Compendium of Materia Medica

Explanation of Names Li Shizhen states: According to Liu Xi’s Explanation of Names, snow (xue) means to wash (xi). It washes away pestilence, miasma, and infestations of locusts. While most flowers have five petals, snowflakes have six; six is the "completed number" of Yin In ancient Chinese numerology, odd numbers are Yang and even numbers are Yin. Six represents the height of Yin energy, associated with winter and water. The third "Wu" day after the Winter Solstice is the La day The La festival occurs in the twelfth lunar month. Three snowfalls occurring before this festival are exceptionally beneficial for crops and wheat, as they kill off pests and locusts. If snow from the La month is sealed tightly and stored in a shaded area, it will not spoil for decades. Using it to soak the seeds of the five grains makes them resistant to drought and prevents insect damage. If sprinkled on a child's mat, flies will stay away. It can also be used to preserve fruit and food to prevent maggot infestations. Is this not proof of its power to eliminate pests? Chen Cangqi says: Spring snow contains insects and the water spoils easily, which is why it is not collected for use.

Nature and Flavor: Sweet, cold, and non-toxic.

Primary Indications: Resolves all forms of poison. Treats seasonal epidemics, pestilence, and

heat-induced convulsions and frantic crying in children. For adults, it treats adverse reactions to mineral elixirs original: "danshi"; these were alchemical compounds often containing lead or mercury that could cause "fire-poisoning" symptoms, sudden heat after alcohol consumption, and jaundice. It should be

served slightly warm. Chen Cangqi Use it to wash the eyes to reduce redness. Zhang Congzheng Use it to brew tea or cook porridge to resolve heat and quench thirst. Wu Rui It is suitable for decocting

medicines for severe thirst in cold damage disorders cold damage: "shanghan", a category of external febrile illnesses. It is also effective when applied to prickly heat. Li Shizhen

Expositions Kou Zongshi says: Water from the La month snow is water of "extreme cold" nature; therefore, it is used to treat all the heat-related illnesses mentioned above.