Shui Zhi (Leech)

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

Channels:

LIV, BL

Properties:

Salty, Bitter, Neutral, Slightly Toxic

Latin:

Hirudo seu Whitmania

Chinese:

水蛭

Tone Marks:

shuĭ zhì

Translation:

Leech

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:

• Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan (Rhubarb and Eupolyphaga Pill)
  Category: Formulas that Invigorate the Blood and Dispel Blood Stasis