plastrum testudinis

*Plastrum testudinis*, known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Gui Ban, is the ventral shell (plastron) of the turtle *Chinemys reevesii*. It is traditionally used to nourish yin, anchor yang, and strengthen bone. In modern clinical research, particularly in China, it is being investigated for its potential to induce the synthesis of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in patients with β-thalassemia. By increasing HbF levels, it aims to compensate for the defective adult hemoglobin production characteristic of the disease, thereby improving hematologic parameters and reducing the severity of anemia in non-transfusion-dependent patients. It is frequently studied as part of a combination therapy with *Radix Astragali* (Huang Qi).

Other names

Gui Banturtle plastronChinemys reevesii plastronGuiban