Medicinals
zhè chóng / 蟅虫 / 蟅蟲 / ground beetle;
Latin pharmacognostic name: Eupolyphaga seu Steleophaga
Alternate English names: ground beetle
Alternate Chinese names: 土鳖 tǔ biē土鳖虫 tǔ biē chóng; 地鳖 dì biē; 地鳖虫 dì biē chóng
Origin: Animal
Use: medicinal
Category: Blood-Quickening Stasis-dispelling agents / Blood-quickening injury-healing agents
Properties: Salty; cold; slightly toxic.
Channel entry: liver channels.
Indications:
- Breaks blood, expels stasis, and joins sinew and bone:
Injury from knocks and falls , damage to the sinews, bone fractures, static blood with swelling and pain; also used for blood stasis with amenorrhea, concretions and accumulations, andpostpartum stasis obstruction abdominal pain . - Modern applications: Zhè chóng has been used recently for the treatment of ectopic pregnancy and uterine fibroids, generally in combination with medicinals such as chuān shān jiǎ (穿山甲 Manis Squama, pangolin scales;) and táo rén (桃仁 Persicae Semen, peach kernel).
Dosage & Method:
Oral: 3–10g in decoctions. If taken as a powder, each dose should be 1–1.5g, taken with yellow wine. Zhè chóng is mostly used in its raw form for external use; for internal use, it is stir-fried to reduce its unpleasant fishy flavor.
Warning:
Zhè chóng is slightly toxic and has a potent blood-quickening effect. Hence, it is contraindicated in pregnancy.
Quality:
Undamaged large insects that have not been burnt by oven drying.
Product Area:
Fújiàn, Jiāngsū, Héběi.