Wiseman’s Chinese Medical Database

dài mào / 玳瑁 / 玳瑁 / hawksbill [turtle] shell;

Latin pharmacognostic name: Eretmochelydis Carapax

Alternate English names: tortoiseshell

Alternate Chinese names:

Origin: Plant

Use: medicinal

Category: Liver-calming wind-extinguishing agents / Wind-extinguishing tetany-relieving agents

Properties: Sweet and salty; cold; nontoxic*.

Channel entry: heart and liver channels.*

Indications:

• Calms the liver and settles fright: Febrile disease with high fever and vexation and agitation; acute fright wind; fright epilepsy (jīng xián); tetanic reversal; wind stroke; liver yáng dizziness.
• Clears heat and resolves toxin: Toxin swelling of welling-abscesses (yōng) and sores; pox toxin.

  Dosage & Method:

  Oral: Decoct or wet-grind (3–6g) or use in pills and powders.

  Quality:

  Thick semitranslucent slices with clear markings are best.

  Product Area:

  Fújiàn, Guǎngdōng, Hǎinán.