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 ''Lumbricus rubellus'' is a species of earthworm that is related to '' Lumbricus terrestris''. It is usually reddish brown or reddish violet, iridescent dorsally, and pale yellow ventrally. They are usually about to in length, with around 95� ...

'' used in

traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an 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 logical mechanism of action ...

(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 joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints. Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest. Most commonly, the wrist and hands are involv ...

and blood stasis 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 Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...

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 capi ...

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 Ptosis, also known as blepharoptosis, is a drooping or falling of the upper eyelid. The drooping may be worse after being awake longer when the individual's muscles are tired. This condition is sometimes called "lazy eye", but that term normall ...

, or drooping of the upper eyelid, along with other Phlegm Herbs (such as Dan Nan Xing, Jiang Can, Ban Xia, Tian Ma and Bai Fu Zi). 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 and by clearing Lung Heat, 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