补阴退热。
咸寒属阴。色青入肝。治劳瘦骨蒸。往来寒热。温疟疟母。（疟必暑邪、类多阴虚之人、
日
久不愈、元气虚羸、邪陷中焦、则结为疟母、鳖甲能益阴除热而散结、故为治疟要药。）腰
痛胁坚。血瘕痔核。（咸能软坚。）经阻产难。肠痈疮肿。惊痫斑痘。厥阴血分之病。（时珍
曰∶介虫阴类、故皆补阴。龟色黑、主治皆肾经、鳖色青、主治皆肝经、同属补阴、实有
分别。）肝无热者忌。色绿、九肋、重七两者为上。醋炙。若治劳。童便炙。亦可熬膏。鳖
肉、凉血补阴。亦治疟痢。（煮作羹食、加生姜沙糖、不用盐酱、名鳖糖汤。）冷而难消。
脾虚者大忌。恶矾石。忌苋菜、鸡子。
泻、散血。
咸寒。有小毒。除热解结。散血通经。续筋骨。（骨节脱离者、生捣、热酒调服数碗、
渣涂
半日、骨内谷谷有声、即好、干蟹烧灰酒服、亦好。）涂漆疮。（能败漆。）性寒伤中。败胃
动风。大伤阴血。孕妇食之。令儿横生。（中其毒者、捣藕节、热酒调服。）蟹爪、堕胎。（产
难及子死腹中者、服
汤、
即出。）以上龟鳖类。
涩肠、补水、软坚。
咸以软坚化痰。消瘰 结核。老血瘕疝。涩以收脱。治遗精崩带。止嗽敛汗。（或同麻
黄根
为粉扑身、或加入煎剂。）固大小肠。微寒以清热补水。治虚劳烦热。温疟赤痢。利湿止渴
。为肝肾血分之药。（好古曰∶以柴胡引之、去胁下硬、茶引之、消颈核、大黄引、消股间
肿、以地黄为使、益精收涩、止小便利、以贝母为使、消结积。）虚而热者宜之。有寒者禁
与。海气化成。潜伏不动。（故体用皆阴。）盐水煮一伏时。 粉。亦有生用者。贝母为使。
恶吴萸、细辛、麻黄。得蛇床、远志、牛膝、甘草良。肉名蛎黄。（味美且益人、为海错上
品。）
Nourishes Yin and reduces deficiency heat.
Salty and cold in nature, belonging to Yin. Green color enters the Liver channel. Treats consumptive disease with emaciation and bone-steaming fever, alternating chills and fever, warm malaria, and malarial mass (Malaria is often caused by summer-heat pathogen; patients are mostly those with Yin deficiency. If it persists for a long time without healing, Yuan Qi becomes deficient and emaciated, and the pathogen sinks into the Middle Jiao, knotting to form a malarial mass. *Bie Jia* [Tartar Testudinis] can nourish Yin, remove heat, and dissipate knots, thus being an essential herb for treating malaria). Treats lower back pain, hardness in the hypochondrium, blood masses, and hemorrhoidal nodules (Salty flavor can soften hardness). Treats amenorrhea, difficult labor, intestinal abscesses, sores and swellings, convulsions and epilepsy, macules and pox—diseases of the Jueyin Blood level (Li Shizhen said: Shellfish belong to the Yin category, therefore all can nourish Yin. Turtles are black and their main indications relate to the Kidney channel; turtles are green and their main indications relate to the Liver channel. Although both nourish Yin, there are actual distinctions). Contraindicated for those with no heat in the Liver channel. Those that are green, have nine ribs, and weigh seven taels are considered superior grade. Processed with vinegar. For treating consumptive diseases, process with child's urine. Can also be boiled down into a paste. Turtle meat cools blood and nourishes Yin; it also treats malaria and dysentery (Boiled into a soup, adding ginger and rock sugar, without salt or soy sauce, called "Turtle Sugar Soup"). Cold in nature and difficult to digest; strictly contraindicated for those with Spleen deficiency. Adverse interaction with Alum. Contraindicated with amaranth and eggs.
Purges and disperses blood stasis.
Salty and cold, slightly toxic. Clears heat and resolves knots, disperses blood stasis and unblocks menstruation, reconnects sinews and bones (For dislocated joints, crush fresh crab raw, mix with hot wine and drink several bowls; apply the dregs for half a day; when a "gugu" sound is heard inside the bone, it heals. Dried crab burned to ash and taken with wine is also effective). Apply to lacquer dermatitis (Can neutralize lacquer toxicity). Cold nature damages the Middle Jiao, ruins Stomach Qi, stirs wind, and severely injures Yin blood. Pregnant women consuming it may cause breech presentation (Those poisoned should crush lotus root nodes, mix with hot wine, and take to detoxify). Crab claws induce abortion (For difficult labor or fetal death in utero, taking the decoction causes expulsion). The above are Chelonian and Testudinidae herbs.
Astringes intestines, tonifies water, and softens hardness.
Salty flavor softens hardness and transforms phlegm, eliminates scrofula and tubercles, treats old blood masses and hernias. Astringent flavor consolidates leakage, treats spermatorrhea, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea, stops coughing and arrests sweating (Can be mixed with *Mahuang Gen* [Ephedrae Radix et Rhizoma] powder and dusted on the body, or added to decoctions). Secures the Large and Small Intestines; slightly cold to clear heat and tonify fluids; treats deficiency consumption with vexatious heat, warm malaria, bloody dysentery, promotes diuresis, and relieves thirst. It is a herb for the Liver and Kidney blood levels (Li Haogu said: Guided by *Chai Hu* [Bupleuri Radix], it removes hardness under the hypochondrium; guided by tea, it消scrophulous glands in the neck; guided by *Da Huang* [Rhei Radix et Rhizoma], it reduces swelling between the thighs; used as an assistant with *Di Huang* [Rehmanniae Radix], it benefits essence and astringes, stopping frequent urination; used as an assistant with *Bei Mu* [Fritillariae Bulbus], it dissipates accumulations). Suitable for those who are deficient with heat. Contraindicated for those with cold. Formed from sea air transformation, lying dormant (Thus its substance and function are both Yin). Boil in salt water for one shichen (2 hours), then grind into powder. Also used raw. Used with *Bei Mu* [Fritillariae Bulbus] as an assistant. Adverse interactions with *Wu Zhu Yu* [Evodiae Fructus], *Xi Xin* [Asari Radix et Rhizoma], and *Mahuang* [Ephedrae Herba]. Beneficial combination with *She Chuang Zi* [Cnidii Fructus], *Yuan Zhi* [Polygalae Radix], *Niu Xi* [Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix], and *Gan Cao* [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma]. The meat is named Li Huang (Oyster meat) (Delicious and beneficial, considered a premium delicacy among seafood).