English: Earthworms
Chinese: 地龙
Parts used: Dried body of the worm
TCM category: Herbs that pacify Internal Liver Wind and stop Tremors
TCM nature: Cold
TCM taste(s): Salty
Organ affinity: Bladder Spleen Liver
Scientific name: Pheretima aspergillum, Pheretima vulgaris, Pheretima guillelmi or Pheretima pectinifera
Other names: Earth dragon
Use of Di Long (earthworms) in TCM
Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitioner, they will be best able to guide you.
Preparation: Dry the worm and reduce into powder when adding it as an ingredient to a formula
Dosage: 5-15g
Main actions according to TCM*: Clears Heat and calms Internal Liver Wind. Soothes asthma. Opens the channels.
Primary conditions or symptoms for which Di Long may be prescribed by TCM doctors*: Fever Convulsions Arthralgia Numbness of limbs Hemiplegia Edema Oliguria Asthma Hypertension Spams
Common TCM formulas in which Di Long is used*
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Formula key actions: Invigorates Blood. Unblocks painful obstruction. Relieves pain. Invigorate Qi. Dispels Blood Stagnation. Unblock Channels.
Conditions targeted*: Muscle crampsArthralgia and others
Di Long is a deputy ingredient in Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang, Di Long unblocks Channels by removing the painful obstruction. It also remove the stiffness of the joints.
Bu Yang Huang Wu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Formula key actions: Tonifies Qi. Invigorates Blood. Unblocks the channels.
Conditions targeted*: Poststroke hemiplegiaCerebrovascular disease and others
Di Long is an assistant ingredient in Bu Yang Huang Wu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Bu Yang Huang Wu Tang, Di Long invigorates Blood, removes Blood stagnation, and unblocks the Channels. This herb is particularly helpful for unblocking and invigorating the Channels and Collaterals. It also assists the key herb Milkvetch root in Qi circulation around the body.
Xiao Huo Luo Dan
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Formula key actions: Dispels Wind. Eliminates Dampness and transforms Phlegm . Invigorates the Blood. Removes Stagnation and relieves pain.
Conditions targeted*: Hemiplegia after cerebrovascular accidentRheumatoid arthritis and others
Di Long is an assistant ingredient in Xiao Huo Luo Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Xiao Huo Luo Dan, Di Long is salty and cooling. It clears Heat, unblocks, and promotes movement in the Channels and collaterals.
Although this is a cooling substance, the many warming herbs in this formula allow its piercing nature to be exploited here to treat Cold Painful Obstruction.
Key TCM concepts behind Di Long's properties
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Di Long belongs to the 'Herbs that pacify Internal Liver Wind and stop Tremors' category. These herbs are used to treat so-called 'hyperactive Liver Yang'. Concretely this translates into high blood pressure as well as seizures, spasms, convulsions, dizziness and vertigo. These herbs often seem to have a powerful antispasmodic effect on the nervous system.
Furthermore Di Long is Cold in nature. This means that Di Long typically helps people who have too much 'Heat' in their body. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Those who have too much Heat in their body are said to either have a Yang Excess (because Yang is Hot in nature) or a Yin deficiency (Yin is Cold in Nature). Depending on your condition Di Long can help restore a harmonious balance between Yin and Yang.
Di Long also tastes Salty. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Salty ingredients like Di Long tends to have a draining effect in the body because they clear accumulations, remove Phlegm and soften hard lumps.
The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Di Long is thought to target the Bladder, the Spleen and the Liver. In TCM the impure water collected by the Kidneys that cannot be used by the body is sent to the Bladder for storage and excretion as urine. The Spleen on the other hand assists with digestion, Blood coagulation and Fluids metabolism in the body. The Liver is often referred as the body's "general" because it is in charge of regulating the movements of Qi and the Body Fluids. It also takes a leading role in balancing our emotions.
Research on Di Long
Earthworm powder could treat cerebral microlesions, control vasculogenic risk factors, and finally prevent the incidence of cerebral infarction.1
Shuxuetong Injection (the extracted liquor from Earthworm and Hirudo) shows good efficacy with less adverse reaction in treating patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.2
Sources:
1. Qu H, Zhang YQ, Zhou MM, Zhao XY. (2013). Different treatment modes for cerebral microlesions: a comparison of clinical efficacy. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. , 33(3):332-7.
2. Zhang HF, Xiao WG. (2008). Clinical observation of Shuxuetong Injection in treating patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. , 28(3):255-7.