There is a long history of turtle shells being used in Chinese medicine. Shen Nong's Herbal Classic-- the oldest text about traditional Chinese medicines, written more than 2000 years ago--clearly lists the properties and main medical uses of turtle and tortoise shells.
龜板在中藥使用的歷史淵遠流長，二千多年前我國最古老的藥物文獻《神農本草經》，已清楚記載其性味與主治病症。