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(Song Dynasty *Kaibao Bencao* Appendix)

【Names】 Wushaoshe (Black-keeled Snake, from *Bencao Gangmu*), Heihuashe (Black-flowered Snake, from *Bencao Gangmu*).

【Collection and Explanation】
Su Song stated: Wushaoshe is produced in the Shangluo Mountains. It has three keels on its back, and its color is black like lacquer. Its nature is gentle, and it does not bite. In the Jiangdong region, there is a Black-tip Snake that can coil around objects until they die; it also belongs to this category. This snake absorbs dew among reeds until it dries up; if its eyes remain sunken as if alive, it is called "Shangpin" (Top Grade). Those weighing between seven qian and one liang are considered best; those weighing ten liang to one yi (a large ancient weight unit) are medium grade; those that are thick and large have diminished efficacy. Forgers use other snakes smoked black to pass them off as genuine, but their eyes lack luster.

Kou Zongshi stated: The back of Wushaoshe is high, known in the world as "Jianshi Wushao" (Sword-spine Black-keeled Snake). Its tail is slender and fine; specimens capable of passing through a hole made by one hundred copper coins are excellent. Some may be over one zhang long. Its nature fears mice and wild wolves. Among all snake species, only this one is used most frequently in medicine.

Lei Xiao stated: For all snakes, one must distinguish male from female and origin. Wushaoshe from Qizhou has two cun of reverse hairs running along the head, about half a fen long, with head and tail aligned; when used in medicine, its effect is miraculous. Only those weighing under one liang are precious; local areas keep much of this for tribute. A white belt-like stripe under the belly, one cun long, indicates a male, which is suitable for medicinal use. After capture, remove the head, skin, scales, and the stripe. Cut into pieces, soak in Kujiu (bitter wine/vinegar) overnight, drain, and dry over willow charcoal fire. Then roast with Su (animal fat/butter). Dig a pit in the Si direction (southeast) under the eaves, bury for one night, then dry again before use. Alternatively, boil dry with wine.

Li Shizhen stated: There are two types of Wushaoshe: One with a sword-like spine and fine tail is superior. Another type is larger, lacks the sword spine, and has a slightly thicker tail, named Fengshaoshe (Wind-tip Snake); it can also treat wind diseases but is less potent.

【Flavor and Nature】 Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
*Yaoxing Lun* states: Slightly toxic.

【Indications】 Various stubborn Bi syndromes caused by wind pathogens, numbness and insensitivity of the skin, wind-induced pruritus and urticaria, tinea (from *Kaibao Bencao*), skin desquamation, scabies, and other sores (Zhen Quan).

【Attached Prescriptions】 Two old prescriptions, five new prescriptions.

**Leprosy (Da Feng):** *Chaoye Qianzai* records: A person in Shangzhou suffered from Da Feng (Leprosy). His family despised him and built a thatched hut for him in the mountains. A Wushaoshe fell into a wine jar. Unaware, the patient drank the wine and gradually recovered. Later, finding snake bones at the bottom, he realized the cause. *Zhili* records: To treat Da Feng. Steam three Wushaoshe until cooked, take the meat, dry and powder it. Make pills the size of rice grains using steamed dough balls, and feed them to a black chicken. Wait until the chicken eats them all. Cook the chicken, take the meat, dry and powder it. Take one qian mixed with wine. Or take as dough pills. Recovery occurs after consuming three to five chickens. *Mi Yun* records: Take one large Wushaoshe, kill and store it. Wait until it rots. Soak in two bowls of water for seven days, remove skin and bones. Add one sheng of rough rice, soak for one day, then dry. Starve a white chicken for one day, then feed it the dried rice. Wait until feathers fall out. Kill, cook, and eat the chicken, swallowing with wine.

[Note: Text gap filled based on context] Ingredients include: Fangfeng (bran-fried), Qianghuo, Niuxi, Tianma each 3 liang, Shudihuang 4 liang, Baijili (fried), Wujiaopi, Fangfeng, Guixin each 2 liang. Slice. Place in a silk bag, soak in 2 dou of pure wine (without ash residue), seal tightly for seven days. Take warm, one small cup, three times daily. Avoid chicken, goose, fish, meat, and "fa wu" (stimulating foods). (*Shenghui Fang*)

**Facial Acne:** Wushaoshe meat 2 liang, burnt to ash, mixed with lard from the twelfth lunar month for topical application. (*Shenghui Fang*)

**Infant Lockjaw (unable to suckle):** Wushaoshe (soaked in wine, skin and bones removed, roasted) 0.5 liang, Shexiang (Musk) 1 fen. Powdered. Use 0.5 fen per dose, mix with Jingjie decoction and administer. (*Shenghui Fang*)

**Traumatic Wind Stroke:** Stiff neck and straight body. Treated by Dingming San. Use Baihuashe (White-banded Snake) and Wushaoshe (take 2 cun behind the neck, wash with wine, moisten, and take meat), and one Quwugong (Centipede, whole, wine-roasted). Powder these. Take 3 qian per dose, mixed with warm wine.

**Paste**
**Indications:** Deafness. Wrap a bean-sized amount in cotton and insert into the ear. Miraculous effect (Li Shizhen, citing *Pujifang*).

**Gallbladder**
**Indications:** Da Feng Li Ji (Leprosy), Mu She Zhang Sai (Wooden Tongue Swelling/Obstruction) (Li Shizhen).

**Attached Prescriptions:** Two new prescriptions.

**Da Feng Longdan Paste:** Extremely effective for Da Feng. Take one winter melon, cut off a five-cun section, remove pulp. Dig a clean pit three chi deep. Place the melon inside. Put one Wushaoshe gallbladder and one Xiaoli (Pear) on top of the melon. Cover with soil. Check every three days to ensure the melon does not rot excessively. After forty-nine days (seven sevens), the three items transform into water within the melon rind. For minor wind diseases, take one spoonful. (Wang Shi's *Boji Fang*). Apply to the tongue; spit out saliva. (*Shengji Zonglu*)

**Skin**
**Indications:** Feng Du Wa Si (Wind-Toxic Qi), eye nebula (pterygium/cataract), tight lips, lip sores.

**Attached Prescription:** One new prescription.

**Pediatric Tight Lips, Spleen Heat Lip Sores:** Burn Wushaoshe skin to ash, mix with butter/fat for application. (*Shenghui Fang*)

**Eggs**
**Indications:** Da Feng Lai Ji (Severe Leprosy) (Li Shizhen stated: *Shengji Zonglu* treats Lai Feng by combining Wushaoshe eggs with other herbs to make pills, stating they have the same efficacy as snake meat).