Jinsha Niu, also known as Di Gu Niu, is the dried body of the larva of the antlion, an insect in the family Myrmeleontidae. Due to the scarcity of Jinsha Niu and the difficulty in artificial cultivation, its value is extremely high, and it is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diseases such as malaria and boils. Now let's learn about the efficacy and functions of Jinsha Niu.
Image of Di Gu Niu
[The Efficacy and Functions of Jinsha Niu]
Jinsha Niu, also known as Di Gu Niu, has medicinal value and can be used to treat conditions such as hypertension, urinary stones, gallstones, osteomyelitis, vasculitis, and otitis media.
Jinsha Niu has a high medicinal value and naturally commands a high price. Live Jinsha Niu can be sold for more than 4000 RMB per kilogram.
When the "Di Gu Niu" is dried and ground into powder, it can be applied to the affected area to treat knife wounds. In folk medicine, this insect is usually ground into powder to treat tinnitus or otitis media.
Jinsha Niu has a pungent and salty taste, warm nature, and is toxic. It has the effects of diuresis and detoxification, and is mainly used to treat urinary calculi, malaria, boils, and scrofula.
To treat malaria: Take eleven pieces of 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.
Image of Di Gu Niu
[The Growth Habit of Jinsha Niu]
The true face of Di Gu Niu 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!
Di Gu Niu usually hides deep underground and creates funnel-shaped traps in sandy soil, where it can capture small insects such as mosquitoes and flies.
It lies in ambush, and once a small insect accidentally falls into the trap, it will be pierced and sucked to death by its sharp jaws, just like a vampire in a movie!
Its adult form is called "antlion". It often flies into houses without any reason during the night, flying around the chandelier like an annoying ghost. It turns out to be the adult form of the "antlion".
Image of Di Gu Niu
[The Breeding Method of Jinsha Niu]
Currently, the number of these insects is very small, and they are almost impossible to cultivate artificially, so their value is extremely high.
Jinsha Niu prefers sandy areas and is commonly found in sandy soil at the foot of cliffs.
Jinsha Niu can be captured throughout the year, and it is often sieved from the habitat of antlions in summer and autumn. After capturing it, it should be lightly stir-fried over low heat until the body expands.
Di Gu Niu is light in weight and has a brittle texture. It has a slight fishy smell and a slightly salty taste. The best quality ones are large in size, complete in shape, yellow-brown in color, light in weight, and without sand or mud.
The adult form of Jinsha Niu lives in grassy areas and often flies in the evening. The larvae live in dry sandy soil and create funnel-shaped burrows, waiting at the bottom of the burrow to prey on small insects. It is distributed in South China, Taiwan, Sichuan, and other regions.
