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Eretmochelys (Tortoise Shell of Eretmochelys)
Cold in nature, non-toxic. Primarily resolves various drug poisonings in the Lingnan region. Local people pierce its blood for drinking to resolve various drug toxins. It is as large as a hat, resembles a turtle, and has patterns on its shell. It lives in the mountains and waters by the sea in Lingnan. (Appendix content)

Minister Yuxi and others respectfully cite Chen Shiliang: Eretmochelys, the body resembles a turtle, the head and beak resemble a parrot. The flesh is neutral in nature. It primarily treats various wind poisons, promotes the circulation of Qi and Blood, eliminates wind-phlegm in the chest and diaphragm, calms the Heart and Spleen, expels pathogenic heat, unblocks the Large and Small Intestines, and regulates the menses in women. Its shell also resembles flesh and is used similarly to treat wind-evil affecting the Heart and relieve irritability and heat.

Rihuazi states: It breaks up accumulations, dissipates carbuncle toxins, and stops disorders such as convulsions and epilepsy.

Tu Jing records: Eretmochelys lives in the mountains and waters of Lingnan and is now also produced in Guangnan. It belongs to the turtle family. Only the plastron and carapace have red spotted patterns; the larger ones are like plates. For medicinal use, only live specimens are effective; carrying it can also ward off gu poison. Whenever there is toxic food or drink, it will automatically tremble, whereas dead ones cannot, which is truly miraculous. In the past, when the Tang Prince Si governed Lingnan, a local person offered a live Eretmochelys. The Prince ordered two small pieces of the upper shell to be removed and tied to his left arm to ward off poison. The Eretmochelys suffered greatly, was then kept in the pond behind the official residence, waited for the area where the shell was removed to regenerate, and was subsequently sent back to its original habitat without injury. Nowadays, people often mix Eretmochelys with turtle shells to make vessels, killing them for this purpose. They are also boiled and beaten, making live specimens extremely rare. Recently, an official who resigned from Lingnan raised a live Eretmochelys for a long time and brought it north. Many people in the North recognized it. There is another type of Eretmochelys, also belonging to this category. Its shape is like a bamboo hat, with four webbed feet lacking claws, and its shell has black pearl-like spots with good texture and color, but the shell is thin and pale in color, unsuitable for making vessels, and only suitable for decoration. People nowadays call it Eretmochelys skin and do not use it medicinally.

Chen Cangqi states: As large as a fan, resembling a turtle, with patterns on the shell; otherwise identical. Yang Shi Chan Ru formula: Treats gu poisoning. Grind a live Eretmochelys with water into a thick liquid and drink one cup to resolve the poison.

Yan Yi states: Eretmochelys treats wind-heat in the Heart Meridian. Live specimens are used for medicine because their nature and flavor remain intact. Once subjected to boiling water or fire, they become unusable as medicine and turn into artifacts, which is the same principle as raw versus processed Rhinoceros Horn (Xijiao).