气味苦平，无毒。主治五痔，阴蚀，下血赤白五色，血汁不止，阴肿，痛引腰背。
（ 处处山野中时有，俗名刺鼠。头嘴足爪俱似鼠，刺毛所豪猪，见人则卷缩，形如芡
房及
栗房，攒毛外刺，溺之即开。陶弘景曰∶其脂烊铁中，入少水银则柔如铅锡。愚按∶猥脂柔
铁，即羚羊角碎金刚石之义。）
形同鼠，毛刺若针，乃禀金水所生之兽，故能益肠解毒，清热平肝。主治五痔，益肠
也。
治阴蚀，解毒也。治下血赤白五色，血汁不止，清热也。治阴肿痛引腰背，平肝也。
气味咸平，无毒。主治心腹症瘕，坚积寒热，去痞疾，息肉，阴蚀，痔核，恶肉。
（鳖，水仲介虫也，江河池泽处处有之。水居陆生，穹脊连胁，与龟同类。夏日孚乳，
其抱
以影。《埤雅》云∶卵生思抱，其状随日影而转，在水中上必有浮沫，名鳖津，人以此取之
。《淮南子》曰∶鳖无耳，以目听，名曰神守。陆佃云∶鱼满三千六百，则蛟龙引之而飞，
纳鳖守之则免，故一名神守。管子云∶鳖畏蚊，生鳖遇蚊叮则死，老鳖得蚊煮而烂。熏蚊者
，复用鳖甲，物性相报复，如是异哉。甲以九肋者为胜，入药以醋炙黄用。）
鳖生池泽，随日影而转，在水中必有津沫上浮，盖禀少阴水气，而上通于君火之日。又，
甲
介属金，性主攻利，气味咸平，禀水气也。主治心腹症瘕，坚积寒热者，言心腹之内，血气
不和，则为症为瘕，内坚积而身寒热。鳖禀少阴之气，上通君火之神，神气内藏，故治在内
之症瘕坚积。又曰∶去痞疾者，言症瘕坚积，身发寒热。若痞疾，则身无热寒，而鳖甲亦能
去也。夫心腹痞积，病藏于内。若息肉，阴蚀，痔核，恶肉，则病见于外。鳖甲属金，金主
攻利，故在外之恶肉阴痔，亦能去也。
[Trionycis Carapax]
Taste: Bitter, Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Five types of hemorrhoids (Wuzhi), genital erosion, bloody discharge from the anus with red and white or five-colored mixed blood, continuous dripping of blood juice, swelling of the genitals, pain radiating to the lower back.
(This animal is common in mountains and forests everywhere, commonly known as "Ci Shu" (Thorny Mouse). Its head, mouth, feet, and claws resemble a mouse; it is a type of hedgehog. Covered in prickly hairs, it curls up when seeing people, resembling the husks of Euryale ferox seeds or chestnuts, with spines pointing outward, opening upon contact with urine. Tao Hongjing stated: Its fat melts in iron vessels; adding a small amount of mercury makes it soft like lead or tin. I observe: The fat of this creature can soften iron, which is analogous to the principle that Cornu Saigae Tataricae (Antelope Horn) can shatter diamonds.)
Its shape resembles a mouse, and its bristles are like needles. It is an animal born of Metal and Water Qi, thus it can benefit the intestines, detoxify, clear heat, and soothe the Liver. Treating five types of hemorrhoids relates to benefiting the intestines. Treating genital erosion relates to detoxification. Treating bloody discharge of red/white/five colors and continuous bleeding relates to clearing heat. Treating genital swelling/pain radiating to the back relates to soothing the Liver.
[Trionycis Carapax - Continued]
Taste: Salty, Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Masses and accumulations in the heart and abdomen (Zhijia), hard accumulations with alternating cold and fever, removal of Pi disease (abdominal fullness/blockage), polyps, genital erosion, hemorrhoidal nodules, and foul flesh (necrotic tissue).
(The softshell turtle is an aquatic chelonian found in rivers, ponds, and marshes everywhere. It lives in water and on land, with a convex spine and connected ribs, similar to turtles. They lay eggs in summer and incubate them using their body shadows. "Pi Ya" states: When laying eggs, they desire to brood; their shape turns following the sun's shadow, and there must be floating foam above them in the water, named "Bie Jin" (Turtle Saliva), which humans use to catch them. "Huainanzi" states: Turtles have no ears but hear with their eyes, hence named "Shen Shou" (Divine Guardian). Lu Tian stated: When there are 3,600 fish, dragons will lead them away; placing a turtle to guard prevents disaster, hence another name "Shen Shou". "Guanzi" states: Turtles fear mosquitoes; live turtles die if bitten by mosquitoes, and old turtles rot if boiled with mosquitoes. Substances used to fumigate mosquitoes often include turtle shell; the natures of things retaliate against each other, how strange. The nine-ribbed variety is superior; for medicinal use, it is stir-fried with vinegar until yellow.)
The turtle lives in ponds and marshes, turning with the sun's shadow, causing saliva/foam to float on the water surface. This indicates it inherits Shaoyin Water Qi and connects upward to the Sun of Jun Fire. Furthermore, the shell belongs to Metal, possessing a nature of attacking and draining; its taste is salty and neutral, inheriting Water Qi. Treating Zhijia (masses) and hard accumulations with alternating cold/fever in the heart/abdomen means that inside the abdomen, disharmony of Blood and Qi forms masses (Zhijia); internal hard accumulation causes systemic cold/fever. Inheriting Shaoyin Qi and connecting to the Spirit of Jun Fire, with the spirit stored internally, it treats internal Zhijia and hard accumulations. Regarding removing Pi disease: while Zhijia/hard accumulations cause cold/fever, Pi disease involves abdominal blockage without systemic cold/fever, yet Turtle Shell can also remove it. Heart/abdominal Pi accumulations are diseases hidden internally. Polyps, genital erosion, hemorrhoidal nodules, and foul flesh are diseases manifesting externally. Since Turtle Shell belongs to Metal, and Metal governs attacking and draining, it can also remove external foul flesh and genital hemorrhoids.