INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: BAI HUA SHE (QI SHE) - 白化蛇 - AGKISTRADON/BUNGARUS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Agkistrodon/Bungarus
Common English: Agkistrodon
Multi-banded Krait  
White-patterned Snake
Bungarus   

CATEGORY

Herbs that Dispel Wind-Dampness

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Sweet
Salty
Warm
Toxic
Liver
(Spleen)
Decoction: 3-10g
Pills or Powders: 1-5g
Tincture and Medicated Wine: 0.25-2ml

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Powerfully unblocks the channels and extinguishes Wind

Chronic Wind-Dampness with numbness and weakness of the limbs and cramping of the sinews

This herb is generally used for stubborn cases

Dispels Wind from the skin

Dermatosis, numbness of the skin or any kind of rash

Dispels Wind from the sinews and settles jitteriness and convulsions

Any kind of spasms, tremors or seizures.

Facial paralysis, aphasia and hemiplegia due to Wind-Stroke

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Use caution for those with Yin Deficiency.
  • Use caution for those with Dry Blood.
  • Use caution for those with Wind from Blood Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with Windstroke.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
  • Incompatible with iron.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • Use with caution for patients taking anticoagulants such as heparin, warfarin (Coumadin) and enoxaparin (Lovenox) or antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin, dipyridamole (Persantine) and clopidogrel (Plavix) as concurrent use may have an additive or synergistic effect.

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Rz. seu Rx. Notopterygii
Qiang Huo
Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Rx. Gentianae Macrophyllae
Qin Jiao

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Polygoni Multiflori Preparata
Zhi He Shou Wu
Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Scorpio
Quan Xie
Hb. Schizonepetae
Jing Jie
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui

Joint pain, weakness and stiffness due to Wind-Dampness

Chronic Bi syndrome with severe spasms, pain or numbness

Chronic rashes

As a medicinal liquor for facial paralysis or hemiplegia due to Wind-Stroke

Zaocys
Wu Shao She
Scolopendra
Wu Gong

Rz. Gastrodiae
Tian Ma
Hb. Schizonepetae
Jing Jie
Hb. Menthae
Bo He

Scorpio
Quan Xie
Rz. Gastrodiae
Tian Ma
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui

Muscular tetany

Bi syndrome due to Wind and Dampness

Post-stroke complications such as muscle paralysis and hemiplegia

NOTES

  1. This herb is very effective at expelling Wind that has accumulated at the Blood level.
  2. It is said to penetrate the bone tissue to expel Wind and alleviate convulsions.
  3. It is an essential substance for the treatment of Wind arthralgia, convulsions, scabies and malignant scabies because it travels all over, both inwardly and outwardly.
  4. The nose of most snakes grow downward, but the nose of this snake grows upward.
  5. Agkistrodon Qi She is sometimes used as a substitute for Bai Hua She as they are very similar.
  6. This herb has been shown to have an antagonistic effect on cancer cells.
  7. It is also said to lower blood pressure.
  8. It is used for: apoplexy, arthritis, convulsion after apoplexy, infantile convulsion, itching induced by scabies, tinea infections and urticaria, leprosy, muscular spasms, numbness of extremities, scrofula, severe skin infections, tetanus and wandering arthralgia.
  9. Both Bai Hua She and Zaocys Wu Shao She dispel Wind, unblock the collaterals, settle jitteriness, and stop convulsions and are often used together to treat Wind-Damp Bi, itchy skin and convulsions. Wu Shao She is not toxic and its effects are somewhat milder and more harmonious. It governs Wind in the Kidneys while Bai Hua She governs wind in the Lungs.
  10. Bungarus Bai Hua She is similar to Agkistrodon but more potent. Some consider it more potent for Wind disorders with itching
  11. This substance is also said to strengthen sinews and bones.
  12. Processed Bungarus Zhi Bai Hua She does not smell as bad and is stronger. It is also safer for use in the clinic with a better effect.