WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

It is the dried whole body of Whitmania pigra Whitman, Hirudo nipponica Whitman or Whitemania acranulata Whiteman, family Hirudinidae. It is caught in summer and autumn, scalded to death in boiling water, dried in the sunshine, or at a low temperature. The raw or the scalded with talcum powder form is utilized as a medicine.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Salty, bitter, moderate and mildly toxic; relate to liver meridian.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Dissipate and removed blood stasis.

[ Clinical Applications ]: Blood stasis causing amenorrhea, abdominal mass and trauma.

To treat amenorrhea and abdominal mass, it is usually combined with Taoren, Sanleng and Sumu. For patients with general weakness, medicinals to tonify qi and nourish the blood should be utilized as assistants. For trauma and swollen pain, due to blood stasis and constipation, it may be combined together with Dahuang and Qianniuzi, such as, in the Duoming Powder.

In addition, in recent years it is need clinically to treat thrombocythemia, when combined with blood-activating and stasis-dispelling medicinals. It is more efficacious when decocted for a short period of time.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 1.5-3g. In the powder form. 0.3-0.5g. It is better when processed into pills or a powder form. Or place directly the live one at the swollen area to suck the blood and remove blood-stasis.

[ Precautions ]: It is contraindicated to use with pregant women.

水蛭为水蛭科动物蚂蟥Whitemania pigra Whitman、水蛭Hirudo nipponia Whitman及柳叶蚂蟥W.acranulata Whitman的干燥体。全国大部分地区均有出产，多属野生.夏秋季捕捉。捕捉后洗净，用沸水烫死，切段晒干或低温干燥，生用，或用滑石粉烫后用。