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Non-toxic. Oviparous (egg-laying).

Eretmochelys imbricata (Tortoise Shell, *Eretmochelys imbricata*): Mainly treats various drug poisonings in the Lingnan region. Local people pierce its blood and drink it to detoxify various medicines (Recorded by famous physicians). [Name] Eretmochelys imbricata (Tortoise Shell). [Origin] According to *Tu Jing*: Grows among mountains and rivers in Lingnan; currently also produced in Guangnan. It belongs to the turtle family. Only those with red spotted patterns on both the ventral and dorsal shells are authentic. The large ones are like plates; the body resembles a turtle, the head resembles a turtle's head, and the beak resembles a parrot's beak. For medicinal use, only those obtained from living specimens are effective; wearing it can also ward off gu poison. Whenever there is toxic food or drink, it will inevitably shake spontaneously. Those that die naturally or are boiled and beaten into vessels lose their efficacy. In the past, when Prince Si of Xue governed the South Sea, a sea person presented a live tortoise shell. The prince ordered two small pieces of the upper shell to be removed and tied to his left arm to ward off poison. The tortoise suffered greatly. It was later kept in the pond behind the envoy's residence. After the removed parts regenerated, it was returned to its original place without injury. Nowadays, people often mix tortoise shell with turtle scutes to make vessels. There is another type similar to tortoise shell; its shape is like a bamboo hat, with four feet lacking toes. Its shell has black pearl-like patterns and looks good, but it is thin and pale in color, unsuitable for making vessels, and only suitable for decoration. People now call it "[Missing Character] skin," which is unfit for medicinal use. [Season] No specific season for growth or collection. [Usage] Shells taken from living specimens are best. [Texture] Resembles a turtle but with spots. [Color] Yellow and black. [Flavor] Salty. [Nature] Cold. [Qi and Flavor] Strong flavor, Yin nature. [Odor] Fishy smell. [Main Action] Dissipates carbuncle toxins, stops convulsions and epilepsy. [Preparation] Crushed for decoction, or ground with water and taken as a liquid. [Treatment] [Ri Hua Zi said] Breaks up masses, stops convulsions and epilepsy. [Chen Shiliang said] Removes various wind toxins, promotes Qi and Blood circulation, clears phlegm from chest and diaphragm due to wind-stroke, calms Heart and Spleen, expels pathogenic heat, unifies Large and Small Intestines, and regulates women's menses. ○ The shell, resembling flesh, similarly treats Heart wind-evil and resolves wind-heat. [Yan Yi said] Treats wind-heat of the Heart channel. [Bie Lu said] Take one cup of thick liquid prepared by grinding with water to treat gu poisoning.

Non-toxic. Oviparous.

Mantis Egg-case (Sangpiaoxiao, *Ootheca Mantidis*, from *Shennong Ben Cao Jing*): Mainly treats internal injury, hernia, masses, impotence, benefits essence and spirit, treats amenorrhea in women, lower back pain, unifies five types of strangury, and promotes urination. (The above text in vermilion ink is from *Shennong Ben Cao Jing*). It also treats male deficiency, weak Qi of the Five Zang organs, nocturnal emission, enuresis, and long-term use benefits Qi and nourishes Spirit. (The above text in black ink is recorded by famous physicians). [Name] Mantis egg-case, Langpisao. [Origin] *Tu Jing* states: The *Ben Jing* does not record the producing regions; it is found everywhere. Mantis lays one egg case on any tree, hatching hundreds of offspring, mostly in small branches and thorns. Those on mulberry trees absorb the sap and Qi of mulberry bark, making them superior. However, many sold are fake; verification requires breaking the branch. Fake ones are glued onto mulberry branches and are unfit for use. Those from Shuzhou, Sichuan, are best. [Season] Born in autumn; collected in March and April. [Storage] Dried by baking. [Usage] Those from mulberry branches are best. [Color] Yellow. [Flavor] Salty and sweet. [Nature] Neutral. [Qi and Flavor] Strong flavor, weak Qi, Yang within Yin. [Odor] Fishy. [Main Action] Treats male kidney decline with sperm leakage, and urinary incontinence during pregnancy. [Incompatibility] Averse to Inula flower (Xuanfuhua) and Morus fruit (Daishen). [Preparation] [Lei Gong said] Those collected from miscellaneous trees are unfit. Must collect from branches on the east side of mulberry trees, remove the eggs, soak and rinse seven times with boiling water until clear, then dry in a porcelain pot. Do not alter the processing method, or it will be ineffective. When used, steam first, then roast over fire; otherwise, it causes diarrhea. [Treatment] [Efficacy] *Tu Jing* says: Often used in wind-dispelling formulas. *Yaoxing Lun* says: Roast until cooked, eat on an empty stomach to stop frequent urination; add if frequent urination is due to deficiency. [Tonification] *Yaoxing Lun* says: Treats male deficiency-cold, kidney decline, and spontaneous seminal emission. *Yan Yi* says: Treats deficiency in men and women, benefits essence, impotence, nocturnal emission, enuresis, hernia, turbid urine, and kidney decline; it is indispensable. [Combined Treatment] Combined with Longgu (Fossilized Bones) to treat spermatorrhea. ○ Combined with Yuanzhi (Polygala Root), Shichangpu (Acorus Rhizome), Longgu, Renshen (Ginseng), Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis), and Guijia (Turtle Shell, vinegar-fried, each 1 liang), powdered. Take 2 qian mixed with Renshen decoction before bed to treat men with frequent urination (dozens of times a day), urine resembling thick rice wash or white, mental confusion, emaciation, poor appetite, caused by sexual exhaustion. One dose calms the Shen, stabilizes the Heart, treats amnesia, stops urination, and tonifies Heart Qi. If mulberry-based ones are unavailable, others may be used, but must be assisted by roasted Sangbaipi (Mulberry Root Bark) in appropriate amounts. The purpose of Sangbaipi's diuretic action is to guide Sangpiaoxiao into the Kidney channel. ○ Mixed with rice water to treat bladder torsion and urinary retention. [Contraindication] Raw use causes diarrhea. [Counterfeit] Those from other tree branches are counterfeit.