Soft-shelled tortoise is commonly known as turtle. It is a famous dainty marked by its tasty meat which is rich in protein content.

Records on its medicinal nalue as early as in the Compendium of Materia Medica written by Li Shizhen : " It's meat, head, fats and eggs are effective in curing diseases whereas its shell is one of the widely used medicine among chinese doctors in the various dynasties. Clinical studies conducted by contemporary chinese doctors discovered further that soft-shelled tortoise can help to cure various diseases. Its meat which has a cooling property can cure some woman diseases, namely, bone steaming (1), hectic fever (2), leukorrhea and debility. Its shell is effective in curing chronic hepatitis or schistosomiasis swelling of spleen and liver caused by malaria and sclerosis of liver. Up till now, people still burn the head of soft-shelled tortoise to ashes and grind them into powder for external application. Such ashes are highly effective in curing prolapse of rectum caused by persistent dysentery or feficiency of vital energy.

It was reported in some medical magazines that soft-shelled tortoise can even cure "aregenerative anaemia". To prepare the concoctior, a soft-shelled tortoise is first hanged up with its head pointing downwards and cleaned throughly. Its head is then cut off to allow blood to drip from the body to a bowl containing a little rice wine. The mixture is stirred slightly, after the blood is completely drained away from the tortoise, and will be taken by the patient at once. Anaemia will be improved after three to five consecutive doses. The treatment will be even more effective if it is taken together with blood nourishing Chinese herbs. It is also suggested that people suffering from cancer will benefit from eating soft-shelled tortoise.

"Little consumption with Great Nourishment"
by Yuan Min