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Yuan (Big-headed Turtle)
Bie (Soft-shelled Turtle)
Taste: Salty. Nature: Neutral. Non-toxic. Grows in deep pools; those from Yuezhou (belonging to Huguang) are superior. Also kept in ponds, but "guard fish" do not fly. Green color and seven liang weight are considered excellent, (large ones are toxic and can kill humans.) More skirt edges and nine ribs are even better. Boiled and shelled, efficacy is reduced; raw and scraped, nature is complete. Processing follows Lei Gong's method: remove the skirt edge and assist with processing. For treating labor-heat, soak in child's urine; for rubbing hard accumulations, soak in strong vinegar. Roast over gentle fire for a full day and night until crisp, then pound into fine powder in a stone mortar. It is known to be incompatible with Lizhi (Styptic Stone) and Fanshi (Alum). It disperses pi (masses) and jia (growths), as well as polyps, yin erosion, hemorrhoids, and carbuncles; eliminates labor emaciation and bone-steaming fever, and alternating chills and fever of warm malaria. Heals intestinal abscesses and reduces swelling, promotes expulsion of blood stasis and induces abortion.
The meat tastes quite sweet, its nature is extremely cold. (Because it dwells at the bottom of water.) There is soft cartilage under the neck like that of a turtle, which must be picked out in advance; although eating it cools blood and tonifies heat-damaged yin, it should not be consumed excessively. (Due to its cold nature, it should be eaten sparingly.) Those suffering from jia masses should not eat it, lest the condition worsen; (Meat gathers, shell scatters, so eating meat increases accumulation, while eating the shell disperses it.) Pregnant women who eat it may give birth to children with short necks. Eating it with chicken meat forms jia masses; eating it with chicken eggs kills humans. Eating it with amaranth causes biejia (turtle mass) to arise. Eating it with mustard seeds causes malignant diseases to erupt suddenly. Those with abnormal shapes are especially toxic; upon obtaining them, bury them quickly in a deep pit. (Those with three feet, red feet, cross/W/number-five characters on the waist, non-retractable head and feet, single eye, or sunken eyes, are all toxic and inedible. Those with red undersides and snake patterns are snake transformations, extremely toxic; bury them deeply in pits to avoid harming future generations.) If accidentally swallowed past the throat, blue juice can detoxify it. The head burned to ash but retaining its nature collects prolapsed rectum miraculously. (Head blood applied to prolapsed rectum is also effective.) Eggs salted and boiled for consumption also verify deficiency-yin tonification. Ointment applied to hair-pulling holes permanently eradicates roots; inverted eyelashes irritating people can be removed by it.
There is also Yuanjia (Yuan Shell), an alias for the largest Bie; (Ben Jing notes: The largest Bie is called Yuan, its shell being one or two zhang long, old ones can also become spirits.) Often found in the Yangtze River, basking their bellies on both banks. Fishermen wait for an opportunity to hook them with bamboo poles; difficult to catch, they turn around and are controlled by humans. Its therapeutic functions and power are the same as Biejia.
Ointment applied to iron fire burns becomes bright; rubbing wind sores and malignant sores heals easily. Meat slightly warm when boiled and eaten also tonifies; kills gu poison and drug poison further acts. Eggs are perfectly round like chicken eggs, laying two or three hundred at once.
Salted and edible, does not congeal no matter how much it is boiled.