TCM Diagnostic and Therapeutic Methods

Ⅸ-2Traditional MedicineHuangshanshiqimen, AnhuiBatch 5 (2021)Extension Item

01 · Historical Records

It has deep foundations and a long history, beginning in the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty, when the presented scholar (juren) Teng Dianzhong, who was charitable and fond of giving, was secretly taught snake medicine by a folk “snake charmer,” and it has been transmitted within the family for generations for more than two hundred years.

02 · Core Techniques & Process

The Qimen snakebite therapy is a distinctive traditional therapy that uses traditional Chinese medicine as its mainstay to treat bites of all kinds of venomous snakes, having formed a series of “Qimen snake medicines.” Qimen County lies in the mountainous area of southern Anhui, with a subtropical monsoon climate, mild temperatures, abundant rainfall and four distinct seasons. The favorable ecology provides an excellent environment for snakes to live and breed; more than ten species of venomous snakes are found here, and those engaged in outdoor labor are easily bitten by them. At the same time, traditional Chinese medicinal materials are abundant in variety; Qimen snake, Qimen atractylodes and Qimen polygonatum are all prized medicinals of Anhui. The Qimen snakebite therapy emphasizes “treating according to the disease and according to pattern differentiation,” and treats primarily with the traditional Qimen snakebite therapy. It can significantly reduce the mortality, amputation (finger/toe) and disability rates from snakebite, overcome the allergic shock induced by antivenom, compensate for the narrowness of the range of snake species covered, and effectively reduce the use of antivenom and antibiotics. It is especially adept at treating bites of the five-step snake. It emphasizes early detoxification and expulsion of venom in five-step snakebite and similar cases, does not advocate excessive ligature or incision and drainage, and reduces intravenous infusion in severe cases; in the middle stage it emphasizes supporting the healthy qi and consolidating the root, or creating fistulous drainage, effectively reducing tissue trauma and ulcerative necrosis so as to protect organs such as the heart, liver and kidney; in the late stage, through external application and fumigation-washing, it brings the injured limb to rapid reduction of swelling and recovery, with emphasis on preventing and treating contracture and functional impairment of the injured limb. It has formed a distinctive snakebite therapy with a high cure rate. As a famous medicinal for snakebite treatment in China, Qimen snake medicine has seen its “snakebite emergency kit” exported to Southeast Asia and Africa, while external snakebite medicinals such as Quyu San (Stasis-Dispelling Powder) and “Snakebite Recovery Formula No. 1” are widely used in the treatment of limb swelling and pain and enjoy a high reputation.

Early detoxification

At the outset the emphasis is on neutralizing and clearing venom, without tight binding, incision or heavy infusion.

Supporting the body mid-stage

Mid-course the focus is on supporting the patient, with a fistula created if needed and the heart, liver and kidneys shielded.

External care in recovery

Late-stage external application and washing reduce swelling and guard against contracture and loss of function.

The pit-viper regimen

The school's most demanding case, the bite of the sharp-nosed pit viper, treated with a regimen of its own.

The snakebite emergency pack

The formulas packed for carrying, sold across Southeast Asia and Africa and relied on by those who work outdoors.

03 · Regional Records & Related Items

The Qimen snakebite therapy is distributed mainly across Huangshan, Chizhou, Xuancheng, Tongling, Wuhu and Anqing in southern Anhui and the surrounding areas of Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangxi, radiating to the provinces and cities of Jiangsu, Hubei, Shandong and Fujian, and reaching as far as Xinjiang, Heilongjiang, Fujian and Yunnan.

04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding

On October 1, 1965, the Qimen County Snakebite Research Institute of Anhui Province was established, with Teng Guoqiang, the seventh-generation inheritor, as its first director, who made a historic contribution to the formation and development of the “Qimen snakebite therapy.” At present, after ten generations of transmission and development, the connotations of the Qimen snakebite therapy have been continually enriched. On the basis of family transmission, it has systematically organized and summarized historical experience, strengthened the unique advantages of Chinese medicine in the treatment of snakebite, complemented the strengths of Western medicine, and continually given new connotations and new missions to the Qimen snakebite therapy, so as to better benefit society and the public. In recent years it has also established the largest snake science popularization and training base in East China and accelerated the research and development of a “new snakebite emergency kit,” opening up new paths for the transmission of the snakebite therapy. The Qimen snakebite therapy has saved countless patients; it is not only markedly effective but also reduces the burden on patients, and is of great significance for safeguarding safe outdoor work, protecting rural productive forces, and preventing illness-induced poverty.

05 · Associated Representative Bearers

Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:

06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography

TCM Diagnostic and Therapeutic Methods (Huangshanshiqimen, Anhui) · China ICH Official Project Archive

Sources

China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)

Read the official ihchina.cn record ↗

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