Hawksbill Turtle Shell, Dai Mao 玳瑁
Dai Mao (TCM)
Hawksbill Turtle
Illustrated natural history of the animal kingdom, Goodrich, 1859
Hawksbill Turtle
(Photo by DRVIP93, edited) (Wikimedia)
Hawksbill shell
(Photo source: Auckland War Memorial Museum) (Wikimedia)
Zoological name:
Eretmochelys imbricata
Parts used:
Shell
Temperature & Taste:
Cold. Sweet, Salty
Uses:
1. Clears Heat, Resists Poison, Calms the Heart and Spirit:
-High Fever, Spotted Fevers
-Irritability, Restlessness, Delirium
-Loss of Consciousness, Incoherent Speech, Mania, Hallucinations
-Carbuncles, Furuncles, Toxic Sores and Boils
-considered Antidote
-“They resolve the poison of the hundreds of medications”. (Cang Qi)
-“They resolve Smallpox Poison”. (Li Shi Zhen)
-“They heal Heart wind”. (Shi Liang)
2. Settles Wind, Stops Rising Yang, Stops Convulsions:
-Febrile Convulsions
-Tics, Twitches, Nervousness
-Headaches, Dizziness, Vertigo, Tinnitus from Yang rising or internal Wind
-Apoplexy, Hypertension
Dose:
Powder: 500mg–2 grams
Comment:
This is CITES listed and regarded as endangered. This is more due to its shell being used to make jewelry, hair combs, ornaments etc.
Preparation:
After being killed and flesh removed, the shell is steamed with vinegar until sections of the shell loosen and are removed to dry.
Substitute:
1. Sea Turtle Shell can be used similarly. Sea Turtles are farmed for their shells in a number of countries where the shells are carved and made into combs etc.
2. The effects of Hawksbill turtles that resolve poison and cool down heat are identical with those of Rhinoceros horns”. (Li Shi Zhen)
Main Combinations:
1. High Fever, Restlessness, Delirium:
i. Hawksbill Turtle Shell, Rhinoceros (Water Buffalo) Horn, Bezoar (as in Zhi Bao Dan)
ii. Hawksbill Turtle Shell, Curcuma Yu Jin, Gardenia Zhi Zi, Forsythia Lian Qiao
2. Smallpox Poison, combined Hawksbill Turtle Shell and Rhinoceros horn. (Ling Yuan Fang)
3. Strokes or Seizures from Internal Wind, Hawksbill Turtle Shell, Antelope Horn (Ling Yang Jiao), Uncaria Gou Teng, Gastrodia Tian Ma
4. To calm the Mind and Spirit, settle Qi and promote rest, Hawksbill Turtle Shell, Amber, Pearl
5. Hypertension:
i. Hawksbill Turtle Shell, Self Heal, Chrysanthemum, Abalone shell, Antelope horn (Ling Yang Jiao)
6. Tearing when facing the Wind, Hawksbill Turtle Shell, Antelope horn (Ling Yang Jiao) (30 grams each), Fossil Spirifer (1). Powder and take 3 grams with Mint Decoction. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
Major Formulas:
Cautions:
Use cautiously in Qi or Yang deficiency (Coldness), or cold and weak Digestion.
Main Preparations used:
Prepared shell
