The efficacy and function of red-banded snake

Red-bellied snake is a common Chinese medicine. It can be used for medicinal purposes as well as for food. Moreover, the effects and functions of red-bellied snake are quite comprehensive. Let's take a look at it together.

[Alias] Red chain (Tao Hongjing), red neem snake, mulberry root snake (Compendium of Materia Medica), fire red chain (Dong Yi, Zoology), fire chain snake (Xie Dezhen, Systematic Zoology), fire red chain snake (Vertebrate Taxonomy), red-spotted snake (Biological Bulletin (2): 8, 1958).

[Source] It refers to the entire species of the red-banded snake of the family Colubridae.

[Original form] The body length can reach 1.2 meters. The head is slightly flat and oval in shape. The snout is high and can be seen from the back. The nasal scales are small and oval at the front end. The frontal scales are short, with a length approximately equal to the distance from their front edge to the front edge of the nasal scales. The scales on the top of the skull are long and large, as long as the frontal scales and prefrontal scales combined. The scales above the eyes are small. The cheek scales are long and narrow, reaching into the eyes, and connected to the 2nd and 3rd upper lip scales below. There are 8 scales on the upper lip. There is one small scale in front of the eyes that does not reach the back of the head; there are two or occasionally three scales behind the eyes. There are 2 anterior temporal scales, the lower one is particularly large; there are 3 posterior temporal scales. The nostril is located between the 2 nasal scales and has valves. There are 10 scales on the lower lip, the front chin scale is larger than the back chin scale and is connected to the first 4 scales on the lower lip. There are two pairs of small scales between the posterior chin scale and the first ventral scale. The body scales are smooth, with several rows of faint ridges on the back center. The scales are arranged in 19 to 17 to 15 rows. There are 187 to 207 abdominal scales, a single anal scale, and 64 to 79 pairs of subcaudal scales. The back of the body is black with about 70 narrow red horizontal stripes; the scales on the head are black with distinct red edges. There is a "Y" shaped pattern on the back of the head. The abdomen is white, with small gray-black spots scattered in front of the anus. Sometimes the underside of the tail is completely gray-black.

[Habitat distribution] Lives in fields, villages and areas near water sources. It feeds on frogs, lizards, scorpions and fish. Violent, but not poisonous. Distributed in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hunan, Hubei, Shandong, Shanxi, Hebei and other places.

[Preparation] After catching, beat to death, burn to preserve its essence, and grind into powder for use.

【Functions and indications】 Treat chronic fistulas and ulcers.

【Usage and Dosage】 For external use: grind into powder and sprinkle on the sore surface; or insert the powder into the tube with a medicine thread

[Clinical Application] Treatment of chronic tuberculous fistula: Kill the red-bellied snake, place it on a tile, burn it with pine wood over a blazing fire, grind it into fine powder, sieve it and set aside. When using, use a paper twist to stick the red-bellied snake powder and insert it according to the size of the fistula. If the fistula is large, use a paper twist or gauze to stick a small amount of medicine and insert it. For the ulcer surface, sprinkle a thin layer of red-bellied snake powder on it and bandage it with gauze. Change the dressing every 2 days (the frequency can be increased or decreased as appropriate). More than 80 cases were treated and all were cured, but 2 cases relapsed. No adverse reactions were found during the treatment.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Compendium of Materia Medica".

Above we introduced what the red-bellied snake is. We know that the red-bellied snake has very comprehensive effects and functions, so we can use the red-bellied snake as a means of regulating the body in daily life.