Leech – 1 lb (454 g)

Leech, known in Chinese as 水蛭 (Shuǐzhì) and scientifically as Hirudo, 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 Leech carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Leech 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, Leech provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Leech 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 Leech, 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 Maqi, Ma Zhi, Ma Huang, and Rouzuanzi. It is the whole animal of the leech family species Whitmania pigra Whitman, Hirudo nipponica Whitman, or Whitmania acranulata Whitman. It is found in most regions of China. It is harvested in summer and autumn, killed by scalding with boiling water after capture, then sun-dried or dried at low temperature.

[Properties] Taste: salty and bitter; nature: neutral; slightly toxic. Enters the Liver meridian.

[Actions] Breaks up blood stasis and dispels blood stasis; unblocks menstruation and reduces masses.

[Applications]
1. Used for blood stasis causing amenorrhea and abdominal masses. Often used together with mangchong (tabanid fly larvae), or combined with Sanleng (Sparganium rhizome), Ezhu (Curcuma rhizome), Taoren (Peach kernel), Honghua (Safflower), etc., as in Ditang Tang formula. For blood stasis obstructing menstruation with long-term accumulation or postpartum lochia retention with umbilical and abdominal pain, it can be combined with Shudihuang (prepared Rehmannia root), mangchong, and Taoren, as in Dihuang Tongjing Wan. For treating dry blood causing tuberculosis with skin and nail deformities, leech can be included in Dahuang Mangchong Wan. When included in Huobie Jia Jian Wan, it can treat chronic malaria.
2. Used for blood stasis causing abdominal and chest pain and constipation; can be combined with Dahuang (Rhubarb) and Qian Niuzi (Morning glory seed), ground into powder and taken orally, as in Duoming San.
3. Used for traumatic swelling and pain, and fractures. For traumatic injury pain, it can be combined with Rude (milk-derived substance) and Moyao (Myrrh) as a powder, taken with warm wine; for fracture pain, it is combined with Ziran Tong (natural copper) and Sumu (Sappanwood), ground into powder and applied externally.
Additionally, leech soaked in honey and its juice used as eye drops can treat acute conjunctivitis with redness, swelling, pain, and corneal scars.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 3–9 g; or stir-fried until yellow and ground into powder or made into pills or powders, 0.5–1.5 g per dose, large dose up to 3 g per dose.

[Cautions] Contraindicated in weak and blood-deficient patients, pregnant women, women during menstruation, and those with bleeding tendencies.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents include hirudin, amino acids, proteins, heparin, antithrombin, and various essential macro- and trace elements.
2. Pharmacology: Hirudin is a potent thrombin inhibitor, preventing thrombosis and exhibiting strong anticoagulant effects; it also has thrombolytic activity by activating the fibrinolytic system. Leeches reduce blood lipids, eliminate atherosclerotic plaques, increase myocardial nutritive blood flow, and counteract pituitary posterior lobe hormone-induced arrhythmias and significant T wave and ST segment changes. They promote absorption of cerebral hematomas, reduce inflammation and edema of surrounding brain tissue, relieve increased intracranial pressure, improve local blood circulation, and protect brain tissue. Decoctions protect against renal ischemia and reduce serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. Hirudin also inhibits tumor growth.
3. Clinical reports:
1) Coronary heart disease: Using leech tablets (each containing 0.75 g crude drug), orally, 2–4 tablets per dose, three times daily. Among 100 cases of coronary heart disease angina pectoris, 34 cases were markedly effective, 56 improved, 9 ineffective, and 1 worsened. ECG normalized in 15 cases, improved in 44, ineffective in 37. [Tianjin Medical Journal, 1980,(4):238]
2) Hyperlipidemia: Leeches dried at 60°C, ground into fine powder, encapsulated (0.3 g crude drug per capsule). Taken with warm water before sleep, 4–6 capsules nightly. One course is 30 days, can be repeated 1–3 courses. Among 56 cases, after 1–3 courses, 26 controlled, 23 markedly effective, 4 effective, 3 ineffective; total effective rate 94.64%. [Guoyi Forum, 2002,17(5):26]
3) Cerebrovascular accident: Oral leech solution (0.3 g crude drug per ml), 10 ml per dose, three times daily for one month. Among 29 acute cerebral hemorrhage cases, 21 markedly improved, 5 effective, 3 ineffective; total effective rate 90%. [Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1986,7(11):513]
4) Prostatic hyperplasia with blood stasis: Leeches ground into powder, encapsulated, 1 g per dose, three times daily for 20 days per course. Among 21 cases, 16 markedly effective, 5 effective. [Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1993,34(4):198]
5) Male semen non-liquefaction: Oral processed leech powder, 2–3 g per dose, twice daily for one month. Cure rate 93%, spouse pregnancy rate 36%. [Shizhen National Medicine, 2003,14(9):584]
6) Diabetic peripheral neuropathy: Leech injection combined with vitamin B1 and B12 used in 40 cases; marked effective rate 35%, total effective rate 80%. [Hebei Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2002,24(6):464]
7) Chronic viral hepatitis: Ganlixin combined with leech injection used in 120 cases; total effective rate 98.83%. Control group with Ganlixin and glucose (115 cases) had 71.17% total effective rate; difference significant (P<0.05). [Zhejiang Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 2000,10(9):519] 8) Nephrotic syndrome: On top of conventional treatment, leech powder 3 g per dose, 1–3 times daily. Among 48 cases, 15 cured, 33 improved, 0 ineffective; total effective rate 100%, significantly better than control group. [Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 2003,4(1):70]