Is snake skin a traditional Chinese medicine?

Snakeskin is the substance left behind after a snake sheds its skin. Snake skin has certain medicinal value and is also a commonly used Chinese medicine. Using snake skin can greatly improve people's physical health and treat various diseases. Of course, when using snake skin, you also need to use the medicine according to the specific situation. Below, I will introduce in detail the effects and functions of snake skin and the methods of identifying medicinal materials!

1. Introduction to snake skin

Snake skin, also known as snake molt, refers to the skin shed by snakes. Snakes generally shed their skin once every 1 to 2 months and do not shed their skin during hibernation. Snake skin is a very important traditional Chinese medicine that can treat many diseases. It is also a commonly used Chinese medicine.

2. Identification of medicinal materials

Identification of properties: It is a cylindrical, translucent membrane that is more or less broken. The complete one is 30~60 cm long. Often flattened or slightly wrinkled. The dorsal side is silvery gray, shiny, and has diamond-shaped or oval scales. There is a row of long horizontal oval scales on the ventral surface. The inside is smooth and shiny. It is light and easy to break. It has a slightly fishy smell and a light or slightly salty taste.

The best ones are white in color, fine in skin, long and thick in strips, neat and unbroken, and free of mud, sand and impurities. The skin peeled off from snakes and rotted by rain and dew cannot be used as medicine.

The flavor is salty, sweet and neutral.

Function: eliminate rheumatism and improve eyesight.

It is mainly used to treat epilepsy, sore throat, scabies, eye opacity, etc.

The dosage is 3.5~7 grams.

3. Main diseases

1. Sore and swollen throat. Burn snake skin and grind it into powder, take 5 grams with breast milk.

2. Throat disease and difficulty breathing. Use roasted snake skin and angelica, grind into powder in equal parts. Take 5 grams with warm wine, and it is effective if you vomit. Another method: crush the snake skin and burn it to produce smoke, then suck it into the throat through a bamboo tube. Another method: wrap a white plum with snake skin and hold it in the mouth.

3. Heavy tongue in children. Grind snake slough into powder and mix with vinegar for application.

4. The child’s mouth is tight (unable to open or close, unable to eat or drink). Burn snake skin and apply the ashes inside your mouth (wash your mouth first).

5. Children develop ulcers on their head and face. Burn snake skin into ashes and mix with lard to apply on the skin.

6. For children with hemorrhage, burn snake skin into ashes and mix with breast milk to make 2.5 grams of the medicine.

7. Pannus. There are snake skin strips, which are washed, dried, cut into small pieces, and made into cakes with white flour. Roasted until they turn black, and then ground into powder. Take 5 grams each time, after meals, with warm water. Take twice a day.

8. Difficulty in urination. Get a whole snake skin, burn it to preserve its essence, grind it into powder, and take it with warm wine.

9. Stone carbuncle has no pus and is as hard as stone. Apply snake slough on the carbuncle, it will become soft overnight and easy to treat.

10. The swelling has no head. Burn snake skin into ashes and mix with lard to apply on the affected area.