Which herb nourishes Yin and subdues Yang, treats palpable masses?

• A. Deng Xin Cao
• B. Gan Jiang
• C. Ban Xia
• D. Bie Jia

Answer: (D)

Nourishing Yin while subduing Yang is especially useful when palpable masses are involved, because these lumps often reflect Yin deficiency with rising, unsteady Yang and some form of stagnation. Bie Jia (turtle shell) matches this pattern: it is salty and cold, which nourishes Yin and helps calm and anchor the Yang. At the same time, it has a softening and dispersing effect on hard masses, making it a classic choice for goiter, scrofula, and other palpable lumps that arise from stagnation with Yin deficiency. The other herbs listed do not combine both Yin nourishment and Yang anchoring, or they focus on other actions (clearing heat, warming interior, or transforming phlegm) that don’t address the Yin-Yang balance underlying these masses.