Turtle: Bei Jia and Gui Ban

The way of slaughtering a turtle in order to retrieve its shell or meat is brutal and torturous. The only way to kill a turtle without pain is to euthanize it or use anesthetic to numb the pain. Since this will taint the meat for food an medicinal purposes this is not done. The following procedures are straight from the Materia Medica.

"Defeated Turtle Plate"
Traditionally it was thought that a turtle that was already dead was the most potent form. However, this thought has changed because now the Chinese believe that whatever killed the turtle will transfer to the meat and shell. This is no longer done but is referred to in ancient texts.

"Decocted Turtle Plate"
Decocting the turtle consists of boiling it alive. This reduces the gelatinous content of the shell which reduces its quality but it is still used this way.

"Blood Turtle Plate".
The turtle is attached to the inside of its shell ways to cut it out is bloody and painful. It consists of cutting the turtle out of its shell alive. This is considered better quality than decocting the turtle.

If you are still planning on using this in your practice after reading this then YOU MUST Watch this video to fully understand the sacrifice which must be made http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_t57m_ReyM