turtle Plastron:
  Heat sand in a wok until hot, add pieces of plastron and reduce heat and heat until shells turn yellowish. Remove and drop the hot shells into (rice) vinegar briefly before removing and sun-drying. This makes it stronger to affect the Liver and settle rising Yang. It also improves smell and makes it easier to powder.
2. Wine-Prepared Turtle Plastron:
  The same as above, using Yellow Rice Wine instead of Vinegar. This enhances its tonifying effect and is especially good for weakness of the bones and joints. It likewise facilitates powdering.

Main Combinations:
1. Tonify Yin and Yang:
i. Turtle shell with Velvet Deer Horn (Lu Rong) Together, these are called the 'Two Immortals'.
ii. To strengthen the effect, add Ginseng and Lycium Gou Qi Zi (some also adding Astragalus Huang Qi and Dang Gui). These together can be added to wine to make 'Two Immortals Wine'.
2. Nourish Yin, strengthen Bones and Marrow, Turtle Shell, Dang Gui, Phellodendron Huang Bai, Anemarrhena Zhi Mu, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu, Achyranthes Niu Xi, Platycladus Bai Zi Ren, Polygonum multiflorum He Shou Wu. This is best prepared as a wine but can also be made into Honey pills (as in Eight Immortals, a famous Taoist formula)
3. Kidney weakness with Dizziness, Tinnitus, Lower Back weakness, Night sweats, Turtle shell with Rehmannia Shu Di, Dioscorea Shan Yao and Cornus Shan Zhu Yu
4. Deficient Heat Fever, Consumption, Turtle shell with Rehmannia Sheng Di, Phellodendron Huang Bai and Anemarrhena Zhi Mu
5. Alzheimer's Disease, Turtle shell, Epimedium Yin Yang Huo, Polygonatum He Shou Wu, Polygala Yuan Zhi, Acorus Shi Chang Pu, Fossil teeth (Long Chi)

Cautions:
1. Avoid during pregnancy
2. Avoid in Cold and weak Stomach

TOXICITY:
Cadmium toxicokinetics in the freshwater turtle, Chinemys reevesii.

Main Preparations used: