☯ TCM Properties
Sedates the Heart, quiets the Spirit, calms the Liver, extinguishes Wind, settles convulsions, stops spasms, clears Heat and resolves toxicity; Calms and anchors Liver Yang
Traditional Chinese Uses
Dai Mao is the carapace of the hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata. In classical medicine it is sweet, salty and cold, entering the Heart and Liver, where it clears Heat, resolves toxicity, calms and anchors ascendant Liver Yang, and extinguishes internal Wind to settle convulsions and spasms. It was used for high fever with delirium, childhood convulsions, mania and Heat-toxin rashes, and to sedate the Heart and quiet the Spirit.
Conservation note: the hawksbill turtle is Critically Endangered and listed on CITES Appendix I; harvest and international trade are illegal. This entry is provided for historical reference only and does not endorse sourcing or use. Modern practitioners substitute other Liver-calming, Wind-extinguishing and Heat-clearing substances such as Shi Jue Ming (abalone shell), Gou Teng and mineral shells.
Botanical Description
Dai Mao (玳瑁) is the carapace of the hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata (Cheloniidae), a tropical marine reptile historically harvested from coastal waters of southern China and Southeast Asia for its translucent, mottled brown-and-amber shell. The hawksbill turtle is listed on CITES Appendix I, and international commercial trade in its shell has been banned since 1977. Possession and trade are illegal in most countries, and modern TCM practice almost universally substitutes other materials. Classical Chinese materia medica classified Dai Mao as sweet and cold, entering the Heart and Liver channels, used to clear heat, cool blood, calm the spirit, and extinguish wind for high fever with convulsions, delirium, and skin eruptions. This entry is documented for historical reference only; conservation and legal restrictions preclude contemporary use.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
⚠ Safety & Contraindications
Safety Warnings
- Hawksbill sea-turtle shell: illegal to trade or dispense.
Regulatory Status
- CITES Appendix I — international trade prohibited.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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