What are the Benefits and Effects of Earthworms (Tu Yuan)?

Earthworms have analgesic, blood lipid regulation, kidney protection, anti-tumor and other effects. Earthworms generally refer to ground beetles, also known as segment worms, bedbugs, and ground beetles. Earthworms are called by traditional Chinese medicine and have the characteristics of high protein, low cholesterol, and low fat. The most common function is to be used as a raw material for medicinal materials and medicinal liquor. The use of drugs for the treatment of diseases requires the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine doctors.

1. Analgesic

Ground beetles have strong ability to break blood and remove blood stasis, which can promote the activity and quantity of bone-forming cells, and significantly increase the time, quantity, and functional activity of osteoclasts, so they can promote the healing of bone tissue after fractures. Earthworms prepared with alcohol have good anticoagulant, thrombolytic, and analgesic effects. The decoction of processed products has a significant inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation rate, and also has the characteristics of plasminogen activators and good analgesic effects.

2. Blood Lipid Regulation

Ground beetles can reduce high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL3-C and TC), increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL2-C), significantly increase plasma (HDL-CTC), significantly increase lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activity, and delay the formation of atherosclerosis.

3. Kidney Protection

Studies have shown that ground beetles may have a therapeutic effect on delaying the occurrence and development of polycystic kidney disease. Polycystic kidney disease is an autosomal dominant genetic disease, and qi stagnation and blood stasis are important pathogenesis characteristics. According to its pathogenesis characteristics, traditional Chinese medicine treats it clinically with the method of strengthening the body, activating blood circulation, and eliminating symptoms and blood stasis, which has its unique advantages in improving symptoms.

4. Anti-tumor Effect

Ground beetles have a certain inhibitory effect on tumor cells in experimental animals. In vitro experimental results show that ground beetles can inhibit the respiration of liver cancer and gastric cancer cells. In a test tube, the extract of ground beetles measured with the methylene blue method has an inhibitory effect on the white blood cells of leukemia patients, but with the Warburg respirator method, it is a negative result.