shui zhi

水蛭·Hirudo

Leech

Slightly toxic

Toxicity graded by American Dragon.

About shui zhi

Shui Zhi (水蛭) is the leech, recorded as Hirudo. It is salty and bitter in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Liver and Bladder channels. The catalogue files it among the substances that invigorate the Blood.

Names

Pinyinshui zhi
Chinese水蛭
Latin NameHirudo
English NameLeech
Japanesesuitetsu
Koreansujil

Classification

Channels
Bladder, Liver
Flavour
Bitter, Salty
Temperature
Neutral
Part used
Animal
Family
hirudinidae
Species
hirudo nipponica
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Breaks up and drives out Blood stasis and reduces fixed masses

  • Stubborn, fixed, long-standing Blood stasis
  • Palpable, immovable abdominal or uterine masses (Zheng Jia) from congealed Blood
  • Absent periods caused by obstructing Blood stasis, not by deficiency
  • Bruising, swelling and pain after traumatic injury

Clears the water passages

Induces abortion

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 1-6g; Powders and Pills: 0.3-0.6g; Cancers: 6-9g1-6 g

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions