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(Compendium of Materia Medica)

[Names] Li Shizhen said: The character for snake was anciently written as "Ta" (it), and in vulgar script, various forms exist. Because it moves with a winding and coiling motion, it is named so. People in the Lingnan region eat it, calling it sometimes "E" or sometimes "Mao Shan" (reed eel). According to research: The *Classic of Mountains and Seas* states that people in the southwest overseas regions call insects "snakes" and snakes "fish." This indicates that such usage has existed since ancient times.

[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen said: There are many trivial accounts regarding snakes that cannot be simply categorized. In terms of character etymology, the symbol "Ta" resembles the shape of a snake and is associated with the south in the Bagua (Eight Trigrams). Among creatures, it belongs to venomous insects (from *Shuowen Jiezi*). They appear in black, gold, emerald, spotted, and floral colors (see individual entries). Although they are venomous insects, some are non-venomous; some have hair (the pit viper has hair among its patterns). Although they crawl on their bellies, some have four feet (scales snakes, thousand-year vipers, Gouyin, and lizards all have legs). Some have crests (the most venomous), some have horns (the triangle-headed snake has horns), some can fly (*Classic of Mountains and Seas* says: Fei She [flying snakes] are abundant in Chaishang. *Xunzi* cites *Classic of Mountains and Seas*: In the state of Sushen, there is Qin She [zither snake], with a beast's head and snake's body); some have human faces (*Jianghu Yiji* says: When seeing a person open their mouth, it exhales air like ash); some have two heads (two heads and two bodies; their appearance predicts severe drought. *Guanzi* says: The essence of dried water is named... used to catch fish and turtles); some have forked tails (*Guang Zhi* records: Zhong Yun says: Duo She [rudder snake] resembles a rudder, seven to eight chi long, and there are many green ones (i.e., bamboo root snakes) and white snakes, very numerous, coming out in the fourth and fifth months to capture them. Only those beyond a hundred li are safe from bites). Snakes emerge in spring and feed upon emerging (they hibernate in winter with soil in their mouths. Upon emerging in spring, they expel it, which becomes Snake Huangshi [yellow stone]). Since the snake is already a snake, its tongue is bifid (from *Nanzi*). Duan Chengshi said: When angry, a snake's venom is concentrated in its head and tail. Its pearl is in its mouth (Lu Tian said: The Dragon Pearl is in the mouth, fond of throwing into dark places. Seeing a person open their mouth, it exhales air like ash). It moves in a winding manner and sheds its skin multiple times (*Bianhua Lun* says: Dragons change bones, snakes change skins). Its nature understands herbal medicine (from the story of the father: Seeing a snake injured, another snake brought grass to apply to the wound, then left. That person collected this grass to treat sores, naming it Snake... i.e., retreats. Duan Chengshi said: When humans see snakes mating, three... Zhen and... *Yiji* says: In the Jianghuai region, there is a beast named Neng, transformed from a snake spirit. In winter it becomes a pheasant, and in spring returns to being a snake. *Book of Songs · Xiao Ya* says: Large waist purely female, taking the snake as male. The snake seeks it... also). It also shares qi with snakeheads and eels... Magpies cry and flee when seeing snakes; peacocks jump joyfully when seeing snakes). Bamboo transforms into snakes, and snakes transform into pheasants. Seeing a single bamboo stalk, the center has already formed a snake shape, while branches and leaves remain unchanged. Furthermore, woodcutters in Tonglu saw a snake transforming into a pheasant; the head and neck were formed, but the body remained that of a snake. Thus, one knows that bamboo transforms into snakes, and snakes transform into pheasants). Snakes can ride clouds... Eyes round (from *Shuyi Ji*. Large snakes swallow deer (detailed in this entry); Xuan She [black snake] swallows Lu [large deer] (from *Classic of Mountains and Seas*, presented by Persia. Resembles a mouse... Mouse... said: Once saw a black snake over ten zhang long. A wild wolf bit the snake's head and dragged it away; they mutually fear and submit). Old farmers (*Qia Wen Ji* says: Large toads are named Tianfu [Field Father]; when seeing a snake, they bite its... it is finished). Snakes command leopards to stop, yet there are Tapirs that eat snakes (*...and iron*). Turtles and snakes share similar qi, yet there are creatures that eat snakes... also), Maggots delight in belts (from *Zhuangzi*). ...eats its brain and eyes. Toads eat maggots, maggots eat snakes, and snakes eat toads... The snake opens its mouth, allowing them into its belly to eat). When the Zhen bird steps, snakes emerge; stones turn themselves, taking snakes to eat; once the snake enters the mouth... Animals that eat snakes (Snake Eagles, Snake Harriers. See other entries); Tigers, monkeys, muntjacs, musk deer, and cattle are all beasts that eat snakes (Monkeys eat snakes. Cattle eating snakes results in toxic solitary liver). The insects eaten by snakes include frogs, mice, swallows, sparrows, bats, and bird chicks. The herbs eaten by snakes include celery, eggplant, Stone Nan, cornelian cherry, and Snake Millet (i.e., Snake Zi [seeds]). Things detested by snakes include lotus..., Snake Net Grass, and goose droppings; also Realgar, Orpiment..., Ram Horns, and centipedes (*Qianjin Fang* says: When entering mountains, wear Realgar and Orpiment from Wudu, or burn ram horns to create smoke, or keep centipedes in tubes, then snakes dare not approach). Accidentally touching lettuce causes blindness (from... Zang Qi said: If a snake has feet, seeing them is inauspicious... Heat it, pour wine on it, place the snake on top, and the feet will be visible). If a snake coils around a person's foot, pouring hot urine or hot water on it causes it to release itself; if a snake enters a human orifice, moxibustion with moxa cones or irritation with pepper powder causes it to exit (Moxa cones applied to the snake's tail, or cutting the tail and stuffing it with pepper powder, causes it to exit). Internal antidotes for snake venom include Realgar, Fritillaria, garlic, Chinese onion, and Xanthium; external treatments for snakebites include Isatis root, Chrysanthemum indicum leaf, Aconite poison, Turmeric, dried ginger, Alum, black soybean leaves, Vitex trifolia leaves, Ophiopogon japonicus herb, dog feces, goose feces, and Cai Juji...