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Pungent, slightly warm, toxic. Primarily treats zhangjia (abdominal masses) in the heart and abdomen, latent and hard accumulations, alternating chills and fever, metrorrhagia (profuse non-menstrual bleeding) in women, discharge of blood in five colors, mutual pulling pain in the lower abdomen and yin region, sores, scabies, and necrotic tissue, frequent startle with tears and nasal discharge caused by five pathogenic factors, heavy and painful sensation in the waist, and infantile qi long (urinary retention) with ulceration.
Meat: Primarily treats shortness of breath, labored breathing, and inability to stand on the feet. Grows in ponds and marshes of the South Sea. Can be collected at any time. (Shuqi [Patrinia Herba] is its assistant herb; it fears gou dan [Dog Gallbladder], Yuanhua [Daphne Genkwa Flower], and Gansui [Kansui Root].)
Tao Hongjing states: Tuosuo (Alligator Sinensis Shell), also known as tuo jia, should be roasted before use. Its skin can be used to drum heads, and its meat is highly nourishing. This creature is difficult to kill; even if boiling water is poured into its mouth and enters the stomach, it takes a long time to peel open. Yuansuo (Softshell Turtle) meat is also nourishing; eat it in the same manner as Tuosuo. These older creatures often transform into evil spirits; do not eat them unless in an emergency. Currently, according to Chen Cangqi's Bencao: It primarily treats malignant sores and abdominal zhangjia. The shell is better; roast it and take it soaked in wine, as the saliva is toxic.臣 Yuxi et al. note according to Shuben Tujing: It grows in earthen burrows by lake shores, resembling a gecko but larger, over one zhang long, with scales and armor on its back and tail; it is found in all prefectures of Jiangnan. Yaoxing Lun states: Tuojia, minister, sweet, neutral, slightly toxic. Primarily treats various evils and ghosts, manages leukorrhea in women, and removes internal blood accumulations causing hard, latent, pulling pain. Meng Shen states: Tuosuo treats fright and qi pain in the lower abdomen. Rihuazi states: Tuosuo treats dental issues, ganji (childhood malnutrition syndrome), and gingival recession. The shell has the same efficacy and should be roasted for medicinal use. He also states: Yuanjia, minister, neutral, non-toxic. Primarily treats pathogenic factors in the five zang organs, kills hundred-insect toxins, eliminates hundred-drug toxins, reconnects human tendons and bones, and its fat applied to iron makes it bright when burned. Huainan Wang Fang: Uses it within Shu preparations. Chen Cangqi states: Yuanjia functions similarly to Biejia (Trionycis Carapax); roast and burn, then soak in wine. Primarily treats luoli (scrofula), kills wind parasites, treats sores, and stubborn scabies caused by wind. Meat primarily treats dampness, pathogenic factors, and various gu poisons. Zhang Ding states: Ointment, massage for wind and malignant sores.
The detailed description is under the entry for Biejia in Tujing.
Chen Cangqi: According to records, "Yu" should be written as "Tuo"; Benjing writes it as "Tuo". The alias "Yu" has already appeared in Benjing. Using "Tuo" as "Yu" now is incorrect; it should be corrected to "Tuo".
Tuosuo can exhale air to form fog and cause rain, possesses immense strength capable of breaching riverbanks, is lethargic with eyes often closed, resembles a dragon, large individuals may bite their own tails, is extremely difficult to kill, and has a terrifying voice. When digging it from its burrow, a hundred people digging require a hundred people pulling, or even one person digging requires one person pulling; otherwise, it cannot be extracted. Liang Zhou Xingsi once ate its meat and was later spat upon by a Tuosuo, resulting in malignant sores; this creature has strong spiritual power and should not be eaten. Since it belongs to the dragon category, the "fish" radical should be removed. Zhoubian Fang: Treats wushi (five corpse poisons). One pair of Tuogan (alligator liver), cooked thoroughly, sliced and consumed entirely; can also be eaten with minced garlic.