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Baihua She (White-Spotted Snake)

The flavor is sweet and salty, the nature is warm, and it is toxic. It primarily treats wind-stroke (stroke), bi-syndrome due to dampness with numbness, tendon and vessel contraction and urgency, deviation of the mouth and eye, hemiplegia, pain in bone joints, leprosy-like diseases caused by severe wind (leprosy), sudden pruritus, weakness in the legs unable to stand for long periods. It is also known as Qianni She (Qianbi Snake), and those with white patterns are considered superior. It grows in various mountains of southern regions and Shu Commandery. It is captured in September and October and dried over fire. (Added later)

Minister Yuxi et al. respectfully cite *Yao Xing Lun* (Treatise on Medicinal Properties): Baihua She serves as the sovereign drug. It treats nasal congestion due to lung-wind, vitiligo on the body, ulcer spots, and floating wind urticaria.

*Tujing* (Illustrated Classic) records: Baihua She grows in various mountains of southern regions and Shu Commandery; currently, it is found in Qianzhong, Qizhou, and Dengzhou. Its dorsal pattern forms squares, surpassing ordinary white-spotted snakes. It likes to bite people's feet. People in Qianzhong who are bitten have the limb severed immediately. After recuperation and healing, or if a wooden prosthetic is attached, walking is not hindered. It is captured in September and October and dried over fire. It cures wind-diseases faster than other snakes. However, it has great toxicity; the head and tail, each one chi long, are especially toxic and should not be used; only the middle section is employed. Dried snakes are soaked in wine, skin and bones removed, roasted, and then stored so they do not suffer from insect damage. The bones must be discarded far away; otherwise, if they pierce the human body, the effect is nearly the same as a live snake bite. When this snake enters a house and suddenly emits a smell of rotting melons, one must not approach it and must quickly avoid and remove it. In Qianzhong, when treating widespread leprosy-like diseases that other medicines cannot reach, the middle section of this live snake is taken. A large brick is heated red-hot, vinegar is poured on it to generate steam, and the snake is placed on top, covered with a basin overnight. This process is repeated three times. The bones are removed, the meat is taken, seasoned with five flavors, cooked thoroughly, and given to the patient to consume in one dose. After a day and night of "mingxuan" (a state of dizziness or adverse reaction indicating detoxification), the patient wakes up, the sores peel off with the skin, and the person is cured. For dried snakes, authenticity is determined by whether the eyes are sunken.

Lei Gong said: Whenever this is used, it is said to treat wind. Why does it treat wind? Because the snake's nature is agile and penetrating, guiding medicinal properties to the site of wind-disease, hence designated as an envoy drug.

For all snakes, one must identify the sex and origin. There are Wushe (Black Snakes) from Qizhou weighing between three qian and one liang, which are excellent. Those with complete heads and tails, eyes not closed, resembling live ones, with reverse-growing hairs on the head, one set every two cun, about half a fen long, with head and tail facing each other, are suitable for medicinal use. If such snakes are obtained locally, they should be kept for near-term use; those weighing two liang and three qian do not belong to other origins. *Ganning Ji* records: This snake does not eat living things, only inhales the qi of reed flowers and south winds, and lives on reed branches. It is hardest to catch and does not harm humans. There are also those weighing ten liang to one yi, with black glossy bodies, round heads, pointed tails, red glowing eyes, which are also suitable for use. A white intestinal belt under the belly, about one cun long, indicates a male snake. After capture, remove the head, skin, scales, and belt, cut into segments of about two cun. Soak in bitter wine (vinegar) overnight, drain the next morning, dry over willow charcoal fire, then roast with animal suet until the suet is exhausted. After roasting dry, dig a pit about one chi deep under the house in the Si direction, place the snake inside overnight, roast dry again the next morning, and use as needed. When processing all snakes, remove the gallbladder and upper skin; whether dry or fresh, they must be boiled in wine before use. Sun Simiao said: Do not eat snake meat in April; it harms humans. *Taiping Guangji* records Zhao Yanxi stating: For areas bitten by vicious snakes, apply snake skin and roast over it to draw out the toxic qi, which stops the toxicity.

*Yanyi* says: Among all snakes, Baihua She is unique in having its nose pointing upward, while others point downward. It has square patterns on its back, hence its name. When used, remove the head and tail, soak in wine for three days, discard the wine, roast over fire, and completely remove skin and bones. This substance is highly toxic; precautions are essential.