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To disperse and expel wind.
Sweet and warm in nature. Tonifies the five Zang organs, eliminates wind-dampness.

Blood from the tail of the eel treats deviation of the mouth and eye (mix with a small amount of Moschus [Musk], apply to the right side if the left side is deviated, and to the left side if the right side is deviated; wash off immediately once alignment is restored. *Qianjin Fang* states: using blood of Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum [Turtle Shell] or sanguis cristae Galli [Rooster Comb Blood] combined with Longgu [Fired Earth] also treats deviation of the mouth and eye), drops into the ear treat otalgia, drops into the nose treat epistaxis, applied to the eye treats corneal opacity after smallpox recovery (Li Shizhen said: Eels are good at burrowing, sharing the same nature as snakes. Thus, they can travel through meridians, treating wind-pathogens and diseases of the orifices. When wind-pathogen invades the vessels, using its blood as the main treatment follows the principle of similarity).

Tonify deficiency, eliminate parasites.
Sweet and neutral in nature. Expels wind and eliminates parasites (Note: Parasites arise from wind, hence the character for "wind" contains the radical for "insect"). Treats bone-steaming consumptive disease (*Gu Zheng Lao Zhai*), damp-bi syndrome, wind-pruritus, and erosion/itching of the vulva (all caused by parasites. Zhang Ding said: Burning eel bones produces smoke that turns mosquitoes into water; fumigating bamboo and wood repels termites; placing them in chests repels various clothes moths). Tonifies deficiency (There was a disease called "Zhai" [consumption/infectious disease] that spread contagiously, killing several people. The sick were nailed in coffins and abandoned in flowing water to permanently cut off transmission. A fisherman found this strange, opened the coffin, and saw a living woman. He took her to his fishing hut, fed her extensively on eel, and she recovered, eventually becoming his wife. *Shenghui Fang* records: Eating roasted eel without seasoning treats diseases caused by parasites, heart pain with frequent vomiting, and cold qi attacking upward causing chest and abdominal fullness).

Drain heat, brighten the eyes, protect the heart.
Ranae Ophicephali [Snake Gallbladder] inherits the Qi of Ji Earth, while its gallbladder belongs to Jia-Yi Wind-Wood. It is cold in nature, slightly toxic, bitter in taste with a hint of sweetness. Cools blood, brightens eyes, treats childhood malnutrition (*Gan* syndrome), eliminates parasites, and primarily treats diseases of the Jueyin (Liver Wood) and Taiyin (Spleen Earth) channels.
The meat is extremely rich and delicious, with similar therapeutic effects.
Take a grain-of-millet-sized piece of gallbladder, place it on water; if it spins rapidly, it is authentic (In early months, the gallbladder is near the head; in mid-months, near the heart; in late months, near the tail. It protects the heart and relieves pain; holding it in the mouth during flogging allows survival even under heavy blows).

Disperse and expel wind-dampness.
Salty, sweet, and warm in nature. Snakes move swiftly and shed their skin, akin to how wind moves swiftly and changes constantly. The Banded Snake (*Baihua She*) feeds on *Stemona sessilifolia* (eating flowers and leaves of *Stemona*, which is acrid, bitter, and treats wind disorders). Thus, it can penetrate internally to the Zang-Fu organs, externally to the skin, search out wind from the bones, arrest convulsions, and stop spasms. Treats wind-damp paralysis and leprosy-like conditions (*Kai Bao Ben Cao* states: treats stroke-induced deviation of the mouth and eye, and hemiplegia. *Jing Shu* states: These symptoms are definitely caused by Yin deficiency, blood insufficiency, and internal heat, differing from those caused by wind-dampness. Therefore, *Baihua She* may not be suitable; differentiation is necessary. When taking snake wine or medicines, one must strictly avoid exposure to wind). Originates from Qizhou. Features a dragon-like head and tiger-like jaws, black body with white patterns, twenty-four square "Sheng" patterns on the flanks, and bead-like spots on the abdomen. The tail has a "Buddha's fingernail" shape; even after death, the eyes remain clear. Those from other regions do not have these features. The head and tail are toxic; remove three cun from each end, though sometimes only the head or tail is used alone. Soak in wine for three days, remove all skin and bones; one large snake yields only four taels of pure meat.