Toads Are Poisonous: The Source and Uses of Toad Toxins

The toad, known by its scientific name Bufo, is a common amphibian that is mostly active at night and often appears near farmland, ditches and vegetable plots. Its back skin is rough and covered with warts, which is why people commonly call it lai ha ma, the "warty toad." Many people worry that it is poisonous, and this caution is actually well founded.

The skin of the toad, especially the pair of raised parotoid glands behind its eyes, can secrete a white milky fluid that contains toad toxins. These toxins affect both humans and animals; eating toad meat, eggs or tadpoles that have not been properly processed can cause poisoning, and cooking at high temperatures cannot completely destroy the toxicity. So never catch and eat wild toads at will.

Yet being poisonous does not mean being useless. Properly processed toad venom (chansu) and shed toad skin (chanyi) are used in traditional Chinese medicine, but they must be handled by professionals, and individuals should never collect or use them on their own. After touching a toad in daily life, wash your hands promptly, avoid rubbing your eyes or touching your mouth and nose, and remind children and pets at home to keep away.

In agriculture, toads are skilled insect catchers and can feed on moths and other field pests, which benefits farmland ecology and makes them worth protecting. If a toad appears in your yard or vegetable plot, there is no need to drive it away; as long as you do not eat it or play with it carelessly and keep a proper distance, you can simply live alongside each other in peace.