Snake Skin
OTHER NAME(S): Shed Snake Skin, Snake Slough, None., Piel de serpiente
Overview
The use of snake skin, both on the skin and taken by mouth, comes from ancient Chinese medicine.
People use snake skin for skin disorders, seizure disorder (epilepsy), high blood pressure, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
There isn't enough reliable information available to know how snake skin might work.
There isn't enough reliable information available to know how snake skin might work.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Gallbladder disease.
- Hemorrhoids.
- High blood pressure.
- Itching.
- Pain.
- Scaly, itchy skin (psoriasis).
- Itchy skin infection caused by mites (scabies).
- Scarring of the cornea of the eye (corneal opacity).
- Seizure disorder (epilepsy).
- Seizures not caused by epilepsy.
- Sore throat.
- Wound healing.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate snake skin for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if snake skin is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if snake skin is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if snake skin is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if snake skin is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if snake skin is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Snake Skin overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of snake skin depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for snake skin (in children/in adults). Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Zhang, R. J., Zhao, Y. W., Tang, F. U., Sheng, S. S., and Zhou, Y. Y. Clinical effect of traditional Chinese herbs combined with sodium iodide in treating corneal opacity. Int J Ophthalmol 2007;7(1):217-9.
- Itoh, T., Xia, J., Magavi, R., Nishihata, T., and Rytting, J. H. Use of shed snake skin as a model membrane for in vitro percutaneous penetration studies: comparison with human skin. Pharm Res 1990;7(10):1042-1047.
- Ngawhirunpat, T., Panomsuk, S., Opanasopit, P., Rojanarata, T., and Hatanaka, T. Comparison of the percutaneous absorption of hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds in shed snake skin and human skin. Pharmazie 2006;61(4):331-5.
- Burken, R. R., Wertz, P. W., and Downing, D. T. A survey of polar and nonpolar lipids extracted from snake skin. Comp Biochem Physiol B 1985;81(2):315-8.
- Jones, D. E. and Holladay, S. D. Excretion of three heavy metals in the shed skin of exposed corn snakes (Elaphe guttata). Ecotoxicol Environ.Saf 2006;64(2):221-5.
- Harada, K., Murakami, T., Kawasaki, E., et al. In-vitro permeability to salicylic acid of human, rodent, and shed snake skin. J Pharm Pharmacol 1993;45(5):414-8.
- Itoh, T., Magavi, R., Casady, R. L., Nishihata, T., and Rytting, J. H. A method to predict the percutaneous permeability of various compounds: shed snake skin as a model membrane. Pharm Res 1990;7(12):1302-6.
- Kuramoto, M., Tanaka, T., Makita, H., Nakamura, Y., and Yata, N. Characteristics of shed snake skin permeability to indomethacin and fatty alcohols. J Pharm Pharmacol 1996;48(7):680-4.
- Craane-van Hinsberg, W. H., Verhoef, J. C., Bax, L. J., Junginger, H. E., and Bodde, H. E. Role of appendages in skin resistance and iontophoretic peptide flux: human versus snake skin. Pharm Res 1995;12(10):1506-12.
- Zhou Z, Jiang Z. Identifying snake species threatened by economic exploitation and international trade in China. Biodiversity Conserv 2005;14:3525-3536.