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(Song Kaibao Bencao records)
The snake's body surges and flows, resembling the image of dispersion as wind blows over water. Perception, brightness, emptiness, and obscurity interact to generate movement; thus, there is the concept of the Wind Wheel holding the world together.

[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, salty, warm, toxic.

[Indications] Primarily treats stroke (Zhong Feng), bi-syndrome caused by dampness leading to numbness and loss of sensation, tendon and vessel spasm and stiffness, deviation of the mouth and eye, hemiplegia, joint pain, weakness of the legs unable to stand for long periods, sudden wind-induced itching, and severe leprosy-like sores and tinea (Da Feng Jie Xuan).

[Verification] It is said: Originally produced in southern regions and various mountains of Shu Commandery, nowadays only snakes from Qizhou enjoy fame, yet even in Qizhou they are not easily obtained. Those sold in markets and collected by official agencies are often counterfeit substitutes from Xingguo Prefecture in Jiangnan. Genuine Qizhou-produced snakes have a dragon head and tiger mouth; black base with white patterns; twenty-four square auspicious patterns on the flanks; ten bead-like spots on the abdomen; four long fangs in the mouth; one "Buddha nail" scale at the tail tip; intestines shaped like linked pearls; and two kidneys along the spine. Zong Ang stated: Most snakes have downward-pointing nostrils, but this species has upward-pointing nostrils. *Pi Ya* states: Snakes listen with their eyes. Snake catchers say that larger snakes are easier to control because their senses are sharp and they are accustomed to being restrained; smaller snakes are dull and often difficult to control. There are many species; only the black snake is gentle and does not bite, while the white-patterned snake bites humans and is highly toxic. Yuan Zhen in his *Changqing Collection* wrote: The venom of the white-patterned snake causes hair to stand on end; if one drinks stream water after being bitten, the water boils with mud and sand. Only the white-patterned snake from Qizhou is less vicious, so it is prized for medicinal use. Li Shizhen stated: It favors eating the leaves and flowers of *Photinia* (Shi Nan). Once caught from vines, sprinkling a handful of sand makes it coil motionless. Then, tie its head with *Bao Fu Ji* vine, hang it up, slit the belly with a knife, remove the entrails, place a bowl of water below, and it will twist its tail to wash its belly, likely to protect the wound. Then, fix it with bamboo sticks according to its coiled shape, dry it on a kiln. *Erya Yi* states: Snakes close their eyes upon death, except those from Qizhou, whose eyes remain open as if alive; those from the border of Shu and Qizhou have one eye open and one closed, which is inexplicable. Locals say: To verify authenticity, hang the snake over a wine jar or vat, pour several dou of wine, and the wine will surge and flow, just as lodestone attracts iron or amber attracts mustard seeds. Otherwise, even if the appearance is complete, it lacks efficacy. Locals who drink this wine gain great benefits. Using this product in medicine yields immeasurable power. Lei Gong stated: The snake's nature is swift and creeping, capable of guiding medicines to areas affected by wind diseases. Hence, it can treat wind disorders. Li Shizhen stated: Wind moves quickly and changes frequently; snakes also move quickly and change frequently. The white-patterned snake, favoring *Photinia*, can penetrate bones to search out wind, stop convulsions and spasms, making it an essential herb for wind-bi syndrome. It acts internally to calm the zang-fu organs and externally to reach the skin, penetrating everywhere. Processing method: Remove head and tail. Soak in wine for three nights in spring and autumn, one night in summer, five nights in winter. Dry over charcoal fire. Repeat this process three times. Store in a clay pot, bury in the ground for one night. Take out, remove skin and bones, and use the meat. This processing method ensures long-term preservation if sealed tightly; otherwise, with skin and bones, or if exposed to moisture and mold, it is prone to worm damage and decay.

[Interpretation] It is said: The character "snake" was anciently written as "ta". It consists of the insect radical and a long form, symbolizing the shape of a coiled tail hanging down. In ancient times, people living in grass huts feared snake hazards, so they asked each other, "Is there no 'ta' (snake)?" Later, the insect radical was added, and the pronunciation changed. *Kaogong Ji* classifies it as a crawling creature, hence the phrase "tui shi wei she" (leisurely and unhurried) uses the character "she". The snake's nature is swift and creeping, dwelling alone in hidden places, embodying the function of Xun (Wind/Wood) doubling upon wind. Wind is the fundamental nature of movement and stillness. Its body is straight, symbolizing Jia Wood; its tail crawls sinuously, symbolizing Yi Wood. Although marked by the Wood element of Jia Gallbladder and Yi Liver, it possesses the complete numbers of Heavenly Stems (10), Earthly Branches (12), and Solar Terms (24). *Pi Ya* says: Snakes listen with their eyes. *Erya Yi* says snakes close their eyes upon death, but Qizhou snakes keep them open, and border snakes have one open and one closed, which is inexplicable. However, the Liver opens into the eyes. Zhuangzi said: The snake loves the wind, the wind loves the eyes, so the snake listens with its eyes. Spirit concentrates in the eyes. Qizhou is in the southeast, possessing the generative number of the Xun position, so it remains unchanged until death. *Pi Ya* says snakes coil towards Ren (North). It also states that among the twelve earthly branches, Chen is Dragon and Si is Snake. Si has six yang lines; it becomes a snake rather than a dragon because the Dragon reaches its peak (Kang) here and should transform into a Snake. Although Ren is fixed in the North, the Snake does not belong to Kan (Water). This is because Ding faces Ren; Ding and Ren combine to transform into Heavenly Stem Wind-Wood. Hai faces Si; Hai and Si correspond to wait for Branch Wind-Wood. How could it reach such a peak? It should be a Snake. Thus, the snake has two kidneys: the left is called the Water Organ, Yin Water of the Hai branch; the right is called the Fire Organ, Yang Water of the Ren stem. With Ren and Si, there is Ding and Hai; with circulation, there is opposition; with Stem Wood, there is Branch Wood. Not only does spirit concentrate in the Gallbladder orifice, but also in the Gallbladder organ. Observe the python's gallbladder rotating with the sun: in the first decade, it is in the head; in the middle decade, in the heart; in the last decade, in the tail. There is also the "Responsive Gallbladder": striking the head causes the head to respond, striking the tail causes the tail to respond, striking left/right causes left/right to respond. Taking this responsive gallbladder allows revival. Spirit concentrates in the Liver and Gallbladder, which proves this. Furthermore, male snakes call in the upper wind, females in the lower wind, transforming into form. They swim in mist and dew, ride wind and rain, and do not stop until traveling a thousand li. Embodiment of Xun doubling upon wind, where Wind is the fundamental nature of movement and stillness, further proves this. My predecessor said: Snakes embody Wind nature; the white-patterned snake additionally embodies Metal restriction. Therefore, wherever Wind force fails to move or stabilize, using this herb enhances the power of Great Wind, maintaining interaction to create movement, mutually holding the balance of the Four Elements. Hence, it primarily treats stroke: mild cases involve bi-obstruction, numbness, itching, or tinea; severe cases involve sudden wind, major wind, tendon/vessel spasm, joint pain, deviation of mouth/eye, hemiplegia, or leg weakness preventing prolonged standing. These are all manifestations of Wind Qi connecting to the Liver, the Qi of the Liver's fascia. Large tendons gather at joints, where bone and tendon adhere closely. Mild cases represent insulting the Earth element controlled by Wood, causing dust to fly and hills to collapse; severe cases represent damaging the form endowed by Wood, causing vegetation to fall and trees to break and fall.