Wu Shao She - 乌梢蛇 - Zaocys

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Zaocys
Common English:	Black Grass-Snake Black-Striped Snake

Category

Herbs that Dispel Wind-Dampness

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet Salty	Neutral	Liver Spleen	3-12g Powder: 3g

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Strongly unblocks the channels and extinguishes Wind	Chronic Wind-Damp Bi with numbness and weakness of the limbs and cramps of the sinews (generally used for stubborn cases)
Dispels Wind from the skin	Dermatosis, Rashes, Skin numbness, Tinea
Dispels Wind from the sinews, strengthens tendons and bones and settles jitteriness and convulsions	Spasms, tremors, or seizures Wind-Stroke with facial paralysis and hemiplegia

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui Hb. Schizonepetae Jing Jie Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao	Rz. seu Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo Rx. Gentianae Qin Jiao	Agkistrodon/Bungarus Bai Hua She
Chronic Wind-Rash with Wind-Heat lingering in the skin. Chronic eczema.	Wind-Cold with migratory joint pain.	Convulsions associated with tetanus.
Pheretima Di Long	Scolopendra Wu Gong Scorpio Quan Xie
Bi syndrome.	Convulsions.

Notes

1. Its action resembles that of Agkistrodon/Bungarus Bai Hua She, though it is weaker.
2. It is made from the dried internal organs of the Black-Striped snake.
3. Its main uses are rheumatism and pruritis.
4. Patent medicines include it for parasitic skin disorders and pruritis.
5. It treats itchy urticaria from Wind, scabies, loss of sensation in the skin, stubborn Bi and all Wind disorders.
6. Wu Shao She and Agkistrodon/Bungarus Bai Hua She both dispel Wind, unblock the collaterals, settle jitteriness and stop convulsions, and they are frequently combined for Wind-Damp Bi, itchy skin and convulsions. Wu Shao She is non-toxic, and its effects are somewhat milder and more harmonious. It governs Wind in the Kidneys, whereas Bai Hua She governs wind in the Lungs.
7. Wine-prepared Zaocys Jiu Zhi Wu Shao She dispels wind and unblocks the collaterals more strongly. It is used for pain from Wind-Damp Bi, numbness, hemiplegia, childhood convulsions and stubborn rashes.