Library

Baihua She (White Flower Snake)

Wushao She (Black-headed Snake / Zaocys dhumnades)

She Lei (Snake Category)

Jin She (Golden Snake)

The flavor is sweet and salty, the nature is warm. It is toxic. Although snakes exist in various regions, only those from Qizhou are preferred. Its head has small horn-like sharp projections, and its tail ends with a shape resembling a Buddha's fingernail. The neck is encircled by pearl-like white spots, and the back is patterned with Fangsheng (square knot) designs. Hence the name; it appears quite unique. Most snakes have noses pointing downward, but this one's nose points upward. (Also known as Jianbi She, or "crooked-nose snake.") Most snakes close their eyes upon death, but this species keeps them open, appearing alive. Snakes captured at the border of Qizhou and Lian often have one eye closed and one open. This feature can be used to distinguish genuine specimens from fakes, though the rationale is difficult to comprehend. Its nature is toxic and it bites people's feet; victims often sever the bitten limb themselves. After recovery through nourishment, wooden prosthetics may be attached for walking. It frequently enters human dwellings, emitting a fishy, foul odor like rotting melons. Upon smelling it, people hastily avoid and drive it away. Once obtained, dry it over fire until thoroughly desiccated; remove the head, tail, bones, and skin completely, then soak in wine and drink immediately. It stops wind-pain very rapidly due to its penetrating nature; it removes wind-toxin even better because its efficacy is doubled. (Its power is twice that of other snakes.) For urgent conditions such as leprosy, vitiligo, loss of eyebrows and beard, and collapse of the nasal bridge, seek it out urgently. For conditions like knee-heron wind, chicken-claw wind, tendon and claw spasms, and muscle wasting, find it quickly. Where other medicines fail, it can guide therapeutic effects to success.

Wushao She has a sweet and neutral flavor, a gentle nature, and does not bite objects. Its color is black like lacquer, with three ridges on its back. (Those resembling a sword spine are especially good.) Its tail is thin, pointed, and long, capable of threading through a hundred copper coins (a remarkable trait). Its eyes are not sunken. Its therapeutic efficacy is slightly slower, and it is widely distributed and abundant in various places. Process it according to the previous methods without error; use it freely in pills or wine infusions. If preparing ointments, add more heads and tails. It treats numbness of the skin caused by various winds and disperses urticaria and body itching.

Jin She has a golden body that shines in sunlight; it is mostly produced in Bingcheng Prefecture and grows only about one chi long. When roasted yellow and boiled for decoction, it is edible; it can expel heavy metal poisoning.

There is also Yin She (Silver Snake), which can resolve silver toxicity.

Shetui (Snake Slough) is incompatible with wine and magnetite; it should be harvested only on the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu). Removing cataracts clarifies vision; it stops vomiting and reverses rebellious qi, warding off various evils. It treats adult intestinal hemorrhoids and gu-poison, and pediatric convulsions and epilepsy. Additionally, when roasted over fire, it can be applied externally to treat sores and rashes.