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Latin pharmacognostic name: Pheretima

Alternate Chinese names: 附蚓 fù yǐn; 寒蚓 hán yǐn; 蜿蟺 wǎn shàn; 曲蟺 qū shàn; 土龙 tǔ lóng; 地龙子 dì lóng zǐ; 土蟺 tǔ shàn

Kingdom: Animal

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Pheretima aspergillum (E. Perrier); Pheretima vulgaris Chen; P. guillelmi (Michaelson); Pheretima pectinifera Michaelson. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin (other sources): Pheretima aspergillum (E. Perrier) *; Allolobophora caliginosa trapezoides (Ant. Duges); Pheretima vulgaris Chen*; Pheretima guillelmi (Michaelson) *; Pheretima pectinifera Michaelson*

Use: Medicinal

Category: Liver-calming wind-extinguishing agents / Wind-extinguishing tetany-relieving agents

Properties: Salty; cold.

Channel entry: Liver, spleen, and bladder channels.

Indications:

• Clears heat and extinguishes wind: Convulsions due to liver wind stirring in febrile disease (including child fright wind); epilepsy; mania and withdrawal.
• Frees the channels and network vessels: Hemiplegia due to qì vacuity and blood stagnation; impediment (bì) patterns.
• Calms panting: Lung heat wheezing and panting.
• Disinhibits urine: Heat binding in the bladder, inhibited urination, and urinary block.
• Modern applications: Dì lóng has been used to treat hypertension. In recent years, dì lóng has been made into injectable and oral solutions for use in bronchial asthma.

Dosage & Method: Oral: 5–15g in decoctions; 10–20g if the fresh form is used. When swallowed as a powder, each dose should be 1–2g. Dì lóng is often crushed and sieved before use (to remove any remaining soil).

Quality: Clean, large, fat worms that are still intact are the best.

Product Area: Guǎngdōng, Hénán.

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