Di Long
StarPheretima aspergillum (E. Perrier)
☯ TCM Properties
Settles Fright and Calms Convulsions; Calms the Liver and Extinguishes Wind; Unblocks the Channels and Collaterals; Calms Wheezing; Promotes Urination
Traditional Chinese Uses
Di Long (earthworm, pheretima) is a cold, salty substance used in Chinese medicine to clear Heat, calm Wind, unblock the channels, and promote urination. It addresses convulsions and high fever with muscle spasm from extreme Heat generating Wind, chronic joint pain and paralysis from Heat-Bi obstruction in the channels, and urinary difficulty from Heat accumulation. Its channel-opening properties make it useful in formulas for stroke sequelae, upper motor neuron conditions, and long-standing joint disease with Heat involvement.
Botanical Description
Di Long is the dried body of the earthworm, principally Pheretima aspergillum (formerly Amynthas aspergillus) and several related Pheretima species, large terrestrial oligochaete annelids in the family Megascolecidae widely distributed across southern China and Southeast Asia. Adult worms reach 12-30 cm in length and about 6-12 mm in diameter, with a smooth pinkish-grey to reddish-brown elongated cylindrical body composed of approximately 100-180 segments separated by transverse grooves, and a prominent saddle-like glandular clitellum near the anterior third. For medicinal use the worms are collected, slit longitudinally, washed clean of soil and gut contents, flattened, and dried, yielding thin curled strips with the cleaned body wall visible as a fine ringed texture. This is an animal product, not a plant.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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