WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

This medicinal is the tergum of the animal Trionyx sinensis Wiegmann(Fam. Trionychidae). The animal can be captured all the year round. After being killed, it is scalded with boiling water untill the tergum is capable of being taken, and then it is cleared of remnant flesh. After which, it is dried by natural sunlight and soaked with vinegar and stir-baked with sand.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Salty, sweet and slightly cold; relate to liver and kidney meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]:Nourish yin and suppress yang; reduce bone-steaming fever; soften hardness and dissipate nodulation.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Yin deficiency with internal heat, yin deficiency with wind stirring inside, yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity    In order to treat the advanced stage of febrile disease, with night fever which is alleviated at dawn, no sweating after receding of fever, due to consumption of yin fluid and hidden evils in yin phase, it is combined with Mudanpi, Shengdihuang and Qinghao, in the Qinghao Biejia Decoction. In treating bone-steaing tidal fever due to deficiency of yin-blood, it is combined with Qinjiao and Digupi. If clonic convulsions are due to yin deificiency with wind stirring inside, it is combined with Ejiao and Shengdihuang.

2. Abdominal masses     It treats abdominal masses in combination with Mudanpi, Taoren and Tubiechong, as in the Biejiaian Pill.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 9-24g, decocted first. Stir-baked with sand and soaked with vinegar, its active ingredients are easily to be decocted out, its ordorus smell can be removed, and it is easier to be ground into powder and convenient for making preparations.

[ Medicinal Comparison ]:Similarities: Both Gujia and Biejia function to nourish liver-kidney yin, pacify liver and subdue yang. They are indicated for insufficiency of kidney yin with up-flaming of deficiency-fire presenting with manifestations of bone-steaming tidal fever, night sweating, spermatorrhea. In addition, both medicinals are indicated for insufficiency of liver yin with hyperactivity of liver yang, with manifestations of headache and vertigo.

Differences: Guijia is good at nourishing kidney yin and Biejia reducing deficiency-heat, while Biejia has the action of strengthening bones, nourishing blood and replenishing heart. In addition, Beijia treats insufficiency of liver and kidney, manifested as weakness of the tendons and bones, limpness and soreness in the lumbar region and knees, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, as well as , insufficiecy of heart blood, manifesting as insomnia and amnesia. Biejia also actions to soften hardness and dissipate nodules, and treats abdominal mass.

鳖甲为鳖科动物鳖Trionyx sinensis Wiegmann的背甲。主产于湖北、湖南、安徽等地。全年均可捕捉，杀死后置沸水中烫至背甲上硬皮能剥落时取出，除去残肉，晒干，以砂炒后醋淬用。

2．癥瘕积聚。本品味咸，还长于软坚散结，适用于肝脾肿大等癥瘕积聚。常与活血化瘀、行气化痰药配伍，如鳖甲煎丸（《金匮要略》）以之与丹皮、桃仁、虫、厚朴、半夏等品同用，治疟疾日久不愈，胁下痞硬成块。