Pheretima
Aliases：Qiū Yǐn (Earthworm); Yǐn Wú (Drawing Void); Fù Yǐn (Attached Earthworm); Hán Yǐn (Cold Earthworm); Tǔ Lóng (Earth Dragon); Dì Lóng Zǐ (Little Earth Dragon); Chóng Shàn (Worm Eel); Guǎng Dì Lóng (Guangxi Earth Dragon); Hù Dì Lóng (Shanghai Earth Dragon).
Dì Lóng (Earthworm) is a Chinese medicinal substance. It is the dried body of Pheretima aspergillum (E. Perrier), Pheretima vulgaris Chen, Pheretima guillelmi (Michaelsen), or Pheretima pectinifera Michaelsen, animals of the Megascolecidae family.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat, relieves convulsions, unblocks collaterals, relieves wheezing, and promotes diuresis.
Indications
Used for high fever with loss of consciousness, convulsions and epilepsy, joint pain and bi syndrome, numbness of the limbs, hemiplegia, lung-heat cough and wheezing, and edema with scanty urine. It is also used for heat accumulation in the bladder with difficult urination or urinary retention.
Modern Pharmacology
Anticoagulant and thrombolytic: Contains lumbrokinase and fibrinolytic enzymes, with anticoagulant, defibrinogenating, antiplatelet aggregation, and direct thrombolytic effects; acts on endogenous coagulation system. Free amino acids may be the main anticoagulant components. Antitumor: Multi-pathway effects including inducing apoptosis, enhancing immunity, increasing macrophage phagocytosis and NK cell activity, and improving hypercoagulability to reduce metastasis. Mainly targets esophageal, gastric, liver, and nasopharyngeal cancers. Antipyretic, sedative, and anticonvulsant: Acts on the central nervous system. Hypotensive and antiarrhythmic: Exhibits cardiovascular protective effects. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic: Possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Antiasthmatic: Used in respiratory diseases. Immunomodulatory: Enhances immune function.
Ingredients
Enzymes: Lumbrokinase (fibrinolytic enzyme), plasmin, earthworm thrombolytic enzyme, etc. Proteins and amino acids: Rich in proteins and various amino acids. Nucleosides: Hypoxanthine (antiasthmatic, antihypertensive), inosine, xanthine, adenine, guanine, etc. Organic acids: Succinic acid (antiasthmatic, diuretic). Other constituents: Lumbrofebrin (antipyretic), lumbritin (hemolytic), earthworm toxin (toxic component), choline, fatty acids, inorganic elements, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 5–10g; ground into powder, 1–2g per dose; or prepared in pills or powder; fresh material may be used at 9–20g. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, fresh herb mashed for application, or juice extracted for application; ground into powder for sprinkling or mixing.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold: This product is salty and cold in nature, which may easily damage the spleen and stomach. Contraindicated during pregnancy: Dilong is cold in nature and has blood-moving and collateral-unblocking effects. Its use during pregnancy may affect fetal development or even cause miscarriage. Use with caution in women during menstruation: Dilong may promote blood circulation and disperse stasis. It is not recommended for use during menstruation, especially in those with heavy menstrual flow. Use with caution in patients with bleeding tendencies: Not suitable for patients with active bleeding or impaired coagulation function. Use with caution in individuals with allergies.
Selected Formulas
For stroke with qi deficiency and blood stasis, manifesting as hemiplegia, facial deviation, and slurred speech (Yilin Gaicuo, Buyang Huanwu Tang) Take 120g of Huangqi (Astragalus), 6g of Dangguiwei (Angelica tail), 5g of Chishao (Red peony), 3g of Dilong (Earthworm, soil removed), 3g of Chuanxiong (Ligusticum), 3g of Honghua (Safflower), and 3g of Taoren (Peach kernel). Decoct in water and drink. For wind headache and postpartum headache (Shengji Zonglu, Dilong San) Take 15g each of Dilong (soil removed, stir-fried), Banxia (Pinellia, made into cakes with ginger juice, dried and ground), and Chifuling (Poria). Grind into powder. Take 6g each time with ginger decoction. For high fever with convulsions (empirical formula) Take Dilong alone, decocted and drunk; or combine with Gouteng (Uncaria), Niuhuang (Bovine bezoar), and Baijiangcan (Stiff silkworm). For lung-heat asthma (empirical formula) Take Dilong alone, ground into powder and taken orally; or combine with Mahuang (Ephedra), Shigao (Gypsum), and Xingren (Apricot seed).
Daily Consumption
Dilong Peach Blossom Cake Action: Tonifies qi, invigorates blood, unblocks collaterals, treats hemiplegia. Ingredients: Huangqi (Astragalus) 100g, dried Dilong (earthworm, wine-soaked) 30g, Honghua (Safflower) and Chishao (Red peony) 20g each, Danggui (Angelica) 50g, Chuanxiong (Ligusticum) 10g, Taoren (Peach kernel, peeled and stir-fried) 15g, corn flour 400g, wheat flour 100g, appropriate amount of white sugar. Preparation: Concentrate and extract the juice from Huangqi, Honghua, Danggui, Chishao, and Chuanxiong. Dry and grind Dilong into powder. Mix the powder with sugar, corn flour, and wheat flour, then combine with the herbal extract to form dough. Divide into 20 small cakes and evenly sprinkle Taoren on top. Steam or bake until cooked. Usage: Take 1-2 cakes twice daily.
Medicinal Parts
Dried body.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from mold and insects. It should be stored in an airtight container.
