she tui

蛇蜕·Periostracum Serpentis

Snake Skin Slough

Toxic

Toxicity graded by American Dragon.

About she tui

She Tui (蛇蜕) is the sloughed skin of the snake, recorded as Periostracum Serpentis. It is sweet and salty in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Liver channel alone. The catalogue files it among the substances that dispel Wind-Damp.

Names

Pinyin	she tui
Chinese	蛇蜕
Latin Name	Periostracum Serpentis
English Name	Snake Skin Slough·snake slough
Japanese	datai
Korean	sase

Classification

Category: Dispel Wind Damp
Channels: Liver
Flavour: Sweet, Salty
Temperature: Neutral
Part used: Animal by product
Family: Colubridae
Species: Elaphe Taeniura|Elaphe Carinata|Elaphe dhumnades
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Dispels Wind and stops spasms

Skin lesions from Wind, including itchy rashes attributed to Wind-Heat
Internal Wind patterns such as convulsions in children, epilepsy and seizures

Removes superficial visual obstruction and benefits the eyes

Pterygium, or corneal disorders such as nebulae; often paired with Chan Tui

Resolves toxicity

Toxic conditions: sore throat, ulcers of the mouth, carbuncles, hemorrhoids and scabies

Combinations

chan tui + sheng di huang + dang gui
Wind-Heat rash
chan tui + bai ji li
Superficial visual obstruction.

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 1.5-6g; Powder: 0.3-0.6g	1.5-6 g	—	—	—	—

Cautions

pregnancy Do not use in pregnancy
caution Blood deficiency, Yin deficiency or Blood dryness, since Wind-dispelling medicinals dry and disperse; best used under a qualified practitioner
caution An animal product (shed snake skin), unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans
caution Rated toxic in one source