chinese medicine goodness

While perusing through the kitchen cabinet that stores the family drugs, I came across a box of wholesome Chinese medicine. The box looked a bit old ($2.99 price tag on bottom) and unused but when I opened it to see what herbal goodies were inside, I found only two 10ml vials when once there were six. Someone in this family was taking this stuff.



To my surprise, this medicine came from the Guangzhou Pangoushou Pharmaceutical Factory. My grandparents originated from Guangzhou which must mean that we purchased this for a reason. Besides all the chinese characters on the box that I can't read, the English translation on the back read as follows:

"SHEDAN CHUANBEI YE is prepared with Snake's biles and Fritillariae. It is a traditional prescription for the treatment of cough. It has been clinically verified by Guangdong Province Chinese Traditional Hospital, Guangzhou second Hospital and five other hospitals that this preparation has a remarkable effect for the treatment of symptoms such as sputum, cough, panting and chest oppresssion caused by trachitis, bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. The total effective rate is 96.8% with the remarkable effective rate of 76.8%....It was awarded medals of Achievements of Technical Exploitation by Guangdong Province and of Great Technical Progress Contribution by Guangzhou City in 1984 and 1985 as well as the medal of Superior Quality Product by Guangdong Province in 1986."

So I opened a vial and downed one like a liquor shot before proceeding to cough it back up. The snake's bile ended up coating my mouth and I had to wash it down with water. Let's see if I go into a coma in the next 24 hours. At least someone who reads this blog will know exactly what I took and can tell my doctor.