Herb & supplement monograph

Snake Skin Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by ·Updated June 2026
What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Snake Skin interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Snake Skin is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Snake Skin is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Snake Skin

0 medications have a known interaction with Snake Skin, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Snake Skin. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

  • Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
  • Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
  • Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
  • No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

  • Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
  • Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
  • Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

  • Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
  • Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Snake Skin combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
  • Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Monograph

Snake Skin: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by · Reviewed June 2026 ·
The bottom line

Snake skin (the shed slough of snakes, called 'She Tui' in Traditional Chinese Medicine) is a folk remedy mainly used for skin and eye complaints. There is very little modern scientific research to confirm any benefit, and safety has not been well studied, so use it cautiously and only after talking with a knowledgeable healthcare provider.

Part used
Shed skin (slough) of snakes; in Traditional Chinese Medicine often from species such as Elaphe (snake slough, 'She Tui')
Common forms
Dried slough used in decoctions, powders, and topical preparations; sometimes found in combination herbal formulas
People commonly use it for
  • Skin conditions and itching
  • Eye complaints (traditional use)
  • Childhood convulsions (traditional use)
  • Sore throat
  • Wound and boil care (topical, traditional)

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance
OverallLimited data

Modern safety and quality data are very limited, and contamination is a real concern with animal-derived products.

PregnancyInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail
BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Jump to a section

Overview

Snake skin in herbal medicine usually refers to the dried, shed skin (called the slough) that a snake leaves behind when it molts. It is not a plant but an animal-derived material. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is known as She Tui and has been used for centuries.

The slough is typically cleaned, dried, and then used in decoctions (boiled teas), powders, or applied to the skin. It is sometimes combined with other herbs in traditional formulas.

Because it comes from an animal rather than a plant, snake skin does not have a botanical name or plant family. Quality and contents can vary a great deal from one product to another.

How it works

The way snake skin might work in the body is not well understood. Shed snake skin is made largely of keratin, the same protein found in hair and nails, along with small amounts of other compounds.

Traditional practitioners describe it as having properties that calm the skin and "clear" certain symptoms, but these ideas come from traditional theory rather than modern science. Any biological effects suggested in laboratory studies are preliminary and have not been confirmed in people.

In short, there is no clear, proven mechanism showing how snake skin produces a medical benefit.

Effectiveness

Does Snake Skin work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by .

Evidence overview · 1 use evaluated
1 Insufficient evidence
How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.
2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.
3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.
4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.
5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.
6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.
7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Snake Skin, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 1 condition — evidence insufficient to rate
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Corneal opacity
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

A small clinical study shows that taking a combination of snake skin and six other Chinese herbs orally, in addition to a subconjunctival injection of sodium iodide, seems to result in a corneal opacity effective treatment rate of 92%, compared with 62% in those receiving sodium iodide alone. It is not clear if this effect is due to snake skin, other ingredients, or the combination.

Sources Ref 27834

Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.

Safety & precautions

The safety of snake skin has not been well studied in modern research. Because it is an animal product, there is a real risk of contamination with bacteria, parasites, or other harmful substances if it is not properly processed.

People with allergies, weakened immune systems, or serious health conditions should be especially careful. Children should not be given snake skin without medical supervision.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: There is not enough information to consider snake skin safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so it should be avoided during these times.

Always choose products from trustworthy sources, and check with a pharmacist or doctor before using any animal-derived supplement.

Side effects

Because snake skin is not well studied, the full range of side effects is unknown. Possible concerns include allergic reactions, digestive upset, and infections from contaminated material.

Applying it to the skin or near the eyes could cause irritation. Seek medical care right away if you develop signs of a serious reaction, such as trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, hives, fever, or a spreading rash.

Dosing

There is no established or standardized dose for snake skin. Traditional formulas vary widely, and modern research has not defined a safe and effective amount.

If you choose to use a product that contains snake skin, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed them. It is best to work with a qualified herbal practitioner, and to check with your pharmacist or doctor first, since safe dosing has not been confirmed.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Snake Skin & Pregnancy

Insufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Snake Skin & Breastfeeding

Insufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.

© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

References & further reading

The 1 references that drive our Snake Skin monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. 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.
Keep reading

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Snake Skin: Common Questions

What is Snake Skin used for, and does it work?
People use Snake Skin for a range of reasons, but according to the Natural Medicines database the current clinical evidence is insufficient to confirm it works for the specific conditions it has been studied for. See the graded list on this page, and talk to your pharmacist or doctor before relying on it for any condition.
Does Snake Skin interact with prescription medications?
We do not currently list any known drug interactions for Snake Skin. This does not guarantee that none exist, so always confirm with your pharmacist before combining it with your medications.
How are Snake Skin interactions rated?
Each interaction is graded major, moderate, or minor based on how clinically significant it is and the strength of the evidence behind it. Major interactions are the most serious and are best avoided, or used only under close professional supervision.
Is it safe to take Snake Skin with my medications?
It depends on the specific medication. Some combinations are fine, while others call for monitoring, timing changes, or should be avoided. Check your exact drug above and confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing anything.
Where does this Snake Skin interaction information come from?
Our interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database — an evidence-graded reference for vitamins, herbs, and supplements — and is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists, who may add clinical context.
What is Snake Skin used for?
In traditional medicine, the shed skin of snakes has been used for itchy skin, rashes, eye complaints, sore throat, and skin sores. These are traditional uses, and there is little modern evidence that it actually works for any of them.
Is Snake Skin safe to take?
Its safety has not been well studied. Because it is an animal product, there is a risk of contamination, so it should be used cautiously and only after checking with a healthcare provider.
Can I use Snake Skin while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. There is not enough safety information, so it is best to avoid Snake Skin during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Is Snake Skin the same as snake venom or a plant?
No. Snake Skin refers to the dried shed skin (slough) of a snake. It is an animal-derived material, not a plant, and it is different from snake venom.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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