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Cura x Cura

Chan Pi蟾皮

Bufonis Corium · Dried Toad Skin

Herbs for External Application 外用药

Overview

  • · — appended to Chan Su.*

The dried skin of the same toad, listed in the textbook as the appended herb under Chan Su. It carries the same class of cardiac compounds in its glands but far less of them, so it is acrid and cool rather than warm, slightly toxic rather than toxic, and dosed in grams rather than hundredths of a gram. It clears heat and resolves toxicity for sores and swollen throat, and it moves water in abdominal distension. It is weaker than Chan Su but it is not a safe substitute for it, and the two doses are on completely different scales.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Cool · Slightly toxic

Channels

Heart · Liver · Spleen · Lung

Typical Dosage

3–6 g in decoction
蟾皮Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Clears heat, resolves toxicityBoils, carbuncles and non-healing toxic sores; swollen painful throat. Used internally in decoction or applied over the swelling.
  • Moves water, reduces distensionThe classical use in abdominal distension with fluid accumulation and in oedema — always as one herb inside a prescription, not alone.
  • Not interchangeable with Chan SuChan Su is dosed at 0.015–0.03 g; Chan Pi at 3–6 g. Confusing the two in either direction is a serious dispensing error, and the direction that substitutes Chan Su for Chan Pi is a lethal one.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Chan Pi

No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Boils, carbuncles and toxic sores
    - Swollen painful throat
    - Abdominal distension with fluid accumulation, and oedema (classical)

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Skin abscessPharyngitisAscitesOedema

Contraindications

Cautions

Slightly toxic. The skin glands still contain cardiac bufadienolides, so exceeding the dose can produce nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness and disturbances of heart rhythm. Use it only on prescription and only within 3–6 g decocted or 0.3–0.9 g of powder. It is not suitable in heart disease or arrhythmia, alongside digoxin or other cardiac glycosides, or for children, and it should be stopped before any planned surgery. Never substitute it for Chan Su or Chan Su for it — the doses differ by two orders of magnitude. Wash the hands after handling, and keep it away from the eyes.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Contraindicated in pregnancy, and avoided while breastfeeding.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
    3. 中药学教材 (attribution of the appended-herb record).

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.