Library

[Guiji (Tartar Turtle Shell)]
Taste: Salty. Nature: Neutral. It is a medicine entering the blood aspect of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its main indications include nourishing Yin, supplementing Qi, eliminating chronic malaria and Mamo (splenomegaly associated with malaria), treating consumptive disease with emaciation, bone-steaming tidal fever, and labor-related stiffness, obstruction, and blockage in the bone joints. It eliminates Zhengjia (masses) and Jianji (hard accumulations) in the heart and abdomen, Xuejia (blood masses) with lower back pain, and recurrence due to overexertion or sexual indulgence. It is used for hardness under the hypochondrium and epilepsy in children. In cases of smallpox and measles, it treats uterine prolapse postpartum in women, removes polyps, erosions of the yin, hemorrhoidal nodes, and malignant flesh. Medical texts also record its use for treating Hongjiaojiao (beriberi/leg qi), hemoptysis, night sweats, stroke with pi syndrome (abdominal masses), cough, xiaodan (wasting-thirst), and urinary incontinence. It is frequently used in Xu Lao (deficiency consumption) syndromes. However, it should not be overdosed. (Li Zhiyuan's note:) The green color of Guiji enters the Liver; therefore, its indications for malaria, lao heat, cold zhajia, epilepsy, menstrual disorders, sores, and yin ulcers all belong to diseases of the Jueyin blood aspect. Water turtles are black and enter the Kidney; thus, their shells treat Yin deficiency with essence weakness, lower back and leg pain, yin malaria, and dysentery, which all belong to diseases of the Shaoyin blood aspect. (Li Shizhen's note:) Guiji tastes salty, moistens downward, and benefits Yin; what doubt is there? The indications in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* for zhajia, hard accumulations, and polyps likely stem from its ability to benefit Yin, combined with the property of saltiness to soften hardness. (Chen Shigong's note:) Malaria in patients with Yin deficiency resembles this pattern. Summer-heat pathogens penetrate deeply into the Yin aspect; emerging to Yang causes fever, while merging into Yin causes chills. When Yuanqi becomes deficient and emaciated, the pathogen sinks inward and knots to form Mamo. Guiji benefits Yin, clears heat, and dissipates accumulation, making it an essential herb for treating malaria and a superior agent for relieving lao heat and alternating chills and fever due to Yin deficiency. (Further note:) Combined with Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Ju Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Shouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), and Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), it treats chronic malaria.

If Guiji is calcined until carbonized but retains its nature, ground into powder, and taken with wine in a dose of one cun bi (a measure roughly equivalent to a teaspoon).
If taken after stones have passed and the illness has resolved. For unceasing hemoptysis, combine Guiji with Gege (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), taken after meals with tea. For wheezing during the eruption of smallpox/measles and difficult urination; if blood appears in urine, it indicates severe deterioration. If black crusts appear without pus...
[Discussion] Guiji benefits Yin; Danxi further stated it supplements Qi. Qi is distinguished into Yang Qi and Yin Qi; this theory originates from the *Neijing*. The classic states: "Yin deficiency leads to [Yang] exhaustion," causing Yang Qi to fail to descend.
[Supplements from *Bielu* and *Zhenwan*:] Foul-smelling night sweats and pain are caused by stagnant blood. As a tonic, it serves to regulate the return of Yin and Yang, ensuring the smooth flow of the Triple Burner, preventing failure to ascend, thereby addressing Hongjiaojiao with abdominal distension and fullness, and difficult urination. All these conditions utilize Guiji to harmonize. Injury to the five zang organs results in Yin deficiency; this is the key principle. Formulas generally take Guiji as the principal ingredient.
(Huang Gongxiu's note:) For leukorrhea with leakage due to Guiji deficiency, it is used. This reflects Yin Qi deficiency failing to secure.
[Contraindications & Errors] It is stated: Contraindicated in pregnancy. It is contraindicated in cases of Yin deficiency with weak stomach and diarrhea, postpartum diarrhea, indigestion, loss of appetite, and vomiting/nausea.
[Precipitation and Identification] When using Guiji, select those that are green, have nine ribs and abundant skirt-like edges, weighing seven liang, considered superior. Fix the bottom of the bottle with Liuyi泥 (a mixture of kaolin and flux), let it dry, place the shell inside, and calcine for use.
Take earth from the east wall, soak overnight...
[Gui Rou (Turtle Meat)]
Taste and Nature: Sweet and neutral. Main indications: Treats injury to the middle jiao, supplements Qi, fills deficiencies, clears blood heat, benefits Yin, and tonifies deficiency. Made into pills to treat Xu Lao (deficiency consumption), piku (abdominal masses), Hongjiaojiao (leg qi), leukorrhea in women, Xuejia with lower back pain.
[Gui Tou (Turtle Head)]
Main indication: Rectal prolapse. Gui Pi San (Turtle Skin Powder) treats irreducible rectal prolapse. A powder of Gui Pi (Turtle Skin), Cishi (Magnetitum), Guixin (Cinnamomi Cortex), and Gui Tou (Testudinis Caput) is taken orally. Fulonggan San (Powder of Dragon's House Earth) treats yin anal conditions. (For Yang syndromes, use other medicines separately.) Fulonggan (Dragon's House Earth), Gui Tou Gu (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum - head part), and Baiyaojian (Galla Chinensis) are ground into powder. Wash warmly with Zisu Tang (Perillae Decoction), then apply mixed with clear sesame oil.
[Gui Xue (Turtle Blood)]
Treats wind invading the blood vessels, causing deviation of the mouth and eye. Applied to rectal prolapse. Treats pediatric gan lao (malnutrition) with dampness. The *Qianjin Fang* mentions twitching eyes, moving lips, and deviation of the mouth, all caused by wind entering the blood vessels. Take Xiaoxuming Tang (Minor Continue Life Decoction) urgently. Externally, mix Gui Xue (Turtle Blood) or Jiguan Xue (Rooster Comb Blood) with Fulonggan San and apply. Reapply when dry; this is excellent. This is because of the nature of turtle blood...
The heart enters the Kidney to nourish Yin; transporting Yin to meet Yang. As Yi described, metal and water interact to reach True Yin; this is the application of Gui. Because it originates from the Du Mai meeting stillness, it has great...