Chinese herbal medicine "Golden Sand Ox", also known as Di Gu Niu, is the larva of the yellow-legged antlion in the antlion family. It has the effects of clearing heat, relieving spasms, dispersing nodules, and promoting diuresis. What are the medical uses of Golden Sand Ox?
Picture of Golden Sand Ox
[Medical Uses of Golden Sand Ox]
Properties: Salty, spicy, warm; slightly toxic.
Meridians Entered: Liver, kidney, bladder.
Functions and Indications: Promotes diuresis, relieves swelling and detoxifies, treats malaria. Used for urinary calculi, malaria;
Recently used for urinary tract stones, gallstones. Applied externally to treat sores, scrofula.
Dosage and Administration: 3-6 grams, decocted and taken orally; or used in powdered form. For external use, apply an appropriate amount, sprinkle or apply the powdered herb to the affected area.
[Methods of Cultivating Golden Sand Ox]
Currently, the number of these insects is very small and they are almost impossible to artificially cultivate, so their value is extremely high.
Golden Sand Ox prefers sandy areas and is commonly found in sandy soil at the foot of cliffs.
Golden Sand Ox can be captured throughout the year and is often sieved from the habitat of antlion larvae in summer and autumn. After capture, it is lightly stir-fried over low heat until the body expands.
Picture of Golden Sand Ox
The body of the larva is light and brittle. It has a slight fishy smell and a slightly salty taste. The best quality is characterized by a large body, complete shape, yellow-brown color, light and swollen body, and absence of sand and mud.
The adult form of Golden Sand Ox lives in grassy areas and often flies at dusk, while the larvae live in dry sandy soil, creating funnel-shaped burrows and hiding at the bottom of the burrow, waiting to prey on small insects that fall in. It is distributed in South China, Taiwan, Sichuan, and other places.
[Growth Habits of Golden Sand Ox]
The true face of Golden Sand Ox is not easily seen by ordinary people. It likes to "hide" in the soft sandy soil at the foot of old houses and cliffs. Its figure can often be found in the sandy soil at the foot of "old houses or caves" (cliffs) in Meitan Township!
Golden Sand Ox usually hides deep in the sandy soil. It creates funnel-shaped traps in sandy soil and can prey on mosquitoes, flies, and other small insects at the bottom.
It lies in ambush with cunning, and as long as small insects accidentally fall into the trap, they will be sucked to death by the "straw" formed by its sharp mandibles, just like a "vampire" in a movie!
Its adult form is called "antlion", which may sound familiar. It often flies into the house without reason at night and flies around the chandelier, like a "nuisance ghost". It turns out that it is the adult form of the "antlion".
