She Tui (Pi) (Long Yi) - 蛇蜕 - Periostracum Serpentis

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Periostracum Serpentis
Common English:	Elephe Snake Skin Slough

Category

Herbs that Dispel Wind and Dampness

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet Salty	Neutral (Toxic)	Liver	1.5-6g Powder: 0.3-0.6g

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Dispels Wind and stops spasms	Skin lesions due to Wind and for other Wind patterns such as childhood convulsions, epilepsy and seizures
Removes superficial visual obstruction	Pterygium or disorders of the cornea such as nebulae
Resolves toxins	Carbuncles, Hemorrhoids and scabies, Oral ulcerations, Sore throat

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui Rx. Rehmanniae Sheng Di Huang Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui	Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui Fr. Tribuli Bai Ji Li
Rash due to Wind-Heat.	Superficial visual obstruction.

Notes

1. It is frequently used on its own for skin lesions, for seizures and convulsions associated with wind, and for eye disorders.
2. Transverse presentation at childbirth is treated with this substance.
3. In adults it is used for stubborn diseases, and it improves eyesight.
4. Studies have shown that it inhibits cancer cell growth.
5. Burnt, it heals various malignant sores and kills parasites.
6. It reportedly expels pathogenic Wind.
7. Ground and taken by mouth, it is said to treat mammary abscess, acute pharyngitis in adults, phlyctenular keratitis with a rigid tongue, and sublingual swelling and a swollen palate in infants.
8. For unbearable earache with bleeding, char it, grind it into a powder and then blow it into the ear with a feather.
9. For long lasting malignant boils, char one slough, mix it with lard and apply it to the lesion; then char another slough and take it with wine.
10. For hard masses without pus, make a paste and apply it each night.
11. For carbuncles, furuncles and boils, decoct this substance in 160ml of water and either drink it or apply it to the lesion.
12. For navel sores that have formed pus, calcine and grind it, then mix it with an egg white for external application.
13. Wine-prepared Snake Skin Jiu She Tui has a better taste and dispels Wind more effectively. It treats childhood convulsions, itchy skin and superficial visual obstruction.