Library

(That is Xuejie [Dragon's Blood]. When used, it must first be ground into powder and sifted for use in pills and powders. If pounded together with other herbs, it will turn to dust and fly away.)

[Flavor and Properties]
Sweet, salty, neutral, non-toxic.

[Indications]
Sudden pain in the heart and abdomen; bleeding from metal wounds; breaking up accumulated blood to stop pain and promote flesh regeneration; eliminating pathogenic qi from the five zang organs; traumatic injuries from falls or blows; all kinds of pain; stabbing pain caused by chaotic blood and qi; internal injury resulting in blood accumulation; tonifying deficiency. All should be taken with wine. Tonifies the pericardium collateral and insufficient liver blood; benefits yang essence; eliminates stagnant yin qi; applies externally to treat all malignant sores, scabies, and tinea that fail to heal over a long period. Those with an impatient temperament should not use it excessively. It draws out pus, disperses stagnant blood and various pains. Treats women's blood and qi disorders, and pediatric convulsions and spasms. Li Shizhen said: Qijie (Xuejie) is the resinous fluid of trees, similar to human marrow and blood. Its sweet and salty flavor enters the blood level. It is likely a herb for the Foot-Shaoyin and Hand-Shaoyin meridians. Since the Liver and Pericardium both govern blood, this is why. Liu Wansu of Hejian stated: "Xuejie removes blood-related pain and is the holy medicine for harmonizing blood." This is correct. Ruxiang [Frankincense] and Moyao [Myrrh], although they treat blood diseases, also enter the qi level; this herb, however, specializes in the blood level.

(All snakes have noses pointing downward, but this snake's nose points upward. It has square-patterned markings on its back, hence its name. The head and tail sections, each one chi long, are highly toxic and should not be used. Remove the skin and bones, soak in wine for three days, then roast over fire until all skin and bones are removed. This substance is very toxic and precautions are essential. After roasting, storing it prevents insect infestation. Its bone spines must be discarded far away as they can injure people; their toxicity is the same as that of the live animal.)

[Flavor and Properties]
Sweet, salty, warm, toxic. (Best when combined with wine.)

[Indications]
Wind-damp bi syndrome causing numbness; tendon and vessel contraction and stiffness; facial paralysis (deviation of mouth and eyes); hemiplegia; joint pain; weakness of the legs preventing prolonged standing; sudden itching due to wind; severe scabies and tinea; treating lung wind causing nasal congestion; floating wind urticaria; vitiligo, ulcers, and spots on the body. Generally treats all wind syndromes, tetanus, pediatric wind-heat acute and chronic convulsive disorders, and spasms; scrofula and fistulas; yaws; inverted smallpox lesions. The nature of the snake is agile and penetrating, capable of guiding medicinal properties to areas affected by wind pathogens, thus enabling the treatment of wind diseases. Furthermore, since the Flower Snake feeds on Nanaxing [Stemona root/Stemona rhizome], it can penetrate bones and search out wind, arresting convulsions and stopping spasms. It is a crucial herb for treating wind-bi, convulsions, leprosy, tinea, and malignant sores. It penetrates internally to the zang-fu organs and externally through the skin, reaching everywhere. When taking snake wine preparations, one must strictly avoid exposure to wind.