味甘咸，性温有大毒，入肺肝二经。主肺风鼻塞，去瘾疹浮风，四肢不仁，骨节疼痛，
口眼 斜，半身不遂，癞麻风，白癜风，髭眉脱落，鼻柱塌坏，鹤膝风筋骨拘挛。凡使须火
烧一尺砖令通红，醋沃之使热气熏蒸，将蛇头尾各一尺，去净置砖上，以盆覆一宿，如此三
过，去骨取肉用，亦以眼不陷者为真。
按∶白花蛇专主皮肤之风，肺主皮毛，肝为风水，故都入之。然服之者，瞑睡一昼夜方
醒，善螫人，中足者，辄自断之，补养已痊。木接代步，不然令人死，其毒可知！然诸药不
效者，独能引达成功，以其性窜，直领药力至于风处，所谓大毒之病，必用大毒之药以攻之
是也。诸蛇鼻向下，惟此蛇鼻向上，背有方胜花纹，以此得名。愚谓凡用之，更须日日换酒，
浸
雷公云∶凡使用治风速于诸蛇，缘蛇性窜，即令引药至于有风疾处，故能治风。
味甘，性寒无毒，入脾经。主除邪气，破坚血，解结热，疗儿疳，贴痈肿，疗大伤。
凡使去皮及肠并爪，阴干，涂牛酥炙用。眉酥，主蛀牙恶疮疔肿，瘰 痔漏，助阳，其
肋涂
按∶虾蟆归脾，甘之故也，形状与蟾蜍相似，《本经》未尝分析。自陈藏器极口分殊。
以为虾蟆背有黑点，身小能跳接百虫，在陂泽间，举动极急。蟾蜍身大嘴黑，点多痱磊，不
能跳，不解作声，行动迟缓，腹下有丹书八字者。然意其功用，无甚差别，想有牝牡之分，
而种类之异也。
雷公云∶有多般勿误用，有黑虎，有 黄，有黄蛤，有蝼蝈，有蟾，其形各别。其虾蟆
皮上腹下有斑点，脚短不鸣叫者是也。黑虎身小黑嘴，脚小，斑 黄斑色，前脚大，后腿有
小尾子一条。黄蛤遍身黄色，腹下有脐带长五七分以来，所住处带下有自然汁出。蝼蝈即夜
鸣，腰细口大，皮苍黑色。蟾即黄斑，头有肉角。凡使虾蟆先去皮并肠及爪子，阴干，然后
涂酥炙，令干。每修事一个，用牛酥一分，炙尽为度。若使黑虎即和头尾皮，并阴干，酒浸
三日，漉出焙干用之。
[White-Flower Snake]
The taste is sweet and salty, the nature is warm with great toxicity. It enters the Lung and Liver meridians. It primarily treats nasal congestion caused by Wind in the lungs, removes urticaria (skin itching with rash) and floating Wind, treats numbness and lack of sensation in the four limbs, pain in bone joints, deviation of the mouth and eyes, hemiplegia, leprosy-like wind diseases, vitiligo, loss of beard and eyebrows, collapse of the nasal bridge, and joint contractures due to "Crane Knee Wind". When processing, one must heat a brick one chi long until red-hot, pour vinegar on it to generate steam, place the head and tail parts (each one chi long) of the snake on the brick after cleaning, cover with a basin overnight, repeat this three times, then remove the bones and use the meat. Authenticity can also be verified by checking if the eyes are sunken.
Commentary: White-Flower Snake specifically treats Wind affecting the skin. Since the Lungs govern the skin and hair, and the Liver governs Wind and Water, it enters both meridians. However, after ingestion, the patient falls into a deep sleep for a full day before waking. It bites people readily; if bitten on the foot, the patient often amputates the limb themselves, recovering only after nourishing treatment. If replaced with wood, otherwise death ensues, demonstrating its extreme toxicity! Yet, when other medicines fail, it alone can lead the medicinal power to success because its nature is penetrating and direct, guiding the medicinal force precisely to the site of the Wind pathogen. This exemplifies the principle that "for diseases of great toxicity, medicines of great toxicity must be used to attack them." All snakes have noses pointing downward, but this species has a nose pointing upward and features square-patterned markings on its back, hence its name. I suggest that whenever it is used, the wine should be changed daily for soaking.
Lei Gong stated: When using it to treat Wind diseases, its speed exceeds that of other snakes because the snake's nature is penetrating, allowing it to guide medicine to the sites of Wind pathology, thus effectively treating Wind.
[Toad]
The taste is sweet, the nature is cold and non-toxic. It enters the Spleen meridian. It primarily eliminates pathogenic factors, breaks up firm blood stasis, resolves constrained heat, treats pediatric malnutrition (Gan syndrome), is applied externally for carbuncles and swellings, and treats severe trauma. When processing, remove the skin, intestines, and claws, dry in the shade, then roast with butter from cattle. Eyebrow butter treats tooth decay, malignant sores, furuncles, scrofula, fistulas, and hemorrhoids, and aids Yang energy; its ribs...
Commentary: Toad enters the Spleen meridian due to its sweet taste. Its shape resembles that of the toad (Bufo bufo); *Shennong Bencao Jing* did not distinguish between them. Chen Cangqi later extensively differentiated them, stating that the Toad (Xima) has black spots on its back, is small, can jump to catch insects, lives in marshes, and moves rapidly. The Bufo (Chanchu) is larger, has a black mouth, rougher spots, cannot jump or croak, moves slowly, and has red characters resembling the number eight on its belly. However, their functions are likely similar, possibly differing only by sex or specific variety.
Lei Gong stated: Do not confuse the various types. There are Black Tiger, Yellow-spotted, Yellow Frog, Mole Cricket, and Toad, each with distinct forms. The Toad (Xima) has spots on its belly, short legs, and does not croak. The Black Tiger has a small black body and mouth, small feet, yellow spots, large front legs, and a small tail on the hind leg. The Yellow Frog is entirely yellow, has an umbilical cord-like structure on the belly about five to seven fen long, and exudes natural juice where it resides. The Mole Cricket croaks at night, has a thin waist and large mouth, and dark grey-black skin. The Toad (Chan) refers to the Yellow-spotted type with fleshy horns on its head. When processing Toad, first remove skin, intestines, and claws, dry in the shade, then roast with butter until dry. For each specimen, use one part of cattle butter, roasting until exhausted. If using Black Tiger, dry the whole animal including head, tail, and skin in the shade, soak in wine for three days, filter, and bake dry before use.