Di Long or

Dilong ''Dilong'' (; lit. "earth dragon") is a Chinese dragon name that is also used to mean "earthworm" in traditional Chinese medicine and ''Geosaurus'' in zoological nomenclature. Dragon In Chinese mythology, ''dilong'' "earth dragon" is one of m ...

extract () is a medicinal preparation based on abdominal extracts from the earthworm species '' Lumbricus rubellus'' used in

traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medicine, alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. It has been described as "fraught with pseudoscience", with the majority of its treatments having no logica ...

(TCM) for a wide variety of disorders, from convulsions and fevers to

rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects synovial joint, joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints. Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest. Most commonly, the wrist and ...

and

blood stasis Blood stasis (also blood stagnation and blood stasis syndrome) (BS) is a concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), described as a slowing or pooling of the blood due to a disruption of heart qi. Blood stasis is also described by practitioner ...

syndromes.

Synopsis

Di Long comes in two variants, Guang Di Long native to

Guangdong Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020 ...

, Guangxi,

Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its c ...

and collected from spring to autumn, and Tu Di Long collected during the summer in many regions of China. The abdomen of an earthworm of the ''L. rubellus'' species is cut open immediately after capture, whereupon viscera and extraneous matter are removed. The abdomen is washed clean, and dried in the sun or indoors at a low temperatures. It is also used in the treatment of blepharoptosis, or drooping of the upper eyelid, along with other Phlegm Herbs (such as

Dan Nan Xing Dan or DAN may refer to: People * Dan (name), including a list of people with the name ** Dan (king), several kings of Denmark * Dan people, an ethnic group located in West Africa **Dan language, a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Ivoi ...

Jiang Can Jiang may refer to: * ''Jiang'' (rank), rank held by general officers in the military of China *Jiang (surname), several Chinese surnames **Jiang Zemin (1926–2022), as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party *Jiang River The Jiang Rive ...

Ban Xia Ban, or BAN, may refer to: Law * Ban (law), a decree that prohibits something, sometimes a form of censorship, being denied from entering or using the place/item ** Imperial ban (''Reichsacht''), a form of outlawry in the medieval Holy Roma ...

Tian Ma ''Tiān'' () is one of the oldest Chinese terms for heaven and a key concept in Chinese mythology, philosophy, and religion. During the Shang dynasty (17th―11th century BCE), the Chinese referred to their supreme god as '' Shàngdì'' (, " ...

and

Bai Fu Zi BAI or Bai may refer to: BAI Organizations *BAI Communications, telecommunications infrastructure company *BAI (organization), professional organization for financial services in the United States * Badminton Association of India, India's gov ...

). According to TCM, Di Long is associated with the Bladder, Liver, Lung and Spleen meridians, and has Salty and Cold properties. It is thought to work by draining

Liver Heat The liver is a major organ only found in vertebrates which performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the synthesis of proteins and biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth. In humans, it ...

and by clearing

Lung Heat The lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system in humans and most other animals, including some snails and a small number of fish. In mammals and most other vertebrates, two lungs are located near the backbone on either si ...

, and also by clearing Heat in the collateral channels. Its "channel-opening" properties are thought to derive from its habits of burrowing through the earth, constantly searching out new spaces to slither. Recommended dosage is 4.5 to 12 grams per day as an oral preparation.

References

* Benskey & Gamble 1986, ''Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica'', Seattle Washington, Eastland Press * Chen JB, et al. "Chemical composition analysis of Di Long", ''Journal of Chinese Patented Medicine'' 1997;19(5):35-36. * Li Fu Wei, et al. "One case of Di Long induced cutaneous pruritus", ''Shaanxi Journal of TCM'' 2000;21(1):26. * Li Shu Lan, et al. "Research on Di Long's effect in lowering blood pressure", ''Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information'' 1995;12(3):22-24. * Wang Zhong Wei, et al. "Research advances on earthworm bioengineering technology", ''Journal of Chinese Materia Medica'' 2000;31(5):386-389. * Zhang FC, et al. "Di Long's enhancing effect on macrophages' immune activity", ''China Journal of Pharmacy'' 1998;33(9):532-535. * Tang Ben Sui, et al. "Acute toxicity experiments on lumbricin", ''Journal of Shizhen Medicine'' 1999;10(9):652. * Wang Guang Zhong, et al. "Chemical composition analysis of Di Long related herbal material", ''Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Material'' 1998;21(3):133-135. * Chen Jing Bin, et al. "Chemical composition analysis of Di Long", ''Journal of Chinese Patented Medicine'' 1997;19(5):35-36. * Cheng Neng Neng, et al. "Di Long phospholipid structure and platelet activating factor synthesis", ''Journal of Pharmacy'' 1992;27(12):886. * Zhao Xiao Yu, et al. "Analysis of earthworm fibrinolytic enzymes composition", ''China Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology'' 1998;14(4):407-411. * Yang Xi Shu, et al. "Research on part of earthworm's e-PA characteristics", ''China Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology'' 1998;14(2):164-169. * Yan Shu Fang, et al. "Eisenia foetida fibrinolytic enzymes research VIII: determination of fibrinolytic enzymes active components.", ''Heilongjiang Journal of Medicine'' 1999;12(5):263-264. * Hu Sheng, et al. "Determination and comparison of between hypoxanthine from various LU produced and Guan Dong produced Di Long" ''Journal of Chinese Patented Medicine.'' 1994;16(1):42-43. * Li Wei, et al. "Using HPLC to determine quantity of hypoxanthine, xanthine, uracil, and uridyl in Di Long", ''Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Material'', 1996;19(12):625-627. * Tong Zheng Jun. "One case of allergic shock induced by Chinese herb Di Long", ''Hebei Journal of Integrated Medicine'' 1996;5(2):50. * Bo Huang Li, et al. "One report of Di Long induced allergic enteritis", ''Journal of Shizhen Medicine'' 1998;9(5):402. * "One report of allergic reaction caused by Di Long formula injection solution", ''Journal of Modern Medicine'' 1972;(7):33. * Chen Bin Yan, et al. "Analgesic and antipyretic effects of Di Long powder in mice, rats and rabbits", ''Journal of Shanghai Medical University'' 1996;23(3):225-226,240. * Yang Shu Dong, et al. "Fibrinolytic enzymes active components' effects in counteracting coagulation and dissolving thrombus", ''Journal of Heart, Lung and Vascular Diseases'' 1997;18(5):252-254. * Wei Cai Zhi, et al. "Experimental research on earthworm extract fibrinolytic enzymes and its effects in counteracting coagulation", ''China Journal of Biochemical Medicinal Material'' 1997;18(5):252-254. * Guo Bao Zhu, et al. "Experimental research on earthworm extract's effects in killing sperms in vitro and in counteracting Trichomonas vaginalis", ''Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research'' 1997;13(4):39-41. * Zhang Fu Xia, et al. "Experimental research on products from earthworm's body that kills sperms", ''Shaanxi Journal of TCM'' 1996;17(5):234-236. * Zhang Feng Chun, et al. "Di Long's enhancing effect on macrophages' immune activity", ''China Journal of Pharmacy'' 1998;33(9):532-535. * Zhang Feng Chun, et al. "Research into Di Long's mechanism in its recovery effects on rabbit back injury", ''China Journal of Pharmacy'' 1999;34(2):93-96. * Wang Ke Wei. "Forecast of research on anti-cancer effects of Di Long capsules (912)", ''China Journal of Clinical Research on Tumor'' 1991;18(3):131-132. * Geng Xiu Fang, et al. "Effects of Di Long infusion at low temperature on ACE activity" ''Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information'' 1997;14(6):38. * Ju Hyun Cho, et al. "Lumbricin I, a novel proline-rich antimicrobial peptide from the earthworm: purification, cDNA cloning and molecular characterization", ''Biochim Biophys Acta'' 1998 Oct 22;1408(1):67-76 {{doi, 10.1016/S0925-4439(98)00058-1 * Mihara H, et al. "A novel fibrinolytic enzyme extracted from earthworm, Lubricus rubellus" ''J. Physiol.'' 1991;41, 461-472

External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20071206034120/http://articles.directorym.com/Di_Long-a853287.html Traditional Chinese medicine