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Bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature, and toxic. It primarily treats sores and ulcers.
When the snake meat is fermented into wine, it cures leprosy (skin diseases such as lepromatous leprosy), various fistulas, heart and abdominal pain, descends stagnant Qi, and eliminates gu poison. The mice swallowed by its stomach are slightly toxic and treat rat scrofula (lymphatic tuberculosis).
Tao Hongjing stated: The fangshe (Viper) is yellowish-black with a yellow chin and pointed mouth; its venom is the most potent. The hui (Horned Viper) is short and flat in shape, and its toxicity is no different from that of the fangshe. Ordinary people who do not receive immediate treatment often die. There are many types of snakes, but only these two species and the qing she (Green Snake) are fierce; each has specific formulas for treatment. Snakes have feet. They should be collected on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. By heating the ground and pouring wine upon it, the snake positions itself in the center with its feet extended. Daoist practitioners use the chilian she (Red-banded Snake) and huanghan she (Yellow-chinned Snake), which are often found near human dwellings, swallowing young mice and bird chicks. When the abdomen is distended, it is cut open, the contents extracted, and dried. The commentary of the Tang Bencao states: Snake feces treat hemorrhoids; they can be collected by raising snakes in containers. Ash from snake skin treats dingzhong (carbuncles), malignant sores, and bone abscesses. Shed snake skin treats body pruritus, vitiligo, scabies, tinea, etc. The fangshe resembles earth color, has a reversed nostril, a long mouth, a short body, and indistinguishable head and tail; it is highly toxic and also known as [missing character] she, with no distinction between two types. It is abundant in the region between the Han and Mian rivers in Shannan. Ministers Yuxi et al., according to the Shuben Tujing, state: Those that are coarse and short, yellowish-black like earth color, with white spots and reversed nostrils, are found in Jinzhou, Fangzhou, and Junzhou in Shannan. Chen Cangqi stated: Regarding the fangshe, since there are numerous snake species used medicinally, the Ben Jing records them without detailed analysis. This fangshe is short, has a reversed nostril, brocade-like patterns, and some resemble earth color. Contact causes limb amputation or bodily erosion and ulceration. During July and August when venom is strongest, the fangshe bites trees to vent its qi, causing the trees to die. It also spits saliva onto vegetation; contact causes swelling and sores that are difficult to treat suddenly, named she mo chuang (snake desert sore). The therapeutic effects of the fangshe are roughly the same as those of the hui. Among all snakes, only this one is viviparous. Besides its main functions, mountain people in Xuancheng take one live fangshe, place it in a vessel, add one dou of pure wine, bury it in horse urine, and after one year, open it. The wine flavor remains, and the snake has digested. It treats wind disease, various evil winds, malignant sores, scrofula, skin stubborn numbness, half-body atrophy, and severe diseases of the skin, limbs, and internal organs. Taking no more than one sheng usually causes a slight trembling sensation throughout the body; afterwards, other medicines lose efficacy. It has mild toxicity and should not be taken in one dose. Dead mice in the stomach treat rat scrofula. Its grease penetrates any object it touches. It also treats leprosy. One fangshe or other snakes can be burned on a seat; red worms resembling horse tails will emerge, and the snake meat should then be inserted into the nose. It also treats bloody dysentery. Bones burned to black powder, taken with water in doses of three qianbi, mixed with other snakes, are effective. The Yaoxing Lun states: Fangshe gallbladder acts as the sovereign herb. It treats lower body parasites and is excellent for killing insects. Snake meat treats five types of hemorrhoids and intestinal wind with bloody diarrhea.
The detailed text in Tujing is under the item Ranshe Gallbladder.
Food Therapy: Treats various fistulas. Snake meat treats leprosy and various fistulas; it descends stagnant Qi and eliminates gu poison. If one does not suffer from these ailments, consumption is unnecessary. The Zhouhou Fang treats white leprosy. Take one large belly snake, do not injure it, and soak it in wine: one dou for a large snake, five sheng for a small one. Warm it slowly using bran fire until slightly hot. Take about one cun of snake meat, mix with lard from the twelfth lunar month, and apply externally. Mei Shi Fang treats arm and wrist pain. Take one dead snake, boil in water to obtain a thick decoction, and soak the swollen and painful area, changing it when cool.