Tortoise Meat

Kurma (Tortoise/Turtle) meat is heavy, unctuous and cooling. It is particularly beneficial for the eyes. It is strengthening and nourishing. It is considered one of the heavier aquatic meats. Verses: 46.

• Chakshushya (beneficial for eyes)
• Balya (strengthening)
• Brimhana (nourishing)

51 Matsya varga – group of fish म या रो हतापाठ नकूमकु भीरककटाः शुि तश खो श बूकशफर व म चि काः चुलूक न मकर शशुमार त म गलाः राजी च ल चमा या च मांस म याहुर टधा म ृ यं वै क रकं क च ातुदं च बलेशयम ् ासहं च महाम ृ यमपचरं मा यम टधा Rohita (red fish), pathina (boal), kurma (tortoise), kumbhira (gavial, alligator), karkata (crab), sukti (pearl mussel), sankha (conch shell), urdu (otter), sambuka (comman snail), safari (large glistening fish), varmi candrika 9a kind of cat fish) culuki 9propoise,

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

The surface of the spleen appears smooth similar to the dorsum of the tortoise.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

The bite by the darvikara sarpa is characterized by minute fang marks, is black, there is absence of bleeding, swelling having the shape of back of a tortoise and it produces several disorders due to aggravation of vata.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

[124-127] The fresh fat of the alligator, fish, tortoise or the porpoise prepared similarly as described above is recommended as nasal medication and for internal administration.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)

Varahadamshtra (boar's tusk lesion), Valmika (anthill-like lesion), Kachchhapi (tortoise-shell lesion), Tilakaalaka (mole), Gardabhi (donkey lesion), Rakasa, Yavaprurva, and Vidarika.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 7: Rogagananam (Enumeration of Diseases)

Arbuda (tumor), Talu-pitika (palatal vesicle), Kachchhapi (tortoise-shaped lesion), Talu-samhati (palatal adhesion), Galashundi (uvulitis), Talu-shosha (palatal dryness), Talu-paka (palatal inflammation), and Pupputa (blister).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 7: Rogagananam (Enumeration of Diseases)

Red rice, barley, green gram (Vigna radiata), wheat (Triticum aestivum), tortoise meat, soup from arid-land animals, grapes (Vitis vinifera), wood apple (Limonia acidissima), and coconut (Cocos nucifera) are recommended.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 30: Diet for Insanity (Unmada Pathyapathyam)

Old ghee, green gram, wheat, red rice, tortoise meat, soup from arid-land animals, milk, Brahmi leaves (Bacopa monnieri), and Vacha (Acorus calamus) are wholesome.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 31: Diet for Epilepsy (Apasmara Pathyapathyam)

Soup made from the meat of roosters, peacocks, and similar birds, soup of Shringi and Madgura fish, and soup made from tortoise meat are recommended.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 44: Diet for Edema (Shotha Pathyapathyam)

An abscess, resembling (the back of) a tortoise in shape and attended with a burning sensation, is called Kachchapika by the wise.

— Sushruta Samhita, Nidana Sthana, Chapter 6: Prameha Nidanam - Diseases of the Urinary Tracts

Kachchapika: 5-6 hard nodular eruptions in tortoise shape.

— Sushruta Samhita, Nidana Sthana, Chapter 13: Kshudraroganidanam - Minor Ailments

An abscess, resembling (the back of) a tortoise in shape and attended with a burning sensation, is called Kachchapika by the wise.

— Sushruta Samhita, Prameha Nidanam - Diseases of the Urinary Tracts

Kachchapika: 5-6 hard nodular eruptions in tortoise shape.

— Sushruta Samhita, Kshudraroganidanam - Minor Ailments

Cold sauveeraka (fermented preparation) or ground and soaked in juice — the intelligent physician should process it with turtle bile or rohita (fish) bile.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)