Rheumatism, hemiplegia treated with TCM herb Agkistrodon

What is Bai Hua She (Agkistrodon)?
In west it refers to dried gutted trunk of Agkistrodon or Bungarus Snake. And it is also one of commonly used herbs for Stroke. Dried Agkistrodon snakes curl up like a disc, head in middle, 18 to 25cm in diameter, trunk about 3cm in diameter. They have a triangle but flat head, nose on top, wide mouth, and long poisonous fangs in upper jaw. The back is dark brown, covered with diamond scales, and 24 lengthways grey square stripes. The belly is white, with bigger scales, mixed with many black spots. The horny tale is taper shape, and triangle in the end. Inside belly it is yellowish-white, with prominent vertebra, and flanked with ribs. They have slightly fishy smell. The quality criteria are bigger trunk, intact head and tale, and clearer stripes and spots. The leading producers are Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Fujian provinces.

Dried Bungarus snakes are with smaller trunk. Likewise they curl into disc shape, head in middle, and slender tale tucked into mouth. The disc’s diameter is about 3.5cm while trunk’s is about 4mm. The back is black brown, glossy, with many white stripes, and a prominent spine. Belly is yellowish-white. They have slightly fishy smell and taste slightly salty. Main producers are Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. In addition, Elaphe moellendorffi (Boettger) is also one of alternative in these areas.

What is it used for?
It is sweet, salty and warm in nature and administers meridians of liver and spleen from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Main functions are to dispel wind, unblock meridians, and relieve spasm. Regular uses and indications are rheumatism, obstinate arthralgia, numbness, muscular constricture, Facial Paralysis or Hemiplegia due to wind-stroke, tetanus, leprosy, scabies, rash and other types of skin diseases caused by wind pathogen. Regular dosage is 3 to 4.5 grams in decoction and 1 to 1.5 gram in powder.