wu shao she

乌梢蛇·Zaocys

black-tail snake

About wu shao she

Wu Shao She (乌梢蛇) is the black-tailed snake, recorded as Zaocys. It is sweet and salty in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Liver and Spleen channels. The catalogue files it among the substances that dispel Wind-Damp.

Names

Pinyin	wu shao she
Chinese	乌梢蛇
Latin Name	Zaocys
English Name	black-tail snake·Zaocys
Japanese	ushooda
Korean	ochosa

Classification

Category: Dispel Wind Damp
Channels: Spleen, Liver
Flavour: Sweet, Salty
Temperature: Neutral
Part used: Snake
Family: Colubridae
Species: Zaocys dhumnades
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Strongly unblocks the channels and collaterals and extinguishes Wind

Long-standing, stubborn Wind-Damp Bi with numb, weak limbs and cramping sinews
Deep, obstinate Bi, beyond the reach of milder herbs, with stiff, painful joints, numbness and limited movement

Dispels Wind from the skin

Tinea, skin disease, numbness of the skin and rashes
Chronic itching and hives

Dispels Wind from the sinews, strengthens sinews and bones, and stops spasms and convulsions

Spasms, tremors or seizures
Convulsions and tetanic spasm from internal Wind
After Wind-stroke: facial paralysis, muscle paralysis and hemiplegia

Combinations

chan tui + jing jie + chi shao
Wind-Heat lodged in the skin with long-standing Wind-Rash; chronic eczema
qiang huo + qin jiao
Wandering joint pain from Wind-Cold
bai hua she
Convulsions associated with tetanus.
di long
Bi syndrome.
wu gong + quan xie
Convulsions.

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 3-12g; Powder: 3g	3-12 g	—	—	—	—

Cautions

caution Heat signs from Yin deficiency
pregnancy Use with care in pregnancy
caution Blood deficiency, Wind arising from Blood deficiency, or Blood dryness, as the herb is drying and dispersing
caution Do not keep it in a metal container; contact with metal is traditionally avoided
caution Made from a whole dried snake, so vegans and vegetarians will want to avoid it
caution Counterfeit snakes are sold under this name, and market samples have carried high levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic; use tested material of confirmed identity