（蚺音髯。《别录》下品）
【释名】南蛇（《纲目》）、埋头蛇。
时珍曰∶蛇属纤行，此蛇身大而行更纤徐。冉冉然也，故名蚺蛇。或云鳞中有毛如髯也
。产于岭南，以不举首者为真，故世称为南蛇、埋头蛇。
【集解】
颂曰∶蚺蛇，陶弘景言出晋安，苏恭言出桂、广以南高、贺等州，今岭南诸郡皆有之。
弘景曰∶大者二、三围。在地行不举头者是真，举头者非真。其膏、胆能相乱。
韩保升曰∶大者径尺，长丈许，若蛇而粗短。
恭曰∶其形似鳢，头似鼍，尾圆无鳞，性难死。土人截其肉作脍，谓为珍味。
藏器曰∶其脍着醋，能卷人箸，终不可脱，惟以芒草作箸乃可。段成式《酉阳杂俎》云
∶蚺蛇长十丈。尝吞鹿，鹿消尽，乃绕树，则腹中之骨穿鳞而出，养创时肪腴甚美。或以妇
人衣投之，则蟠而不起。
时珍曰∶按∶刘恂《岭表录异》云∶蚺蛇，大者五、六丈，围四、五尺；小者不下三、
四
也。或言一年食一鹿也。又顾 《海槎录》云∶蚺蛇吞鹿及山马，从后脚入，毒瓦斯呵及，角
自解脱。其胆以小
随腐。土人采葛藤塞入
器。范成大《虞衡志》云∶
掷力竭乃毙，舁归食之。又按∶《山海经》云∶巴蛇食象，三年而出其骨。君子服之，无心
腹之疾。郭璞注云∶今蚺蛇即其
驳映，其文锦章。食灰吞鹿，腴成养
胆
段成式曰∶其胆上旬近头，中旬近心，下旬近尾。
颂曰∶《岭表录异》云∶雷州有养蛇户，每岁五月五日即舁蛇入官，取胆曝干，以充土
贡
分寸，于腹间剖出肝胆。胆状若鸭子大，取讫，内肝于腹，以线缝合，舁归放之。或言蛇被
取胆者，他日捕之，则远远露腹疮，以明无胆。又言取后能活三年，未知的否？
时珍曰∶南人嗜蛇，至于发穴搜取，能容蚺之再活露腹乎？
弘景曰∶真胆狭长通黑，皮膜极薄，舐之甜苦，摩以注水，即沉而不散。
恭曰∶试法∶剔取粟许着净水中，浮游水上回旋行走者为真；其径沉者，诸胆血也。勿
多着，亦沉散也。陶未得法耳。
诜曰∶人多以猪胆、虎胆伪之，虽水中走，但迟耳。
【气味】甘、苦，寒，有小毒。
【主治】目肿痛，心腹 痛，下部 疮（《别录》）。小儿八痫
鼻中，除小儿脑热，疳疮 漏。灌下部，治小儿疳痢
止血痢，虫蛊下血
【发明】
时珍曰∶蚺禀己土之气，其胆受甲乙风木，故其味苦中有甘。所主皆厥阴、太阴之病，
能明目凉血，除疳杀虫。
慎微曰∶顾含养嫂失明，须用蚺蛇胆，含求不得。有一童子以一合授含。含视之，蚺蛇
胆也。童子化为青鸟而去。含用之，嫂目遂明。
【附方】旧二，新二。
小儿急疳疮∶水调蚺蛇胆，敷之。（《圣惠》）
小儿疳痢∶羸瘦多睡，坐则闭目，食不下。用蚺蛇胆豆许二枚，煮通草汁研化，随意饮
之。
仁四十七枚，研匀。以布揩龈，嗍令血尽。日三掺之，愈乃止。（《圣惠》）
蛇胆研，香油调涂，立效。（《医方摘要》）
肉
【气味】甘，温，有小毒。四月勿食。
【主治】飞尸游蛊，喉中有物，吞吐不出（藏器）。除疳疮
足
风痛，杀三虫，去死肌，皮肤风毒疠风
【发明】
权曰∶度岭南，食蚺蛇，瘴毒不侵。
时珍曰∶按柳子浓《捕蛇者说》云∶永州之野产异蛇，黑质白章，触草木尽死，以啮
人无
云∶泉州卢元钦患疠风，惟鼻根未倒。五月五日，官取蚺蛇胆进贡。或言肉可治风
之。三、五日顿可，百日平复。
【附方】新三。
蚺蛇酒∶治诸风瘫痪，筋挛骨痛，痹木瘙痒，杀虫辟瘴，及疠风疥癣恶疮。用蚺蛇肉一
斤，羌活一两，绢袋盛之，用糯米二斗蒸熟，安曲于缸底，置蛇于曲上，乃下饭密盖，待熟
取酒。以蛇焙研和药。其酒每随量温饮数杯。忌风及欲事。亦可袋盛浸酒饮。（《集简方》）
急疳蚀烂∶蚺蛇肉作脍食之。（《圣惠方》）
蛇，他蛇亦可。（《外台秘要》）
子也。
【气味】甘，平，有小毒。
【主治】皮肤风毒，妇人产后腹痛余疾（《别录》）。多入药用，亦疗伯牛疾（弘景。
也）。绵裹塞耳聋（时珍。出《外台》）。
牙（长六、七寸）
【主治】佩之，辟不祥，利远行
（蚺，读音同“髯”。《名医别录》列为下品。）
【释名】南蛇（出自《本草纲目》）、埋头蛇。
李时珍说：蛇类爬行姿态纤细，这种蛇身体巨大而爬行更加缓慢从容。它缓缓前行的样子，所以名叫蚺蛇。有人说它鳞片中有像胡须一样的毛。产于岭南地区，以不抬起头来的为真品，所以世人称为南蛇、埋头蛇。
【集解】
苏颂说：蚺蛇，陶弘景说出产于晋安，苏恭说出产于桂州、广州以南的高州、贺州等地，如今岭南各郡都有。
陶弘景说：大的有二三围粗。在地上爬行不抬头的才是真品，抬头的不是真品。它的膏和胆容易混淆。
韩保升说：大的直径一尺，长一丈左右，形状像蛇但粗短。
苏恭说：它的形状像黑鱼，头像鳄鱼，尾巴圆滑无鳞，性情难以弄死。当地人截取它的肉做成生鱼片，称之为珍味。
藏器说：它的生鱼片蘸醋后，能卷住人的筷子，始终无法脱落，只有用芒草做的筷子才可以。段成式《酉阳杂俎》说：蚺蛇长十丈。曾经吞食鹿，鹿在体内消化殆尽后，它就缠绕树木，于是腹中的骨头穿透鳞片出来，在养伤期间，它的脂肪非常肥美。有人把女人的衣服投给它，它就盘曲起来不再行动。
李时珍说：查考刘恂《岭表录异》说：蚺蛇，大的有五、六丈长，围四、五尺；小的也有三、四丈长。有人说一年吃一只鹿。又顾《海槎录》说：蚺蛇吞食鹿和山马，从后腿进入，毒气呵出，角自然脱落。它的胆随着腐烂变小。当地人采集葛藤塞入容器中。范成大《虞衡志》说：掷地力竭而死，抬回去食用。又查考《山海经》说：巴蛇吞食大象，三年后吐出骨头。君子服用它，没有心腹疾病。郭璞注解说：如今的蚺蛇就是其中的驳映，其花纹如锦缎。吞食灰土和鹿，脂肪积累滋养……（此处原文有缺漏或错简，依文意补全逻辑）胆……段成式说：它的胆在上旬靠近头部，中旬靠近心脏，下旬靠近尾部。
苏颂说：《岭表录异》说：雷州有养蛇的人家，每年五月五日就把蛇抬到官府，取出胆囊晒干，作为土贡。取胆时，在腹部剖开取出肝胆。胆的形状像鸭子大，取完后，将肝放回腹部，用线缝合，抬回去放掉。有人说蛇被取胆后，日后捕捉它，它会远远地露出腹部的疮口，以证明没有胆了。又说取胆后能活三年，不知道是否属实？
李时珍说：南方人嗜好蛇肉，甚至挖穴搜寻获取，能让被取胆的蚺蛇再活并露出腹部疮口吗？
陶弘景说：真正的胆狭长通黑，皮膜极薄，舔起来甜苦，研磨后注入水，就会下沉而不散开。
苏恭说：试验方法：挑取像粟米大小的量放入清水中，浮游在水面上回旋行走的是真品；直接沉下去的，是其他动物的胆血。不要放太多，也会沉散。这是陶弘景没掌握方法罢了。
诜说：很多人用猪胆、虎胆伪造，虽然在水中也能游走，但速度慢而已。
【气味】甘、苦，寒，有小毒。
【主治】眼睛肿痛，心腹痛，下部疮疡（《名医别录》）。小儿八种痫病，鼻中息肉，清除小儿脑热，疳疮瘘管。灌入下部，治疗小儿疳痢，止血痢，虫蛊下血。
【发明】
李时珍说：蚺蛇禀受己土的湿气，其胆承受甲乙风木之气，所以味道苦中带甘。所主治的都是厥阴、太阴经的病证，能明目凉血，清除疳积杀虫。
慎微说：顾含养的嫂子失明，需要用蚺蛇胆，顾含求不到。有一个童子给顾合一合（容量单位）蚺蛇胆。顾含一看，是蚺蛇胆。童子化作青鸟飞走了。顾含使用后，嫂子的眼睛复明。
【附方】旧方二首，新方二首。
小儿疳痢：身体消瘦多睡，坐着闭眼，吃不进东西。用蚺蛇胆大小如豆的两枚，煮通草汁研化，随意饮用。
仁四十七枚，研匀。用布擦拭牙龈，吸吮直到出血干净。每天三次掺药，痊愈后停止。（《太平圣惠方》）
蛇胆研末，香油调和涂抹，立即见效。（《医方摘要》）
肉
【气味】甘，温，有小毒。四月不要吃。
【主治】飞尸游蛊，喉中有异物，吞吐不出（藏器）。除疳疮。足部风痛，杀三虫，去除死肌，皮肤风毒疠风。
李时珍说：查考柳宗元《捕蛇者说》说：永州的野外产奇异蛇，黑底白纹，碰到草木都死，咬人无……（此处原文有缺漏）云：泉州卢元钦患疠风，只有鼻根没塌陷。五月五日，官府取蚺蛇胆进贡。有人说蛇肉可治风……之。三、五天顿感好转，一百天完全康复。
【附方】新方三首。
蚺蛇酒：治疗各种风瘫瘫痪，筋挛骨痛，痹症麻木瘙痒，杀虫辟瘴，以及疠风疥癣恶疮。用蚺蛇肉一斤，羌活一两，用绢袋装好，用糯米二斗蒸熟，在缸底放曲，将蛇放在曲上，然后盖上饭密封，待发酵成熟后取酒。将蛇焙干研末与药混合。此酒每次随量温饮几杯。忌风和房事。也可以袋装浸泡饮酒。（《集简方》）
急疳蚀烂：将蚺蛇肉做成生鱼片食用。（《太平圣惠方》）
蛇，其他蛇也可以。（《外台秘要》）
子也。
【气味】甘，平，有小毒。
【主治】皮肤风毒，妇人产后腹痛余疾（《名医别录》）。多入药用，也治疗牛痘（弘景。即天花）。绵裹塞耳治耳聋（李时珍。出自《外台秘要》）。
牙（长六、七寸）
【主治】佩戴它，辟除不祥，利于远行。
(Ran, pronounced "ran". Listed as Lower Grade in *Bie Lu*.)
[Names] Southern Snake (*Ben Cao Gang Mu*), Head-Burying Snake.
Li Shizhen stated: Snakes move with a slender gait; this snake is large-bodied and moves even more slowly and leisurely. Its slow-moving appearance led to its name "Ran She" (Python). Some say there are hair-like bristles among its scales. It is produced in the Lingnan region. Those that do not raise their heads when moving are considered authentic, hence commonly called Southern Snake or Head-Burying Snake.
[Collection of Explanations]
Su Song said: Regarding Ran She, Tao Hongjing stated it comes from Jin'an, while Su Gong stated it comes from areas south of Guizhou and Guangzhou, such as Gaozhou and Hezhou. Currently, it is found in all commanderies of Lingnan.
Tao Hongjing said: The large ones are two or three chi in circumference. Those that crawl on the ground without raising their heads are authentic; those that raise their heads are not. Their fat and gallbladder can be easily confused.
Han Baosheng said: The large ones have a diameter of one chi and are about one zhang long. They resemble snakes but are thick and short.
Su Gong said: Its shape resembles the black carp (*Channa argus*), its head resembles an alligator, its tail is round and scaleless, and its nature makes it difficult to kill. Locals slice its meat into sashimi, considering it a delicacy.
Zang Qi said: When its sashimi is dipped in vinegar, it can coil around chopsticks, making them impossible to remove, unless mulberry grass chopsticks are used. Duan Chengshi's *Youyang Zazu* states: A Ran She is ten zhang long. It once swallowed a deer; after the deer was completely digested, the snake coiled around a tree, causing the bones inside to pierce through the scales and emerge. During the healing of wounds, its fat was particularly delicious. If a woman's garment was thrown at it, it would coil up and remain motionless.
Li Shizhen said: According to Liu Xun's *Lingbiao Luyi*: Large Ran She are five or six zhang long and four or five chi in circumference; small ones are no less than three or four zhang long. Some say it eats one deer per year. Gu's *Haicha Lu* states: Ran She swallows deer and wild horses, entering from the hind legs. Toxic fumes expelled cause antlers to detach naturally. Its gallbladder shrinks as it rots. Locals collect kudzu vines and stuff them into vessels. Fan Chengda's *Yuheng Zhi* states: [The snake] dies when exhausted from throwing itself, then is carried back for consumption. Furthermore, according to *Shan Hai Jing*: The Ba Snake eats elephants and excretes the bones after three years. Gentlemen who consume it are free from heart and abdominal diseases. Guo Pu's commentary notes: The current Ran She is the same as the 'Boying' mentioned therein, possessing brocade-like patterns. It consumes ash and swallows deer, accumulating fat... [Text fragment missing]. Duan Chengshi said: Its gallbladder is near the head in the first ten days of the lunar month, near the heart in the middle ten days, and near the tail in the last ten days.
Su Song said: *Lingbiao Luyi* states: In Leizhou, there are families who breed snakes. Every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, they carry the snakes to the government office to extract the gallbladder, dry it, and offer it as local tribute. To extract the gallbladder, they cut open the abdomen to retrieve the liver and gallbladder. The gallbladder is as large as a duck egg. After extraction, the liver is placed back into the abdomen, which is then stitched with thread, and the snake is released. Some say that snakes whose gallbladders have been removed will later show open abdominal wounds when caught, proving the absence of the gallbladder. Others claim they can survive for three years post-extraction, though this is uncertain.
Li Shizhen said: Southerners are fond of eating snake meat, going so far as to dig burrows to find them. Can a Ran She whose gallbladder has been removed truly survive and display an open abdominal wound?
Tao Hongjing said: Authentic gallbladders are narrow, long, and jet black, with extremely thin membranes. They taste sweet and bitter when licked. When rubbed with water, they sink and do not disperse.
Su Gong said: Test method: Take a amount the size of a millet seed and place it in clean water. If it floats, spins, and moves on the surface, it is authentic. If it sinks directly, it is blood from other animal gallbladders. Do not use too much, or it will also sink and disperse. This was simply because Tao Hongjing did not master the correct method.
Shen said: Many people counterfeit it with pig or tiger gallbladders. Although they may move in water, they move slowly.
[Flavor and Toxicity] Sweet, bitter, cold, slightly toxic.
[Indications] Swollen and painful eyes, abdominal pain, sores in the lower body (*Bie Lu*). Eight types of childhood epilepsy, nasal polyps, clearing childhood brain heat, malnutrition ulcers and fistulas. Irrigating the lower body treats childhood malnutrition dysentery, stops bloody dysentery, and treats bleeding from parasitic infestations.
[Elucidation]
Li Shizhen said: The Ran She inherits the qi of Ji Earth. Its gallbladder receives the wind-wood qi of Jia and Yi, hence its flavor is bitter with a sweet undertone. It treats diseases of the Jueyin and Taiyin meridians, brightening the eyes, cooling blood, clearing malnutrition, and killing parasites.
Shen Wei said: Gu Han's sister-in-law went blind and required Ran She gallbladder. Gu Han could not obtain any. A boy gave him one he (unit of volume) of Ran She gallbladder. Upon inspection, Gu Han confirmed it was Ran She gallbladder. The boy transformed into a green bird and flew away. After using it, his sister-in-law's sight was restored.
[Attached Prescriptions] Two old prescriptions, two new prescriptions.
Acute Malnutrition Ulcers in Children: Mix Ran She gallbladder with water and apply topically. (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*)
Childhood Malnutrition Dysentery: Characterized by emaciation, excessive sleepiness, closing eyes when sitting, and inability to eat. Use two pieces of Ran She gallbladder, sized like soybeans. Boil in Tongcao juice, grind until dissolved, and drink as desired.
[Prescription fragment missing context]: Forty-seven seeds, ground evenly. Wipe gums with cloth, suck until blood flows completely. Apply powder three times daily until healed. (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*)
Snake Gallbladder: Grind into powder, mix with sesame oil, and apply. Immediate effect. (*Yifang Jiangyao*)
Meat
[Flavor and Toxicity] Sweet, warm, slightly toxic. Do not eat in the fourth lunar month.
[Indications] Flying corpse and wandering gu poison, foreign body sensation in the throat that cannot be swallowed or expelled (Zang Qi). Clears malnutrition ulcers. Wind pain in the feet, kills three types of parasites, removes dead flesh, skin wind toxicity, and leprosy.
[Elucidation]
Quan said: Traveling through Lingnan, consuming Ran She prevents invasion by miasma toxins.
Li Shizhen said: According to Liu Zongyuan's *The Snake Catcher's Tale*: Strange snakes are produced in the wilds of Yongzhou, with black bodies and white patterns. They kill vegetation upon contact and bite humans... [Text fragment missing]. ...stated: Lu Yuanqin of Quanzhou suffered from leprosy, except his nose bridge remained intact. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the government collected Ran She gallbladder for tribute. Some say snake meat can treat wind diseases... Within three to five days, improvement is sudden; within one hundred days, full recovery.
[Attached Prescriptions] Three new prescriptions.
Ran She Wine: Treats various forms of wind-induced paralysis, tendon spasms, bone pain, numbness and itching from bi syndrome, kills parasites, dispels miasma, and treats leprosy, tinea, and malignant sores. Use one jin of Ran She meat and one liang of Qianghuo, placed in a silk bag. Steam two dou of glutinous rice. Place yeast at the bottom of a jar, put the snake bag on the yeast, cover with the steamed rice, seal tightly, and wait for fermentation to produce wine. Roast the snake, grind it, and mix with the medicine. Drink several cups of this wine warm according to tolerance. Avoid wind and sexual activity. Alternatively, soak the bagged snake in wine for drinking. (*Jijian Fang*)
Acute Malnutrition Erosion and Rot: Eat Ran She meat prepared as sashimi. (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*)
Snake [Meat], other snakes may also be used. (*Waitai Miyao*)
Offspring/Eggs [Context implies offspring or eggs based on structure, though text says "Zi ye"]
[Flavor and Toxicity] Sweet, neutral, slightly toxic.
[Indications] Skin wind toxicity, residual ailments of postpartum abdominal pain in women (*Bie Lu*). Often used in medicine; also treats bovine smallpox (Hongjing. i.e., human smallpox). Wrapped in cotton and inserted into the ear to treat deafness (Li Shizhen. From *Waitai Miyao*).
Teeth (6-7 cun long)
[Indications] Wearing it wards off misfortune and facilitates safe travel.