Leech
(shui zhi)
Hirudo
Properties:
It is bitter and salty in flavour and neutral in nature,
acting on the liver channel. Being bitter for dispersion
and purgation, and salty for softening hard mass, it
particularly acts on the liver channel, the blood
division, and is a potent drug for relieving blood stasis
and subsiding abdominal mass. It is used to treat
abdominal mass due to blood stasis, large hard mass and
amenorrhea due to stagnation of blood, and pain caused by
traumatic ecchymoses.
Effects:
Relieving blood stasis.
Indications:
For treatment of amenorrhea and abdominal mass, it is
usually used in combination with Tabanus, Swmen Persicae,
Rhizoma Sparganii, Flos Carthami, and other herbs with the
effects of relieving blood stasis and restoring
menstruation, resolving lumps; For treatment of long-term
blood stasis, emaciation due to blood disorders, shown by
squamous and dry skin, emaciation and fullness of abdomen,
it is frequently used together with Radix et Rhizoma Rhei,
Eupolyhaga seu Steleophaga, Radix Rehmanniae and other
herbs to remove blood stasis, promote tissue regeneration.
Dosage
and Administration: 3-6g.
Precautions:
Contraindicated in
pregnancy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
