Snake Slough – 1 lb (454 g)

Snake Slough, known in Chinese as 蛇蜕 (Shētuì) and scientifically as Periostracum Serpentis, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Snake Slough carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Snake Slough helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Snake Slough provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Snake Slough has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Snake Slough, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This item is also known as Shepi, Shetui, Sheke, Longyi. It is the shed epidermal membrane of snakes from the Colubridae family, including Elaphe taeniura Cope (Black-browed Rat Snake), Elaphe carinata (Guenther) (King Rat Snake), or Zaocys dhumnades (Cantor) (Black-banded Rat Snake), among others. It is produced in most regions across China. It is collected in late spring to early summer or early winter, then cleaned of mud and sand and dried.

[Properties] Taste salty and sweet; nature is neutral. Enters the Liver meridian.

[Actions] Dispel wind, calm fright, reduce corneal opacity, detoxify.

[Applications]
1. Used for pediatric convulsions and epilepsy with convulsions; often combined with Gou Teng (Uncaria), Tian Ma (Gastrodia), Quan Xie (Scorpion), and other herbs. If heat is severe, combined with Shi Gao (Gypsum), Huang Qin (Scutellaria), Da Huang (Rhubarb), etc.; if phlegm is present, combined with Dan Nan Xing (Arisaema), Tian Zhu Huang (Bamboo sap), Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillaria), etc.
2. Used for corneal opacity and pterygium. For wind-heat syndrome, often combined with Chan Yi (Cicada slough), Bai Ju Hua (White Chrysanthemum), Ye Ming Sha (Night Bright Sand), Huang Lian (Coptis), as in the formula Tui Yi Wan (退翳丸); if accompanied by Liver and Kidney yin deficiency, combined with Sheng Di (Rehmannia root), Gou Qi Zi (Lycium fruit), Tong Ji Li (Tribulus), Shi Jue Ming (Abalone shell), etc.
3. Used for urticaria itching, scabies, and eczema. For urticaria, combined with Jing Jie (Schizonepeta), Chan Tui (Cicada slough), Sheng Di (Rehmannia), Chi Shao (Red Peony root), taken as decoction or used externally for washing; for scabies and eczema, often combined with Ku Shen (Sophora root), She Chuang Zi (Cnidium seed), Bai Fan (Alum), decocted for fumigation and washing.
4. Used for throat obstruction, mouth ulcers, gum swelling, and ear discharge. For throat swelling and pain, often combined with Yin Hua (Honeysuckle), Lian Qiao (Forsythia), Xiang Qiao (Notopterygium), Jie Geng (Platycodon), Niu Bang Zi (Arctium), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia), decocted together; for mouth ulcers, gum swelling, and purulent ear discharge, ground into powder and applied externally.
5. Used for abscesses, carbuncles, scrofula, and hemorrhoids. For hard abscesses not yet suppurated, calcined and ground with rice vinegar applied topically; for carbuncles, combined with Lu Feng Fang (Hornet nest), Xue Yu (Blood residue) ash, ground and mixed with rice soup for topical application; for postpartum breast swelling and pain, combined with Lu Jiao (Deer antler), Lu Feng Fang, calcined and taken with yellow wine; for intestinal abscess, combined with Tian Gua Zi (Melon seed), Dang Gui (Angelica), decocted for oral use; for scrofula ulceration, combined with Wu Gong (Centipede), honey, sesame oil, made into a paste for topical application; for hemorrhoid swelling and pain, roasted and ground with a small amount of Bing Pian (Borneol), mixed with sesame oil for topical application.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 2–3 g; powder, 0.3–0.6 g. External use: appropriate amount, decocted for fumigation and washing; or ground powder mixed for topical application.

[Cautions] Contraindicated in pregnancy.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: Elaphe carinata slough contains collagen.
2. Pharmacological effects: Snake slough extract administered orally or by subcutaneous injection significantly inhibits foot swelling in rats induced by carrageenan, indicating anti-inflammatory effects; in vitro experiments show certain inhibitory effects on hemolysis.
3. Clinical reports:
1) Corneal opacity: Equal amounts of snake slough and cicada slough were made into a 100% double slough injection, injected subconjunctivally near the corneal opacity at 0.5 ml per injection, changing injection sites each time, once daily or every other day. In 50 eyes (42 cases), results showed marked effect in 15 eyes, improvement in 30 eyes, no effect in 5 eyes, with an effective rate of 90%. [Zhong Yi Za Zhi (Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine), 1980, (6):36]
2) Herpes zoster: Snake slough (Longyi) 5 g, Longxu Cao (Herba Ecliptae) 10 g, both burned to ash; Fenghuang Yi (Phoenix skin) 3 g, ground to fine powder. Mixed to make “Longyi San” powder. When used, mixed with sesame oil to a paste and applied to lesions 2–3 times daily. In 78 cases, 56 cured, 20 improved, 2 ineffective; total effective rate 98.4%. [Heilongjiang Zhong Yi Yao (Heilongjiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine), 1997, (4):34]
3) Burns and scalds: Snake slough 100 g, cleaned, dried, calcined, and ground fine; Bing Pian (Borneol) 12 g, ground fine; sesame oil 300 g, boiled then cooled to 80°C, slowly mixed with powders and stirred. After sterilization, applied to lesions and covered with sterile gauze, changed once daily. In 28 cases, all cured. [Xin Zhong Yi (New Chinese Medicine), 1995, 27(3):52]
4) Epidemic parotitis: Snake slough 3 g, roasted in a sand pot, ground fine, stir-fried with one egg white and taken once daily; additionally, Chi Xiao Dou (Adzuki bean) 30 g, ground fine, mixed with water to a paste and applied to lesions once daily. In 25 cases, 20 markedly effective; effective rate 80.0%. [She Zhi (Snake Journal), 2002, 14(1):52]
5) Eczema: Zi Cao (Lithospermum) 30–60 g, snake slough 15–30 g, placed in a gauze bag with 2–3 kg water, boiled for 30 minutes; the decoction, warm but not hot, used with a soft towel to wash affected areas for 30 minutes, 2–3 times daily, one dose per day, 6 days per course. In 89 cases, 80 cured, 8 markedly effective, 1 ineffective; total effective rate 98.6%. [Hunan Zhong Yi Za Zhi (Hunan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine), 2001, 17(3):41]

[Category] Opening Orifices Herbs