Biē Jiǎ Jiān Wán

Turtle Shell Pill

Disclaimer    For educational purposes only.  Do not use as medical advice

AboutChinese MedicineCaution/Notes
Health Benefits
For: liver cancer • liver sclerosis • splenomegaly
Atributes:
Products
 

Powder

 

Granules

 

Powder

 

Pills

Research

Category: Regulate Blood ⌕ 
Subcategory: Invigorate Blood and Dispel Blood Stasis, Dispel Abscess ⌕   Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue  
Actions: Soften hardness and reduce tumors • Move Qi and Blood • Resolves Phlegm and stagnations
Diagnosis
Tongue:       Pulse:    Other: 
Patterns: Qi and Blood stagnation, Blood stasis, Damp phlegm, Yin Jaundice Blood Stagnation 
Indications: Qi and blood stagnation, damp phlegm, tumor, liver cancer, liver sclerosis, splenomegaly, damp phlegm, chronic malaria, hepatitis, hepatomegaly, Yin jaundice blood stagnation
Contraindications: Zheng Qi deficiency, pregnancy
Description
Name Variations:Bie Jia Jian Wan, 鳖甲煎丸, Turtle Shell Pill,
Herb List: Bie JiaShi WeiTu Bie ChongQiang LangShu FuFeng FangTao RenMu Dan PiChai HuHou PoHuang QinDa HuangMang XiaoBan XiaGan JiangGui ZhiQu MaiLing Xiao HuaTing Li ZiShao YaoRen ShenE Jiao
Commentary: The herb list is based on Chen's book. The list of herbs from Song's class differ in that it contains Wu Shan and Zi Wei. Here it is Tu Bie Chong and Ling Xiao Hua.
Related Formulas:
Herbs Cat/Dosage Actions Attributes
Bie JiaSoft shelled Turtle Shell (dorsal) • 鳖甲  Tonify Yin Nourish yin • Anchor yang • Dissipate nodules • Invigorate blood • Promote menses
Shi WeiPyrrosia Leaf • 石韦  Drain Dampness

 

Promote urination • Relieve UTI • Reduce edema • Relieve cough • Dispel phlegm • Stop bleeding Antitussive • Antiviral • Expectorant • Promote white blood cells
Zhe ChongWingless Cockroach • 蛰⾍ Invigorate Blood Renew sinews • Join bones • Break up stasis • Remove stasisNot commonly used except for topically used for bruises
Qiang LangDung Beetle • 蜣螂 Downward Draining Reduce toxicity, move Blood, calm Shen, relieve constipation Purgative
Fu Zi/Shu Fu • Process Aconite Daughter Root • 附子  Warm Interior Expel Cold Restore devastated yang • Warm channels • Warms interior cold • Relief pain • Strengthen Ming Men fireDao Di: Si Chuan • Herbs from the same plant: Fu Zi • Tian Xiong • Wu Tou • Chuan Wu • Cao WuZhi Chuan Wu Anodyne • Analgesic • Anti-inflammatory • Antipyretic • Mild sedative
Feng Fang • Hornet's Nest • 蜂房 Topical Application Reduce toxicity • Alleviate Pain • Dispel Wind antiparasitic, anticancer
Tao RenPeach Kernel • 桃仁 Invigorate Blood Break up blood stasis • Invigorate blood • Treat abscess • Moisten intestines • Unblock bowels antithrombatic • anti-inflammatory • antitussive • antiallergic • antiparasitic
Mu Dan PiPeony Bark • 牡丹皮 Clear Heat Cool Blood Cools blood • Clear yin deficient heat • Invigorate blood • Clear blood stasisThere are two different types: Mu Dan and Xiao Yao; both are peony Anti-inflammatory • Antibiotic • Anticonvulsant • Analgesic • Antipyretic • Hypotensive • Immunostimulant • Sedative
Chai Hu • Thorowax • 柴胡 Release Exterior Wind Heat Harmonize interior and exterior • Reduce fevers • Reduce chills • Soothe liver Qi • Clear muscle layer heat • Tonify stomach Qi • Guide herbs to Shao Yang Jing Antibiotic • Antipyretic • Anti-inflammatory • Antibaterial • Antiviral • Analgesic • Hepatoprotective • Immunemodulatory • Chemoprotective • Anti-tumor • Cholagogic • Sedative • Immunostimulate
Hou Po • Magnolia Bark • 厚朴 Aromatic Transform Damp Transform spleen dampness • Transform stomach dampness • Clear food stagnation • Transform Phlegm • Clear qi stagnationPairs with Cang Zhu GABA-ergic • Sedative • Cannabimimetic • Antioxidant • Anticoagulant • Antidepressant • Anti-inflammatory • Antibiotic • Antispasmodic • Antitumor • Antimicrobial
Huang QinBaical Skullcap Root • 黄芩 Clear Heat Dry Dampness Clear heat • Dry dampness • Stop bleeding • Calm fetus • Calm liver yang rising • Clear damp heat • Guide herbs to Shao Yang Jing Antibiotic • Anti-inflammatory • Antioxidative • Antipyretic • Cholagogic • Hepatoprotective • Hypoglycemic • Hypotensive • Neuroprotective • Sedative
Da Huang • Rhubarb • 大黄 Downward Draining Drain downward • Promote menstruation • Reduce accumulation • Drain fire • Cools blood • Clear heat • Dry dampness • Resolve blood stasis (add near end of decoction) Anti-inflammatory • Antibiotic • Antipyretic • Choleretic • Cholagogic • Hemostatic • Immunity booster • Laxative • Nephroprotective
Mang XiaoSodium Sulfate • 芒硝 Downward Draining Moisten dryness • Soften clumping in the intestine • Purge accumulations • Drain fire • Clear phlegm • Reduce swelling • Clear stagnation • Clear heat • Promote lactationThis material attracts water from the body into the intestine and bulks up stool • May be impacting the osmotic pressure in the intestinal peristosis Laxative
Ban XiaPinellia Root • 半夏 Phlegm Cold Transforms damp-phlegm • Direct stomach Qi downward• Stop cough/ wheezing • Relieve nausea & vomiting • Dissolve nodules and swellingsFan Ban Xia - deep fried with vinegar, Ming Fan, and Sheng JiangJiang Ban Xia - fried with ginger juice reprotoxic, warming, drying, antitussive, antiemetic
Gan JiangGinger (Dried) • 干姜 Warm Interior Expel Cold Warm interior • Expel cold • Stop bleeding • Transform phlegm • Rescue devastated yang • Warm Middle Jiao • Warm lungs • Warm meridians Anticoagulant • Hypotensive • Antiplatelet • Stimulant • Analgesic • Anti-inflammatory • Antipyretic • Cholagogic • Antiemetic • Antimutagenic
Gui ZhiCinnamon Twig • 桂枝 Release Exterior Wind Cold Activate yang qi, warm yang, open channels, expel Wind Cold from muscle layer • warm Middle Jiao • regulate Wei Qi • improve circulation • relieve pain • thin mucus • treat chest BiPAIRS with Shao Yao and Fu Ling diuretic, anticoagulant, vasodilation, diaphoretic, antipyretic, emmenagogue, antiparasitic, cardiotonic, antibiotic, hypoglycemic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, sedative
Qu MaiDianthus • 瞿麦 Drain Dampness Drain damp heat • Invigorate blood • Promote urination • Lin Zheng • Regulate menses • Breaks up blood stasis • Unblock constipation Diuretic
Ling Xiao HuaCampsis Flower • 凌霄花 Regulate Blood Reduce masses • Cool blood • Dispel Blood Stasis
Ting Li ZiLepidium Seeds • 葶苈⼦ Phlegm Cough + Wheezing Clear Lung heat • Dissolve phlegm • Calm wheezing • Promote urination • Reduce edema
Bai Shao/ Shao YaoWhite Root Peony • 白芍 Tonify Blood Nourish blood • Regulate menses • Soothes liver • Relieve pain • Preserve yin • Reduce spasms • Harmonize Ying and Wei QiDao Di: Zhe Jiang • AKA Shao Yao analgesic • antibacterial • anti-inflammatory • hepatoprotective • immune system boost • sedative
Ren ShenGinseng • 人参 Tonify Qi Tonify yuan qi • Tonify lung qi • Tonify heart qi • Calms Shen • Stop thirst • Helps impotence • Treats qi collapse • Tonify Spleen • Generate fluid • Stop thirst • Strengthen anti-pathogenic qi • Can go to all 5 zang organsUnlike Huang Qi, Ren Shen is adaptogenic and may be used by people with autoimmune disorders. adaptogen • anti-aging • anticoagulant • antiplatelet • antioxidant • adrenalcortical • immunity booster • anti-inflammatory • antidepressant • hepatoprotective • stimulant
E JiaoDonkey Hide Gelatin • 阿胶 Tonify Blood Tonify blood • Stop bleeding • Nourish blood • Nourish yin • Unblock bowels • Moisten dryness increase red blood cell count and hemoglobin • increase absorption of calcium and utilization[18]

Caution
  • Do not use if pregnant

ALERT: Contraindications of each herb - use with caution under these conditions:
Bie Jia: Pregnancy • Spleen Xu Cold with poor appetite and diarrhea
Shi Wei:
Zhe Chong: Pregnancy
Qiang Lang: Pregnancy
Fu Zi: Soy sauce • Millet • Pregnancy • False cold, true heat • Incompatible with: Bai Ji, Bai Lian, Ban Xia, Chuan Bei Mu, Gua Lou Pi, Gua Lou Ren, Gua Lou Shi, Tian Hua Fen, Zhe Bei MuCao Wu is antagonized by Xi Jiao
Feng Fang: Pregnancy, Qi and Blood Deficiency, Pus filled sores
Tao Ren: Pregnancy • Blood deficiency • Anticoagulant or anti antiplatelet drugs
Mu Dan Pi: Deficiency cold • Pregnancy • Excessive menstruation • Food: garlic
Chai Hu: Dries Yin and can exacerbate the Yin deficiency • Do not use as intramuscular injections • Liver fire • Hyperactive liver yang • Cytochrome P450, 2C9, 2E1, 2D6, and 3A4 • Greater than 19g may lead to liver injury
Hou Po: Anticoagulant drugs • Antidepressant drugs
Huang Qin: Pregnancy • Children • Breast feeding • Deficiency heat in lungs • Middle burner cold • Restless fetus from cold • Edema • Blood deficiecy abdominal pain • Spleen deficiency • Kidney deficiency diarrhea • Poor appetite • Blood deficiency • High risk pregnancy • Fetal heat
Da Huang: Qi deficiency • Blood deficiency • Stomach deficiency cold • Spleen deficiency cold • Normal or loose stool • Normal blood flow • Postpartum • Caution with pregnancy, lactation, menstruation [21]
Mang Xiao: Pregnancy • Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold
Ban Xia: Yin deficiency cough • Bleeding • Dehydration • Heat • Pregnancy • Incompatible with Wu Tou and Fu Zi • Antidepressant drugs • Blood pressure medication • Terfenadine (antihistamine) • Foods: lamb, goat
Gan Jiang: Pregnancy • Blood heat • Pregnancy • Bloody mucous • Night sweats • Unexplained sweating • Heat induced pain • Heat induce vomiting
Gui Zhi: Pregnancy, Liver Wind, hyperactive Yang from Yin xu, Wind Heat, blood heat, heavy menses, measles, open skin sores
Qu Mai: Pregnancy
Ling Xiao Hua: Pregnancy
Ting Li Zi: Lung deficiency cough/wheezing • Spleen deficiency edema
Bai Shao: Deficiency cold • Breast feeding • Pregnancy • Bleeding Disorder • Scheduled Surgery
Ren Shen: Blood thinner medication • Diabetes medication • Blood pressure medication • Caffeine • Yin deficiency • Stagnant fire • Hypertension • Bleeding disorders • Pain in chest • Excess heat • food: onion, garlic, radishes, tea, turnips
E Jiao: SP/ST deficiency, phlegm dampness, diarrhea from cloying herbs • concurrent chills and fever[42]

Notes

 

Bibliography: [3], [8], [9], [14]

Information in this post came from many sources, including class notes, practitioners, websites, webinars, books, magazines, and editor's personal experience.  While the original source often came from historical Chinese texts,  variations may result from the numerous English translations.   Always consult a doctor prior to using these drugs.  The information here is strictly for educational purposes. 

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