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[Bie Jia (Tartar Testudinis Carapax)]
Salty in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Spleen meridians. Primarily treats bone-steaming labor cough (cough due to yin deficiency with heat), accumulation and mass formations (abdominal masses), polyps, yin erosion hemorrhoids and carbuncles (ulcers of the anal region and hemorrhoidal abscesses), sores, swelling, and blood stasis; promotes childbirth and induces abortion; treats women's leukorrhea of five colors (vaginal discharge of various colors). The specimen with nine ribs is preferred. Soak in child's urine overnight, strain, and roast with su (rendered animal fat) for use. Its meat benefits the Lung and supplements Metal (Lung Qi), strongly cooling blood heat. Specimens with strange or abnormal shapes are highly toxic; if accidentally ingested, decoct Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) and Wu Lan (Isatidis Folium) to detoxify. Both Li Shi (Gypsum Fibrosum) and Fan Shi (Alumen) are contraindicated.

Commentary: Zhu Danxi stated: Bie Jia belongs to Metal and Earth, which explains its entry into the Lung and Spleen meridians. It must be harvested raw; specimens that have been boiled and shed their shells are unsuitable for use. The meat is extremely cold; excessive consumption damages the Spleen. Those with mass formations should avoid it, as it may exacerbate the condition. Pregnant women should avoid it, fearing it may cause a short neck in the fetus. Consuming it with chicken meat can lead to mass formation; consuming it with chicken eggs can be fatal. Consuming it with Amaranth vegetable generates "blood turtles"; consuming it with Mustard seed triggers severe diseases. Caution is imperative.

Lei Gong stated: For usage, select green specimens with nine ribs and abundant skirt, weighing seven qian, as optimal. It is used in formulas treating痞 (痞满 - epigastric fullness), breaking masses, eliminating stasis, and calming the mind. For each Bie Jia, secure the bottom of a bottle with Liu Yi Ni (a mixture of six parts clay and one part flint powder), let it dry, place the shell inside, seal it, and simmer with vinegar over fire until three sheng of vinegar are consumed. Then remove the skirt and rib bones, roast until dry, and add to medicinal preparations. For treating labor-related heat, the method is similar but without vinegar; instead, use child's urine, boiling day and night until one dou and two sheng of urine are consumed. Then remove the skirt, retain the bone, pound into powder in a stone mortar, wrap in chicken skin, take three liang of flowing water from the east, and boil...

[Qizhou Wushe (Agkistrodon tetracanthus from Qizhou)]
Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, slightly toxic. Enters the Spleen and Lung meridians. Primarily treats various wind conditions causing skin numbness, disperses urticaria and body itching, treats hot toxin wind causing loss of eyebrows and beard, blocks ears to treat deafness. Authentic specimens are preferred. Remove the head, skin, and scales, chop into pieces, soak in wine overnight, roast with su, bury in the ground overnight, then roast dry for use.

Commentary: The use of Wushe specifically targets dispelling wind to regulate skin and flesh conditions. The Lung governs skin and hair, and the Spleen governs muscles; hence it enters both meridians. It is black as lacquer, has three ridges on the back resembling a sword spine, and a thin, pointed long tail. It is gentle and does not harm life; it hides in reeds smelling flower scents, and also inhales with the south wind. Even when dead, its eyes do not sink, appearing like a living creature. There is a row of inverted hairs on the head about two cun long, growing up to half a fen. When head and tail face each other, those weighing seven qian to one liang are superior. Larger ones become heavier but lose potency.

Lei Gong stated: For all snakes, one must identify the sex and origin. Qizhou Wushe has a row of inverted hairs on the head about two cun long, growing up to half a fen. When head and tail face each other, it is miraculous in medicine, weighing only under one lian. Where obtained, many are kept for tribute. Under the snake's belly is a white intestinal strip about one cun long, indicating it is male. After harvesting, remove the head, skin, scales, and strip, chop them, soak in Ku Jiu (bitter wine/vinegar) overnight, drain the next morning, bake in willow ash until dry, then roast with su until the su is exhausted. After roasting dry, dig a pit one chi deep in the ground, place the snake inside, leave overnight until dawn, roast again until dry, and use as needed. For processing all snakes, remove the gallbladder and outer skin; whether wet or dry, boil in wine for best results.