Which herb nourishes Yin, anchors Yang, and removes masses?

• A. Gui Ban
• B. Long Gu
• C. Bie Jia
• D. Shen Gu

Answer: (C)

Bie Jia is the herb that combines Yin nourishment with anchoring of Yang while also dissolving masses. Nourishing Yin provides the substrate for stable, grounded Yang—the Yin helps keep internal heat and internal wind from flaring up, so the Yang remains steady rather than rebellious. Anchoring Yang then stabilizes the body’s exterior and prevents movement of pathogenic factors that could worsen lumps. The ability to dissolve or disperse masses comes from its heavy, sinking nature and its tradition of breaking up stagnation and phlegm-qi accumulations, which are the usual underlying causes of lumps in Chinese medicine.

Gui Ban also nourishes Yin and anchors Yang, but its primary strength is tonifying Yin and stabilizing interior conditions rather than specifically dissolving masses. Long Gu and Shen Gu mainly anchor the Yang and calm the spirit or stabilize the exterior; they’re less associated with dissolving lumps. So, the combination of Yin nourishment, Yang anchoring, and mass-dissolving action points most strongly to soft-shelled turtle shell.