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Wu Shao She乌梢蛇

Zaocys · Black-striped Snake · Zaocys

Herbs that Dispel Wind-Dampness 祛风湿药《药性论》

Overview

The dried body of the black-striped snake, gutted, coiled and dried, usually sold with the head removed and often wine-processed. Sweet and neutral, it is the mild member of the snake medicines: unlike Qi She it carries no toxicity, so it can be given for longer courses. Snake medicines are used for wind that has penetrated deeply — pain and numbness that have settled into the limbs and will not shift, spasm and rigidity, and the chronic itching skin diseases traditionally described as wind in the skin. Where a case needs that reach without the risk, this is the herb chosen.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet · Neutral

Channels

Liver

Typical Dosage

9–12 g in decoction
乌梢蛇Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Dispels wind, opens the collateralsEntrenched wind-damp bi with joint pain, numbness of the limbs, and difficulty flexing and extending; also facial paralysis and post-stroke hemiplegia.
  • Settles spasmConvulsions and tetanic rigidity, as part of a wind-extinguishing prescription and alongside conventional care.
  • Expels wind from the skin, stops itchingChronic urticaria, stubborn eczema, tinea and other long-standing itchy skin disease attributed to wind in the surface.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Wu Shao She

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Entrenched wind-damp joint pain, numbness, stiff limbs
    - Facial paralysis and post-stroke hemiplegia
    - Convulsions and rigidity (as adjunct care)
    - Chronic itching skin disease: urticaria, eczema, tinea

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Rheumatoid arthritisChronic urticariaEczemaPeripheral neuropathyBell's palsy

Contraindications

Cautions

Not toxic, and not flagged as an allergen in our dispensary record — but it is an animal protein, and people who react to seafood or other animal proteins should take a first dose cautiously and stop if a rash or swelling appears. It treats wind that is genuinely obstructing; where the itching or the spasm comes from blood deficiency generating wind, moving herbs miss the cause and the blood must be nourished instead. Provenance matters with snake medicines: adulteration and species substitution are common, and only properly processed material from a licensed dispensary should be used, both for identity and because inadequately dried animal products carry a microbial risk. Practitioners should also confirm the local regulatory position on animal-derived and protected species before dispensing.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction on record — practitioner judgment applies; an animal-derived herb is not one to take unsupervised while pregnant.

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. 《中药大辞典》.

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.