Flower snails are used in medicine.

Oa ngưu is a medicinal ingredient derived from the flower snail (Achatina fulica) – the largest snail in the snail family, living on land in damp places, commonly found in tree hollows, bushes, especially in hedges of three-sided cacti. It is a mollusk with a large shell, a pyramid with 5-6 whorls, and a large, swollen mouth.

From a culinary standpoint, garden snails are a protein-rich food in daily meals and can also be used medicinally when needed. After catching the snails, let them sit for 24 hours to allow them to expel any dirt or toxins from plants they may have ingested. Remove the shells, intestines, stomach, and esophagus, keeping only the meat. Rub the meat with salt and alum, then rinse thoroughly to remove the slime. Alternatively, spread the snails in a thin layer, sprinkle with salt, and stir three times at 5-minute intervals. Remove the snails, immerse them in boiling water for 5-7 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Remove the snail meat from the shells, discarding the intestines. Soak the snail meat in a 5% salt solution for half an hour. Remove the snails, rinse off the slime and impurities, and drain.

After cooking, the meat of the flower snail is just as crispy and delicious as stuffed snails when stir-fried, boiled, or deep-fried.

In traditional medicine, the flower snail is used under the name "oa ngưu," which has a salty taste, a cold nature, and a slimy texture. It is used to nourish, detoxify, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, prevent spasms, and promote urination. One or two flower snails are crushed, mixed with a little water, spread on paper leaving a small hole in the center, and applied to treat facial sores (according to "Nam Duoc Than Hieu"). Equal amounts of flower snail meat and dried plum pulp are crushed and made into lozenges to treat sore throats and difficulty swallowing. Hydrolyzed flower snail extract, concentrated until thick, becomes a product called "snail protein," which is used as a very good tonic. One of the recipes containing flower snails to improve brain function in the elderly is as follows: 1000g of flower snail meat, 600g of Chinese yam, 750g of granulated sugar, 12.5g of sodium bicarbonate, 2.5g of benzoic acid, and 0.03g of menthol. Cleaned snail meat is steamed with sodium bicarbonate until tender, then mashed. Sugar is added and cooked thoroughly. Benzoic acid is added for preservation. Dried and roasted Chinese yam is ground into a fine powder, sieved, and mixed thoroughly with the snail meat to form a non-sticky dough. Form into 4g pills. Dry. Take 4 pills daily for 15-30 days.

To treat asthma and rheumatism, take two garden snails, cook them until golden brown, chop them finely, and boil them to make a concentrated broth. Take 50g of bamboo shoots, wash them, crush them, and extract the juice. Mix the two juices together and drink 1-2 times a day. Use for an extended period.

The mucus of the garden snail, a layer of slime that covers the entire body of the snail within its shell, is also used in folk medicine. It is extracted by catching garden snails, wiping off any dirt clinging to their mouths with a cloth, and then repeatedly stimulating the snail's body with a pointed stick. A large amount of mucus is then released. The mucus is then applied immediately with a clean cotton swab and used without being left to sit overnight. Garden snail mucus is particularly effective in treating centipede bites. This is because the mucus is an alkaline substance. When applied to a centipede bite, the mucus neutralizes the acidity of the venom, causing a cooling sensation and relieving pain.

According to foreign sources, in France, the flower snail is raised on an industrial scale and its meat is processed into a popular food and medicinal remedy. Dried flower snail meat, 15g at a time, is roasted until charred, then brewed into a decoction and drunk three times a day for 3-5 days to treat dysentery and diarrhea. To treat intestinal obstruction, take 60g of fresh or 30g of dried flower snail meat, finely chopped, cooked with 100g of lean pork, seasoned, and consumed throughout the day.

According to Suckhoevadoisong