Wushaoshe is also known asZaocys dhumnadesAbbreviationBlack SnakeIt is the dried whole body of the black-tailed snake, a species of the Colubridae family, with its internal organs removed. Nowadays, it is mostly artificially farmed and is also a primary edible snake. It is commonly used in medicinal applications.
I. Efficacy of Zaocys:
Black-tailed snake tastes sweet and salty, with a neutral nature and non-toxic. It belongs to the lung, spleen, and liver meridians. Its effects includeDispelling Wind and Unblocking Collaterals, Calming Convulsions and Relieving SpasmsIts efficacy is similar to that of the white-flowered snake, but its medicinal potency is weaker.
Commonly used inRheumatic stubborn arthralgia, numbness and contracture, facial deviation and hemiplegia due to stroke, convulsions and spasms, leprosy and scabies, scrofula and malignant soresTreatment of conditions such as
Summary of Famous Works by Renowned Authors
"Treating heat-toxin wind, skin sores, loss of eyebrows and beard, itchy scabies, and other conditions."
"Kaibao Materia Medica": "It is mainly used for various wind-induced itching rashes, scabies and tinea, numbness of the skin, and stubborn wind-induced impediment syndromes."
Compendium of Materia Medica: "Its efficacy is the same as that of the white-flowered snake, but its nature is benign and non-toxic."
"Ben Cao Meng Quan": "Treats various wind patterns causing skin numbness, disperses hidden rashes and relieves body itching."
Jade Mallow Medical Explanation: "The black-tailed snake penetrates tendons and collaterals, expels bi syndrome and dispels wind, treats stroke paralysis, scabies and itching, and is used together with the white-flowered snake."
"De Pei Ben Cao": "Treats skin numbness, cures wind-induced heat toxins, its functions are the same as those of the white flower snake, but the white flower snake primarily treats lung wind and is an essential medicine for vitiligo, while the black-tailed snake primarily treats kidney wind and is a specialized medicine for purple cloud wind."
II. Compatibility and Application of Zaocys：
1. For rheumatic arthralgia. Zaocys can dispel wind and unblock collaterals, and is good at treating arthralgia. It is often combined with Saposhnikovia Divaricata, processed Arisaema Cum Bile, and Typhonium Giganteum.
If treating wind impediment with slackness and weakness of the hands and feet, and inability to extend or lift them, it is often combined with Arisaema cum Bile, Scorpio, Typhonii Rhizoma, Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, Bombyx Batryticatus, Ephedrae Herba, Saposhnikoviae Radix, and Cinnamomi Cortex, made into pills for oral administration, namelyWushe Pill。
In the treatment of consumptive impediment and stubborn impediment, if the pattern is dual deficiency of qi and blood, insufficiency of the liver and kidney, and obstruction of the collaterals, it is common to grind black snake into powder and take it with water, and then combine it with Chinese angelica, white peony root, dried rehmannia root, largehead atractylodes rhizome, eucommia bark, Chinese taxillus twig, honeycomb, anemarrhena rhizome, desertliving cistanche, Himalayan teasel root, and glossy ganoderma, decoct them in water for oral administration, often achieving excellent results.
2. For skin diseases such as psoriasis, silver blood disease, purple vitiligo, and wet ringworm. The black-tailed snake is particularly effective in dispelling wind and relieving itching, making it a key medicine for treating stubborn skin ringworm. To treat all types of dry and wet ringworm, it is often combined with lotus leaf and bitter orange, ground into powder for oral administration, namelyThree Flavors Black Snake Powder。
Prescription for Treating Purple and White Vitiligo: Use 180 grams of black snake meat (wine-fried), 60 grams each of bitter orange (bran-fried), achyranthes root, and gastrodia tuber, 100 grams of prepared rehmannia root, 60 grams each of tribulus fruit (fried), acanthopanax bark, ledebouriella root, and cinnamon bark. Grind each into fine pieces, place in a bag, and soak in 2 kilograms of wine. Seal for 7 days. Take a small cup warm each time. Avoid chicken, goose, fish, and stimulating foods.
For the treatment of psoriasis and silver blood disease, it is often combined with Cortex Dictamni, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Honeysuckle, Fructus Kochiae, Schizonepeta, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Cicada slough, Sophora flavescens, Red peony root, Duckweed, and Arnebia root, which are ground into fine powder and taken together.Compound Black Snake Powder。
Li Ke treats various stubborn skin diseases such as psoriasis, tinea versicolor, and neurodermatitis, often using black snake as the main medicine, combined with Chinese angelica, dried rehmannia root, red peony root, Szechuan lovage rhizome, peach kernel, safflower, cassia twig, moutan bark, arnebia root, Chinese dittany bark, tribulus terrestris, and prepared fleeceflower rootWushe Rongpi DecoctionThe curative effect is remarkable, and it is most worthy of learning.
Li Keyan: "The single herb of black snake meat, summarizing the discussions of various materia medica, functions to dispel wind, unblock collaterals, and stop convulsions. It treats various diseases of the skin and muscles, primarily addressing stubborn wind-induced skin conditions, skin numbness, wind-induced itching and hidden rashes, scabies and leprosy, vitiligo, scrofula and malignant sores, stubborn wind-damp impediment, facial paralysis, and hemiplegia. It is truly a specific remedy for all stubborn skin diseases."
III. Usage and Dosage of Zaocys:
Zaocys can be used in decoctions or made into pills and powders. The usual dosage in decoctions ranges from over ten grams to several tens of grams; when taken as powder, a single dose can range from a few grams to several tens of grams.
Preparation of Black Snake Powder: Crush the black snake into small pieces, place them in an iron pan, add a small amount of sesame oil, and bake over low heat until slightly yellow and crisp. Then grind into fine powder.
"Compendium of Materia Medica": "Its functions are the same as those of the white-flowered snake, but it is gentle in nature and non-toxic. It is gentle and does not bite. Its eyes remain unblinking until death; those with tails fine enough to thread through a hundred coins are considered superior. Those weighing seven qian to one liang are of the highest quality, those weighing ten liang to one yi are of medium quality, and larger ones have reduced potency. Remove the head, skin, and bones, then boil in wine or roast with butter for use."
IV Application Precautions for Zaocys
The black-tail snake is adept at moving swiftly, thusBlood deficiency generating wind contraindicated。
For treating stubborn skin ringworm, during the medication period, avoid raw and cold foods, stimulating foods, fishy and gamey foods, and spicy foods.
