The Medicinal Value of Earthworm: A Natural Remedy for Various Ailments

The earthworm is the larva of the antlion, an insect of the family Myrmeleontidae. It is also known as sand valley cow, ant lion, or golden sand cow. It has the effect of detoxification and diuresis, and can be used to treat kidney stones. Now let's learn about the medicinal value of the earthworm.

Earthworm image

【Medicinal Value of Earthworm】

The earthworm has the effects of diuresis, anti-malarial, softening masses, detoxification, and decay removal. It is commonly used for urinary stones, malaria, abdominal masses, tuberculous lymphadenitis, and long-term non-healing ulcers.

The scientific name of the earthworm is "antlion". The main value of antlion is medicinal. 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, the number of these insects is very small, and they are almost impossible to cultivate artificially, so their value is very high.

It is understood that the price of earthworms is calculated in liang (a Chinese unit of weight), and at least 100 yuan is required for one liang of dried earthworms. If calculated in jin (a Chinese unit of weight), it is estimated to be over 1000 yuan per jin. It can be seen how valuable this thing is.

Treatment of malaria: Take eleven earthworms, swallow them with wine, and take one dose half an hour before the onset of malaria. For chronic malaria, take it for one week.

Earthworm image

【Biological Characteristics of Earthworm】

Earthworms feed on ants, flies, small spiders, and small insects that pass by their burrows. They live in dry, wind-protected, and rain-protected alkaline loam under the walls.

Earthworm larvae leave a small pit on loose yellow soil, which serves as a trap for capturing prey.

In some places, there are many such "small pits", and earthworms hide in the soil of the pits. Once there is prey falling into it, they will come out and eat the prey.

Its adult form is called "antlion". It may look familiar, often flying into the house without reason at night, flying around the chandelier like a "nuisance ghost". It turns out to be the adult form of the "antlion".

The adult form of earthworms lives in grass and flies mostly during dusk. The larvae live in dry sandy soil, forming funnel-shaped burrows and lurking at the bottom of the burrows, waiting for small insects to fall in for prey. They are distributed in South China, Taiwan, Sichuan, and other places.

"Bencao Shiyi" states: "Sand zhuizi is poisonous and can kill birds and animals. It is used for shooting without missing the target. It lives in sand and stone, and has insects like soybeans with thorns on its back. It can walk backwards and is also called the sleeping insect."

Earthworm image

【Clinical Applications of Earthworm】

1. Treatment of malaria

Take eleven earthworms, swallow them with wine, and take one dose half an hour before the onset of malaria. For chronic malaria, take it for one week.

2. Treatment of malaria in children

Take seven earthworms, fry them until fragrant, and swallow them with boiling water.

3. Treatment of carbuncle and toxin

Take seven earthworms, crush six of them and apply the powder to the top of the carbuncle, and do not crush the other one and place it on top of the carbuncle. Wrap it with cloth.

4. Treatment of lymphadenitis and ulcers

Mix earthworms with borax and a little borneol, crush them and apply the paste to the wound, and cover it with adhesive plaster. ("Shengcaoyaoxing Bei Yao")

5. Treatment of foreign bodies stuck in the skin, such as bamboo or wood thorns, and iron sand

Mix earthworms with pumpkin pulp and apply it to the affected area. ("Sichuan Materia Medica")