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| Latin: |
Pelodiscus sinensis |
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| Origin: |
Soft-shelled turtle refers to the soft-shelled, aquatic turtle Pelodiscus sinensis (Wiegmann), of the family Trionychidae. This and other species of soft-shell turtles are found in North America, Africa, and Asia in rivers or other bodies of fresh water with soft, muddy bottoms. The species Pelodiscus sinensis is distributed in Mongolia, Korea, Taiwan, China, Indochina, Hawaii and Japan. They occur throughout Hiroshima except the Chugoku Mountains and islands.
Soft-shelled turtles are distinctive in appearance, having flat, smooth, soft, and rubbery rounded shells that are commonly described as pancakelike. The back is olive, dark green or gray and the plastron is white or pink in color. In addition, these turtles have webbed feet, long necks, and elongated, proboscis-like snouts bearing the nostrils at the tip. Female soft-shells are substantially larger than the males.
Soft-shell turtles are swift-moving, carnivorous reptiles. This species inhabits slow-flowing rivers or ponds with sand or mud buttom. They often lie buried in mud or sand and occasionally emerge to bask in the sun. Specialized tissues in the pharynx of these turtles enable them to extract oxygen for respiration from the water. Soft-shell turtles are valued as food. They are aggressive when captured and are capable of delivering rapid, vicious bites.
In a farm, this species mates in April to May. Females lay eggs underground in May to August. They hatch in 2-3 months.
The whole body, especially its abdominal plate, is used for medicinal purposes. |
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| Properties: |
Soft-shelled turtle meat: sweet in flavor, mild in nature, it is related to the liver and kidney channels.
Soft-shelled turtle shell: salty in flavor, mild in nature.
Soft-shelled turtle egg: salty in flavor, cold in natue.
Soft-shelled turtle blood: salty in flavor, mild in nature. |
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| Functions: |
The meat of the soft-shelled turtle nourishes yin (body fluid) and cools the blood.
The shell of the turtle has the effects of nourishing yin to remove heat, calming the liver to relieve convulsion, and softening the hard lumps.
The eggs of the turtle is nourishing yin and supplementing deficiency.
Its blood nourishes yin and blood, and calms pathogenic wind. |
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| Applications: |
The meat is used to treat consumptive fever due to yin deficiency, chronic malaria, prolonged dysentery, metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding), scrofula (lymph nodes in the neck), weakness during convalescence, bodily weakness of the aged.
The shell is used to treat consumptive fever and hectic fever due to yin deficiency, convulsion due to deficiency of yin, malaria, mass in the abdomen, amenorrhea (abnormal absence or suppression of menses), metrorrhagia, infantile convulsion.
1. For yin deficiency, manifesting dizziness vertigo (having illusion of movement, a sensation as if the external world were revolving around the patient), emission, lumbago (pain in lower back):
Let out the blood of a soft-shelled turtle from dorsal side of its neck. Then, excise at its abdomen to expose the internal viscera which are discarded. The head is also eliminated. Dip in boiling water so as to peel out the black skin on its back and white skin on its abdominal wall. Cut into small cubes. Simmer the turtle flesh in water, and add 30 g Fructus Amomi, 30 g Chinese yam, processed Radix Rehmanniae, some ginger and Chinese onion segments. Before done, discard the onion and ginger slices, add monosodium glutamate. Add peppermint and serve.
2. For prolapse of anus:
Treat a soft-shelled turtle as usual. Simmer with 500 g pig's large intestine. After done, add salt and other flavorings. Eat the flesh and intestine and drink the broth.
3. For ascites (accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity):
Treat a soft-shelled turtle as above. Discard the viscera and head. Simmer with 12 g betel nut and some garlic clove. Consume the whole thing. |
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| Dosage and Administration: |
The meat is to be decocted in clear soup, steamed, or made into medicated diet.
The shell is to be decocted or boiled down into soft extract for internal use, or used as an ingredient of boluses, pills or powder. |
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| Cautions on Use: |
| Pregnant women or those who manifest the syndrome of deficiency of yang of the spleen and stomach should avoid it. |
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| Reference Materials: |
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| Toxic or Side Effects: |
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| Modern Researches: |
Every 100 g of the edible soft-shelled turtle meat contains 16.5 g of protein, 1.0 g of fat, 1.6 g of carbohydrate, 107 mg of calcium, 135 mg of phosphorus, 1.4 mg of iron, 0.62 mg of thiamine, 0.37 mg of ovoflavin, 3.7 mg of nicotinic acid, as well as kerain, sugar, inorganic salt, iodine, and vitamins A, B1, B2 and D.
It is interesting to note that it was disclosed that Chinese women long-distance runners who broke the world records have used soft-shelled turtles as one of their important tonics. This has been attributed as one reason for their remarkable records.
Turtle shell: The back shell of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle contains animal gum, keratin, iodine, and vitamin D. |
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