Leech (Flattened, elongated oval, dark brown, flat abdomen, body twisted, anterior tapers to a point, posterior rounded, brittle and easily broken)

Leech (Ma Huang, flattened spindle shape, many segments, dorsal ridge, dark brown, 5 longitudinal lines)

Leech (Top) Ma Huang (Bottom)

【Naming】

Leech

n 【Source】n

Lower grade in Classic of Herbal Medicine

n 【Commonly Used Degree】n

C

n 【Botanical Origin】n

The dried whole body of Hirudo nipponica Whitman, Whitmania pigra Whitman or Whitmania acranulata Whitman of the Hirudidae family.

n 【Characteristics】n

(1) Leech: Flattened, elongated cylindrical shape, mostly curved and twisted, relatively short and small, 2-5 cm long and 2-3 mm wide. Dark brown, composed of numerous segments, with a matte cross-section.n(2) Ma Huang: Flattened spindle shape, slightly curved, relatively long, 4-10 cm long, widest point 0.8-2 cm, whole body has many segments. Anterior sucker not obvious, posterior sucker larger, dorsal side slightly raised, dark brown with black spots arranged in 5 longitudinal lines; ventral side flat, brownish yellow. Brittle and easily broken, cross-section shiny, gelatinous, slightly fishy odor.n(3) Willow Leaf Ma Huang: Narrow and flat, shaped like a “willow leaf”, 5-12 cm long, 1-5 mm wide. Has 5 longitudinal lines formed by yellow-brown or yellow-green markings, cross-section flat and matte.

n 【Identification】n

《Annotations to Materia Medica》: “Now there are several kinds, this uses Ma Qi, which can bite people’s abdomen and has blood, and then dried is better.” 《Illustrated Materia Medica》: “Leeches can be a foot long, and small ones should be used.” 《Essentials of Materia Medica》: “Smaller ones in the water are better.” 《New Compilation of Materia Medica》: “When preparing leeches, it is best not to let them get soil gas.” 《Records of Thinking and Discriminating Materia Medica》: “Ascending is better.”nIt is best to have small size, neat strips, black and curved color, with transverse lines, no mud, and no insect infestation; yellow color and large shape are not good. Small ones are called old-style leeches, and excessively large ones are not used in medicine.

n 【Category】n

Invertebrates