Chan Su (蟾酥) is the secretion of the toad, recorded as Venenum Bufonis. It is sweet and acrid in flavour, warm in temperature, and enters the Heart and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the substances for external application.

Pinyin

chan su

Chinese

蟾酥

Latin Name

Venenum Bufonis

English Name

Toad Venom

Japanese

senso

Korean

seomseo·seonmseo

Actions and indications

Resolves toxicity, reduces swelling and relieves pain

Swelling of the throat from toxic Phlegm-Heat
Swellings, sores, boils, carbuncles and ulcers, applied topically or taken internally
Painful sores and swellings, as a strong local painkiller

Expels Summerheat and Damp, opens the orifices, revives consciousness and tonifies the Heart

Sudden loss of consciousness with abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, from Summerheat with heavy turbidity
Sudden collapse or heatstroke-type closed patterns
Yang deficiency of the Heart and Kidneys
Devastated Yang
Fluid congestion of the Heart and Lungs
Stagnant Lung Qi with Cold Phlegm

Attacks toxins, reduces swelling, resists cancer and calms panic

Various types of cancer

Combinations

ming fan + qing dai

Sores that are chronic, suppurating and slow to heal

zhen zhu + niu huang + she xiang

Severe unruptured sores and abscesses, particularly of the throat, gums and mouth

cang zhu + ding xiang

Summerheat-stroke with sudden loss of consciousness, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea

niu huang

Phlegm and turbid filth clouding the Orifices, with high fever, delirium and convulsions; applied topically for Heat toxin sores, throat Bi or problems of the gums

tao ren + da huang

Blood Stasis with amenorrhea

quan xie + wu gong

Chronic, persistent pain of the muscles and joints, taken as a pill coated with Zhu Sha (cinnabar)

wu zhu yu + zhi ban xia + shan yao + bai ji

Fixed masses of the Liver, taken internally

long kui + xia ku cao + hu zhang

Liver cancer.

bai hua she she cao + ban zhi lian

Colon cancer.

xiong huang + she xiang + zhu sha

Skin disorders marked by Heat and toxins

niu huang + xiong huang + she xiang + bing pian

Severe sore, painful throat; tonsillitis; scarlet fever

han shui shi + ba dou

Scrofula.

xiong huang + gan cao + peng sha

Toothache, applied topically as a powder

chuan wu + cao wu + tian nan xing + ban xia

Local anesthesia for minor surgery on the five sense organs, applied topically

cang zhu + ding xiang + she xiang + xiong huang

Blown into the nostrils as a powder for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and severe turbid Summerheat

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any Pills and Powders: 0.01-0.03g; Tincture: 0.05-0.1ml up to 3 drops

0.01-0.03 g

—

0.05-0.1 ml

—

Cautions

caution A potent cardiotoxin with a narrow margin between a used amount and a fatal one; even slight excess has caused life-threatening arrhythmias. Only for licensed, standardised preparations under professional supervision, never for self-preparation or self-use

pregnancy Not to be used in pregnancy; it can stimulate the muscle of the uterus

lactation Not to be used while breastfeeding

caution Internal use calls for great care

caution Keep it out of the eyes; Zi Cao (Arnebia or Lithospermum) is the antidote

caution Signs of poisoning include malaise, restlessness, nausea, dizziness, chest discomfort, and numbness of the mouth, lips and limbs

caution Avoid excessive use alongside sweat-inducing herbs meant to disperse toxin

caution Deaths have followed use of aphrodisiac products containing its heart-active compounds (bufadienolides), with a very slow pulse, high potassium, acidosis and arrhythmia resembling digoxin poisoning

Interactions

Drug interactions

Digoxin, other cardiac glycosides and heart-active drugs: they act on the same cardiac target, so toxicity to the heart and the risk of arrhythmia compound
Digoxin blood tests: its compounds cross-react with digoxin immunoassays and can give a false-positive result in someone who has never taken digoxin

chan su

About chan su

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Resolves toxicity, reduces swelling and relieves pain

Expels Summerheat and Damp, opens the orifices, revives consciousness and tonifies the Heart

Attacks toxins, reduces swelling, resists cancer and calms panic

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

About chan su

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Resolves toxicity, reduces swelling and relieves pain

Expels Summerheat and Damp, opens the orifices, revives consciousness and tonifies the Heart

Attacks toxins, reduces swelling, resists cancer and calms panic

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Related

Used in 1 formula