A Detailed Guide to Collecting Snake Slough and Its Medicinal Value

1. How is snake slough collected?

Snake slough is the dried shed skin of various snakes, that is, the keratinized outer layer of the body surface naturally shed during their activity, and it contains components such as collagen. Among the general public it is often called "long insect skin", "snake shell", "green dragon garment" and so on. Apart from the hibernation period, it can be collected at any time of the year; after shaking out the mud and sand, dry it in the sun for later use. It is light in weight, brittle and easily broken, with a slightly fishy taste. For medicinal use, the best grade is long strips that are free of impurities and glossy, while broken pieces are inferior. For snake slough intended for medicine, after collection shake out the mud and sand and store it in a dry place, taking care to prevent moisture and mildew, and wait until a certain quantity has accumulated before selling it.

2. What medicinal value and processing methods does snake slough have?

Snake slough is dry, salty and neutral in nature, and has functions such as clearing heat and detoxifying, dispelling wind and killing parasites, and brightening the eyes and removing corneal opacities. It mainly treats convulsions and spasms, various sores and swellings, sore and swollen throat, low back pain, swollen and painful breasts, hemorrhoids and fistula, scabies and tinea, brain cysticercosis, corneal inflammation and other conditions, used as a powder or decoction; it is contraindicated in pregnant women. The medicinal processing of snake slough is very simple, with roughly three methods.

(1) Calcined snake slough: brush the snake slough clean and cut it into small pieces, moisten it evenly with yellow rice wine, with a ratio of yellow rice wine to snake slough of 1:10. After the snake slough is completely and evenly mixed, take it and put it in a pot, stir-fry over gentle heat until slightly dry, and when it turns vermilion yellow, take it out and dry it in the sun for later use.

(2) Snake slough wine: first wash off the mud and sand on the snake slough with yellow rice wine, place it in a jar, cover it and seal it firmly with clay, then calcine and press it over a live fire for about 1 hour. Open the seal the next day, and store the steeped snake slough in an earthenware vessel for later use.

(3) Snake slough preparation: place the snake slough in an iron pot and heat it until it shrinks, cakes together and releases oil. When a large amount of oil has come out and it has all caked together and turned black, remove it from the pot and let it cool, grind it into a fine powder and put it in a bottle for later use.