Snake skin slough (SHE TUI)-Elaphe taeniurus-Periostracum Serpentis

Snake skin slough (SHE TUI)

Elaphe taeniurus Cope.(Fam. Serpentis)

Pharmaceutical Name:

Periostracum Serpentis

Botanical Name:

Elaphe taeniurus Cope., Elaphe carinata (Guenther) (Fam. Serpentis)

Common Name:

Snake skin slough

Part Used:

Skin slough

Periostracum Serpentis is produced mainly in the provinces of Zhejiang, Guangxi, Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Fujian. It is dried in sunlight.

Properties  Taste & Meridians:

Sweet and salty in flavor, neutral in property, acts on the Liver channel.

Functions:

Dispels Wind, relieves convulsion, and removes nebula (ocular cloudiness) to improve vision.

Indications & Combinations:

1. For infantile convulsion, skin itching, and nebula.

2. For nebula, it is used with Periostracum Cicadae (Chan Tui) and Fructus Tribuli Terrietris (Ji Li). For rash due to Wind Heat, it is used with Periostracum Cicadae (Chan Tui), Radix Rehmanniae (Sheng Di Huang), and Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dang Gui).

Dosage and administration:

2–3 g, decocted in water for an oral dose;

0.3–0.6 g, ground into powder for use.

Precautions:

None noted.

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