Ground Beetle – 1 lb (454 g)

Ground Beetle, known in Chinese as 土鳖虫 (Tǔbiēchóng) and scientifically as Eupolyphaga seu Steleophaga, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Ground Beetle carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Ground Beetle helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Ground Beetle provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Ground Beetle has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Ground Beetle, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Tu Chong, Di Bie Chong, and Tu Yuan. It is the whole female insect of Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker or Polyphaga plancyi (Boleny) of the family Blattidae. The former is distributed throughout most regions of China; the latter is found in Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, and Hunan provinces. Wild specimens are collected in summer and autumn, while farmed insects can be harvested at any time. After capture, they are killed by scalding with boiling water, then sun-dried or oven-dried.

[Properties] Taste: salty; nature: cold; slightly toxic. Enters the Liver meridian.

[Actions] Breaks up blood stasis and dispels blood stasis; promotes the healing of sinews and bones.

[Applications] 1. Used for blood stasis causing amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis, and abdominal masses (zhengjia). Often combined with Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) and Tao Ren (Persicae Semen) to treat blood stasis, as in the formula Xiaoyu Xue Tang (Break Blood Stasis Decoction). For chronic blood stasis with no new blood generation resulting in dry blood tubercles, it is combined with Meng Chong (Tabanus), Shui Zhi (Hirudo), Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix), and Gan Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), as in the Jin Kui Yao Lue Da Huang Tubiechong Wan (Great Yellow Eupolyphaga Pill). For treating abdominal masses and accumulations, it is combined with Bie Jia (Trionycis Carapax), Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Chi Shao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), and Qiang Lang Chong (Scarabaeidae insect), as in Bie Jia Jian Wan (Trionycis Carapax Decoction Pill).
2. Used for traumatic injuries with blood stasis and swelling, tendon injuries, and bone fractures. It can be used alone by soaking in wine for oral intake and applying the residue topically. It can also be combined with powdered Hong Hua (Carthami Flos) and taken with yellow wine. In the later stages of fractures and tendon injuries when sinews and bones are weak, it may be combined with Wu Jia Pi (Acanthopanacis Cortex), Xu Duan (Dipsaci Radix), and Gu Sui Bu (Drynariae Rhizoma).

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 3–9 g; or soaked in wine for drinking; powdered, 1–1.5 g. External use: appropriate amount, decoction for gargling, powdered for sprinkling, or fresh material pounded and applied topically.

[Cautions] Use with caution in the elderly, weak patients, and during menstruation; contraindicated in pregnancy.

[Modern Research] 1. Chemical constituents: The dried insect contains palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, amino acids, volatile oils; also contains fibrinolytic enzyme activator-like components, alkaloids, cholesterol, and inorganic elements such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and phosphorus.
2. Pharmacological effects: Total alkaloids exhibit vasodilation and protect against cerebral and cardiac hypoxia. Water extracts significantly prolong bleeding and clotting times, markedly inhibit platelet aggregation, demonstrating anti-thrombotic and thrombolytic effects. Decoctions regulate lipid metabolism and delay atherosclerosis progression. Extracts protect against D-galactose-induced liver damage.
3. Clinical reports: 1) Hypertension: Eupolyphaga and Hirudo mixed 1:1, powdered and encapsulated with 0.25 g raw herb per capsule, showed a total effective rate of 90.63%, superior to Kaibotong control group (72.73%) [Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 1992,(12):38]. 2) Bone tuberculosis: Centipede 40 g, Scorpion 40 g, Eupolyphaga 50 g, ground into fine powder, divided into 40 packets of 3.25 g each; one packet mixed into an egg, then boiled or fried and taken orally twice daily at 5 am and 9 pm. Among 10 cases treated, 8 were cured, 1 markedly effective, 1 ineffective [Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 1988, 8(6):379]. 3) Acute lumbar sprain: 7–8 large fresh Eupolyphaga or 14–15 small ones washed with warm water, pounded and juice extracted, strained, mixed with white wine and taken 1–2 times daily, showing significant efficacy [Jilin Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1991,(6):30].