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(Sourced from the Song Dynasty *Kaibao Bencao*)

[Nomenclature] Dai Mao (Hawksbill Turtle Shell) (pronounced "dai mei", also pronounced "du mu").
Li Shizhen states: Its efficacy lies in detoxification; because poisonous substances fear it, hence the name.

[Collected Explanations] Chen Cangqi states: Dai Mao lives in the mountainous and coastal areas of Lingnan. It is as large as a fan, resembles a turtle, and has patterns on its shell. Su Song cites Shi Liang saying: Its body resembles a turtle, with a head and beak like a parrot.
Su Song states: It is now found throughout Guangnan; it belongs to the turtle family. The large ones are plate-sized, with red spotted patterns on both the ventral and dorsal shells. For medicinal use, only those obtained from live animals are effective. Whenever there is poison in food or drink, it will shake itself; if dead, it cannot shake. This is truly miraculous. Nowadays, people often mix it with turtle scutes to make vessels, killing them for this purpose, and then boiling and beating them, so obtaining live-sourced material is particularly difficult.
Li Shizhen states: According to Fan Chengda's *Yu Heng Zhi*: Dai Mao lives in the deep ocean. Its shape is like a turtle or soft-shelled turtle, but the shell is slightly longer. The back has thirteen scutes, with black and white spots interlaced. The marginal scutes have floral patterns with jagged edges. It has no feet but four flippers, anterior long and posterior short, all covered in scales with patterns resembling the shell. Fishermen raise them in saltwater. However, older individuals have thick, bright-colored shells, while younger ones have thin, dull-colored shells. The worldly belief that lashing causes blood to form patterns is erroneous. To harvest, one must suspend the animal upside down and pour boiling vinegar over it, causing the scutes to fall off one by one upon contact. *Nanfang Yi Wu Zhi* records: The large ones are as big as [text missing/obscured], with scales on the back. After boiling until soft, they are made into vessels, polished with shark skin and dried leaves, becoming luminous. Lu Tuoan states: Dai Mao does not mate again; it guards its eggs by embracing their shadows, called "guarding eggs."

[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, cold, non-toxic. Kou Zongshi states: For medicinal use, live-sourced material is required to preserve complete flavor and properties. This is analogous to processed Rhinoceros Horn.

[Indications] Resolves various drug poisons in the Lingnan region (Chen Cangqi). Breaks up masses, dissipates carbuncle toxins, and stops convulsions and epilepsy (*Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao*). Treats heart wind, relieves irritability and heat, promotes qi and blood circulation, and unblocks the intestines and bladder; its efficacy is similar to that of turtle meat (Shi Liang). Taken as a ground juice, it resolves gu poison; worn as an amulet, it calms the spirit, treating acute convulsions, external pathogenic invasion, and delirious speech due to heat accumulation in typhoid fever (Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen states: The detoxifying and clearing-heat efficacy of Dai Mao is identical to that of Rhinoceros Horn. It was not used in ancient formulas; it began to be used in the Song Dynasty in the *Zhibao Dan* (Precious Treasure Pill). See also under the entry for Bie Jia (Turtle Shell).

[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription, three new prescriptions.
Resolving Gu Poison: Grind fresh Dai Mao into a thick juice, take one cup with water, and the gu poison will immediately dissipate. (Yang Shi *Chan Ru Fang*)
Preemptively Resolving Smallpox Toxin: Take this during epidemics; smallpox will resolve internally before eruption, or if erupted, will be sparse. Grind fresh Dai Mao and fresh Rhinoceros Horn each to obtain one he of juice, mix, and take half a he warm, three times daily. This is most effective. (*Ling Yuan Fang*)
Black Depression of Smallpox Pustules: This is caused by congealed hot blood in the heart. Grind fresh Dai Mao and fresh Rhinoceros Horn together to obtain one he of juice, add a small amount of pig heart blood, five spoonfuls of Purple Gromwell Decoction, mix well, and take warm. (Wenren Gui *Dou Zhen Lun*)
Tearing in Wind: This is caused by deficiency heat in the heart and kidney. Use one liang each of fresh Dai Mao and Antelope Horn, and one pair of Stone Swallow Egg, grind into powder. Take one qian each time, washed down with Mint Decoction, once daily. (*Hong Fei Ji*)

[Meat]
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats various wind toxins, expels evil heat, removes wind-phlegm from the chest and diaphragm, promotes qi and blood circulation, calms the spirit, unblocks the intestines and bladder, and regulates the menses in women (Shi Liang).

[Blood]
[Indications] Resolves various drug poisons; prick the vessel and drink the blood (*Kaibao Bencao*).

[Appendix] Sa Ba Er [a precious substance]. Li Shizhen states: According to Liu Yu's *Xi Shi Ji*, it is produced in the Western Sea. It is excreted by Dai Mao and凝结 (condensed) over many years, with a price equal to gold. Counterfeits are made from rhinoceros feces. I privately wonder if this highly valuable substance is indeed the essence excreted by Dai Mao? There is no way to verify this. I tentatively record it here, awaiting verification by scholars.