Shui Zhi (Leech)

Shui Zhi (Leech)

Herb 20 of 34 in Herbs that Invigorate Blood and Remove Stagnation

Neutral Shui Zhi (Hirudo seu Whitmania)
Channels:
LIV, BL
Properties:
Salty, Bitter, Neutral, Slightly Toxic
Latin:
Hirudo seu Whitmania
Chinese:
水蛭
Tone Marks:
shuĭ zhì
Translation:
Leech
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Chinese Herb Actions

  • Breaks Blood Stasis, Reduces Fixed Masses
    Strongly breaks blood stagnation associated with amenorrhea, fixed abdominal masses, traumatic injury.

Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions

  • Do not use during pregnancy. This herb has been shown to cause teratogenic (birth defects) effects.

Herb-Drug Interactions

  • Shui Zhi may interfere with Anti-Coagulating drugs.

Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose

  • Overdose symptoms occur 1-4 hours after ingestion. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, metrorrhagia, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, severe abdominal pain, hematuria, and coma.
  • This herb is considered toxic.
    (while some Chinese herbs are toxic, it must be noted that many come prepared, or are combined, to mitigate their toxicity)

Chinese Herb Dosage

  • 3-6 grams in decoction, 0.3-0.6 grams in powders and pills (Bensky)
  • Same as above (Chen)

This Herb Appears in the Following Formulas:

References Used

The TCM information presented here has been referenced from numerous sources; including teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the following books, as well as other sources. If you have benefited from this information, please consider supporting the authors and their works by purchasing the books below.

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