The Di Gu Niu, also known as the Golden Sand Cow, is the larva of the ant lion in the family Myrmecolacidae. It is mainly found in southern China, Taiwan, Sichuan, and other areas. It has the effects of diuresis, malaria prevention, softening and firming, detoxification and purging of rotten substances.
Di Gu Niu image
【Medicinal Value of Di Gu Niu】
The Di Gu Niu has the effects of diuresis, malaria prevention, softening and firming, detoxification and purging of rotten substances. It is commonly used for sand diuresis, malaria, abdominal masses, tuberculous lymphadenitis, and chronic ulcers that do not heal.
The scientific name of Di Gu Niu is "ant lion", and its main value lies in its medicinal properties. It can be used to treat conditions such as hypertension, urinary stones, gallstones, osteomyelitis, vasculitis, and otitis media.
In folk medicine, this insect is usually ground into powder to treat tinnitus or otitis media. Currently, this insect is extremely rare and almost impossible to cultivate artificially, so its value is very high.
According to reports, the price of Di Gu Niu is calculated in liang (a traditional Chinese unit of weight), and at least 100 yuan is required for one liang of dried goods. If calculated in jin (a Chinese unit of weight equal to 500 grams), it is estimated to be over 1000 yuan per jin. This shows how valuable this thing is.
Treatment for malaria: Take eleven Di Gu Niu, mix with alcohol and swallow. Take it half an hour before the onset of malaria. For chronic malaria, take it for one week.
Di Gu Niu image
【Morphological Characteristics of Di Gu Niu】
The yellow-legged ant lion is 32mm long with a wingspan of 73mm. It has a slender body resembling a dragonfly. The head is wider than the prothorax, with brown compound eyes, a black head, yellow mouthparts, and black club-shaped antennae with yellow segments.
The prothorax is yellow with two wide brown longitudinal bands on the dorsal side and long yellow hairs. The mesothorax and metathorax are black, significantly larger than the prothorax. The legs are yellow and have long yellow hairs. The wings are transparent with a faint iridescent sheen, and the wing membranes are fragile.
The shape and size of the fore and hind wings are similar to the wing veins, and the wing veins are yellow. The abdomen is dark brown. The larva resembles a spider, with a length of 6-18mm and a color ranging from sandy yellow to dirty white, with black-brown markings. It has scattered and clustered black-brown stiff hairs on its body, a pair of pincer-like mandibles on the head, no wings, three pairs of thoracic legs, and a larger abdomen.
Di Gu Niu image
【Method of Treating Kidney Stones with Di Gu Niu】
Ingredients:
50g of Lysimachia christinae, 30g of Rehmannia glutinosa, 15g of citrus seed, 30g of Abelmoschus esculentus seeds, 10g of Di Gu Niu, 30g of Glinus oppositifolius (wrapped in cloth), 20g of talc, 20g of pumice, 15g of Patrinia villosa, 15g of Equisetum arvense, 30g of Akebia trifoliata, and 15g of Rhus chinensis.
Usage:
Decoction, take one dose per day, once a day. Take it continuously for five days. For those with painful and bloody urination, add 30g of Imperata cylindrica root.
Clinical application:
When the stone dissolves to the size of a peanut, it can be excreted from the body. This is the ancient Chinese herbal formula for stone elimination, which has cured countless patients and has been proven effective.
