Snake gallbladder is cool in nature and has a slightly bitter and slightly sweet taste. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxification, resolving phlegm and relieving spasms, dispelling wind and removing dampness, and clearing heat and improving vision. It is used to treat acute rheumatoid arthritis, lung heat cough, pediatric pneumonia, whooping cough, bronchitis, gastric heat pain, liver heat red eyes, and skin heat toxins. Many Chinese patent medicines, such as She Dan Chuan Bei Ye, She Dan Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao, She Dan Chuan Bei San, She Dan Ban Xia San, and She Dan Chen Pi San, contain snake gallbladder. In the market, there are chicken and duck gallbladders pretending to be snake gallbladders, so be careful when using it.
Authentic Snake Gallbladder
The appearance is slightly oval with a dark green color. The gallbladder skin is smooth, with blunt round ends. The gallbladder stalk grows slightly off-center and is connected to the gallbladder fascia. It is soft and resilient, not easy to break. The bile is orange-yellow in color, with a bitter taste at first and a sweet taste afterwards, a bit like the taste of ginseng, with a slight cool and stimulating sensation. It can be preserved for one to two years when soaked in high-grade liquor.
Counterfeit Chicken and Duck Gallbladder
The shape is slightly longer, with a pointed head. The color of the gallbladder is grass green, the bile duct is thick and hard, and the resilience is poor. The taste is extremely bitter and fishy. Even when soaked in liquor, the bile duct and gallbladder will gradually rot. Clinical findings have shown that snake gallbladder can also be used externally to treat external hemorrhoids. Mix it with sesame oil and apply it to the affected area, and it will be effective in two to three days. For non-ulcerated pain, parotitis, lymphadenopathy, etc., applying snake gallbladder can reduce inflammation and relieve pain. For scabies, stubborn ringworm, neurodermatitis, and other skin diseases, regular application of snake gallbladder can also achieve good results.
Modern pharmacological research has shown that snake gallbladder can regulate the human nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system, and has the function of delaying aging. Counterfeit chicken and duck gallbladder do not have the above-mentioned effects and can delay treatment if used incorrectly. Therefore, it is important to distinguish carefully.
In addition, there is a misconception in daily life that some people who are unaware of the truth believe that swallowing snake gallbladder raw can treat diseases and strengthen the body. However, this is counterproductive. Modern medical research has shown that swallowing snake gallbladder raw is highly toxic. This is because snake gallbladder contains bile toxins, histamine, bile salts, and cyanide, which can cause liver damage, acute renal failure, and affect the stomach, intestines, heart, brain, and other organs. If not rescued in time, it can be life-threatening. Therefore, snake gallbladder should not be swallowed raw. Even if used as medicine, it should be used under the guidance of a doctor to ensure medication safety.
