Guī Bǎn (龟板), known in English as Tortoise plastron (Chinemys reevesii (plastron)), is a cool, sweet and salty Chinese herb from the Tonify yin category. It enters the Liver, Kidney and Heart channels. Its main action: nourishes Yin, anchors Yang — strong.
| Pinyin | Guī Bǎn (Gui Ban) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 龟板 |
| English | Tortoise plastron |
| Botanical name | Chinemys reevesii (plastron) |
| Category | Tonify yin |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Sweet, Salty |
| Channels | Liver, Kidney, Heart |
| Dosage | 9–24g (decoct first) |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; Spleen deficiency with Cold-Damp |
Actions
- Nourishes Yin, anchors Yang — strong
- Clears deficiency Heat
- Tonifies Kidney, strengthens bones
- Cools Blood, stops uterine bleeding
Indications
- Yin deficiency with ascending Yang or Fire: steaming bone, night sweats
- Kidney deficiency bone weakness
- Developmental delay
- Uterine bleeding
How to remember Guī Bǎn
Tonify yin herbs are mostly cool or cold and sweet, and most enter the Kidney and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Sweet, Liver channel: like most Tonify yin herbs
- Kidney channel: from its action “Tonifies Kidney”
- Learn by heart
- Salty: unusual for Tonify yin herbs (most are sweet)
- Heart channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Guī Bǎn
Other Tonify yin herbs
- Mài Dōng
- Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ
- Gǒu Qǐ Zǐ
- Shēng Dì Huáng
- Tiān Dōng
- Yù Zhú
- Shí Hú
- Hàn Lián Cǎo
- Biē Jiǎ
- Bǎi Hé
- Běi Shā Shēn
- Huáng Jīng
- Sāng Shèn
- Hēi Zhī Má
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Guī Bǎn?
Guī Bǎn is cool and sweet and salty.
Which channels does Guī Bǎn enter?
Guī Bǎn enters the Liver, Kidney and Heart channels.
What are the actions of Guī Bǎn?
Nourishes Yin, anchors Yang — strong; Clears deficiency Heat; Tonifies Kidney, strengthens bones; Cools Blood, stops uterine bleeding.
What is Guī Bǎn used for?
Yin deficiency with ascending Yang or Fire: steaming bone, night sweats; Kidney deficiency bone weakness; developmental delay; uterine bleeding.
Which formulas contain Guī Bǎn?
Zuǒ Guī Wán, Zhèn Gān Xī Fēng Tāng and Dà Dìng Fēng Zhū.
Practise Guī Bǎn and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.