Witnessed by: TCM
Leech, of the Hirudinidae (Clitellata) family. An aquatic segmented worm with fore and hind suckers, a blood-feeder; native range: ponds, paddies and slow waters across China and east Asia. Globally recognized as shui zhi (水蛭) in Chinese, and leech in English. The part used is the whole dried body. Flat, dark brown to black dried strips, hard and brittle, with a fishy animal odour.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
LEECH
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- leech
- Family
- Hirudinidae (Clitellata)
Form
- Part used
- the whole dried body
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- salty (咸) · bitter (苦)
Temperature
- TCM
- neutral (平)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Bladder
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- breaks up blood stasis and dispels accumulated masses, and unblocks the menses
Cautions
- Contraindications
- pregnancy; blood deficiency without stasis
- Toxicity
- toxic; a strong blood-mover, dosed with care
This is the card. Sign in for the full four-tradition entry — the aligned TCM · Ayurveda · Western · Unani reading, actions, dosing and cautions.