Eupolyphaga Steleophaga
Aliases：Dì Biē (Ground Beetle); Tǔ Yuán (Earth Bug); Dì Biē Chóng (Ground Beetle Insect); Zhé Chóng (Stinging Insect); Zhè Chóng (Stinging Insect); Bò Jī Chóng (Winnowing Basket Insect); Dì Wū Guī (Ground Turtle); Tǔ Chóng (Earth Insect); Jié Jié Chóng (Segmented Insect); Gài Zi Chóng (Lidded Insect); Chòu Chóng Mǔ (Stinky Bug Mother); Mǎ Yǐ Hǔ (Ant Tiger); Shān Zhāng Láng (Mountain Cockroach); Guò Jiē (Street Crosser); Kē Bò Chóng (Toad Bug).
Tǔ Biē Chóng (Ground Beetle) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried female body of Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker or Steleophaga plancyi (Boleny), insects of the family Corydiidae. After capture, the insects are killed by scalding in boiling water, then dried in the sun or by heat. This herb has been regarded by physicians throughout history as an essential herb for invigorating blood and healing injuries, and was first recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica).
Efficacy & Actions
Breaks blood and dispels stasis, mends fractures and connects tendons.
Indications
Used for traumatic injuries, fractures and tendon injuries, amenorrhea due to blood stasis, postpartum abdominal pain due to stasis, and abdominal masses.
Modern Pharmacology
Anticoagulant and antithrombotic: Tubiechong (Eupolyphaga) exhibits anticoagulant and antithrombotic pharmacological effects. Antitumor: Possesses antitumor activity. The proteins, peptides, and lipids in Tubiechong may have potential for treating tumors. Lipid regulation: Has lipid-regulating effects. Anti-inflammatory: Has anti-inflammatory effects. Immune enhancement: Enhances immune function. Antioxidant: Has antioxidant effects. Analgesic: Has analgesic effects. Anti-hypoxia: Has anti-hypoxic effects. Vascular endothelial cell protection: Protects vascular endothelial cells.
Ingredients
Proteins and peptides: Highest content, exhibiting thrombolytic, antitumor, lipid-regulating, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. Amino acids: Total content about 40%, with essential amino acids accounting for over 30%. Volatile oils: Total 22.19%, mainly naphthalene. Fatty acids: Abundant content. Alkaloids. Nucleosides: Uracil, allantoin, etc. Sterols: β-sitosterol, batyl alcohol, etc. Inorganic elements: Contains various trace elements. Other constituents: Fatty aldehydes, aromatic aldehydes, dichlorobenzene, dimethyl disulfide, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 3–10g; ground into powder, 1–1.5g per dose, preferably taken with yellow wine. The pharmacopoeia recommends a dosage of 3–9g. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, ground into powder for external application, or mashed fresh for application.
Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy. Use with caution in women during menstruation. Use with caution in elderly and debilitated patients. Use with caution in patients without blood stasis. Use with caution in patients with deficiency complicated by stasis.
Selected Formulas
For postpartum abdominal pain, accumulation of dry blood in the abdomen, and menstrual disorders (Jin Gui Yao Lue, Xiayuxue Tang) Take equal parts of Dahuang (Rhubarb), Taoren (Peach kernel), and Zhechong (Eupolyphaga). Grind into powder, mix with honey to make pills. Take one pill each time with wine. For internal dry blood with scaly skin and dark eyes (Jin Gui Yao Lue, Dahuang Zhechong Wan) Take Dahuang, Huangqin (Scutellaria), Gancao (Licorice), Taoren, Xingren (Apricot seed), Shaoyao (Peony), Gan Dihuang (Dried Rehmannia), Ganqi (Dried lacquer), Mengchong (Gadfly), Shuizhi (Leech), Qicao (Grub), and Zhechong. Grind into powder, mix with honey to make pills. Take three pills each time with warm wine. For abdominal masses and malaria-induced masses (Jin Gui Yao Lue, Biejia Jian Wan) Take Biejia (Turtle shell), Sheshe (Belamcanda), Huangqin, Chaihu (Bupleurum), Shufu (Woodlouse), Ganjiang (Dried ginger), Dahuang, Guizhi (Cinnamon twig), Shiwei (Pyrrosia), Houpu (Magnolia), Ziwei (Campsis), Ejiao (Donkey-hide gelatin), Shaoyao, Mudan (Moutan), Zhechong, Fengwo (Wasp nest), Taoren, Qumai (Dianthus), Banxia (Pinellia), Tingli (Lepidium), Renshen (Ginseng), Chixiao (Nitrate), Qianglang (Dung beetle). Grind into powder, mix with honey to make pills. Take 7 pills on an empty stomach, three times daily. For weakness of sinews and bones after fracture or tendon injury in the late stage (Shangke Dacheng, Zhuangjin Xugu Wan) Take Tubiechong (Eupolyphaga) combined with Xuduan (Dipsacus) and Duzhong (Eucommia). Grind into powder, mix with honey to make pills. Take 6g each time, twice daily. For cirrhosis due to liver yin deficiency with blood stasis forming abdominal masses (Liu Duzhou's empirical formula, Chaihu Biejia Tang) Take Chaihu (Bupleurum), Biejia (Turtle shell), Shengdi (Rehmannia), Beishashen (Glehnia), Baishao (Peony), Maidong (Ophiopogon), Qiancao (Rubia), Tubiechong (Eupolyphaga), Danshen (Salvia), Honghua (Safflower), and calcined Muli (Oyster shell). Decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Single Herb Powder with Wine: Dry-roast Tubiechong (Ground Beetle) and grind into powder. Take 1–3g each time with yellow wine. Suitable for traumatic injuries and swelling and pain due to blood stasis.
Medicinal Parts
Dried female body.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from insects. Store in a dry, airtight container in a cool, well-ventilated place.