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Photo of Leech

Leech

水蛭 · Shuǐ Zhì

Breaks up stubborn circulation blockages and swelling

Properties

WarmingWarming botanicalPungent

What it does

Leech is used in TCM for stubborn circulation problems: sharp, fixed pain, bruising that won't fade, and swelling. These happen when your blood stagnates, getting stuck in one place instead of flowing. Leech is one of TCM's most powerful tools for breaking through that blockage. It's also traditionally used for jaundice. This is strictly a practitioner botanical due to its intensity.

How to take it

Capsule

Leech is used only in practitioner-prescribed formulas. Processed dried leech powder is typically dosed at 1–3g. Never attempt to prepare raw leech yourself.

See a TCM practitioner. This is not a self-use botanical

Safety

  • Leech is considered slightly toxic in TCM. Only use processed, dried forms
  • Strongly moves blood. Absolutely skip if pregnant or nursing
  • Not for people with bleeding disorders or who take blood thinners
  • This is a practitioner-only botanical. Do not self-prescribe
  • Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Leech therapy has roots in both Eastern and Western medicine going back thousands of years. In TCM, dried leech appears in the Shén Nóng Běn Cǎo Jīng from roughly 200 CE as a powerful blood-stasis breaker. In modern medicine, leeches made a comeback. The FDA approved medical leeches in 2004 for microsurgery, where they help restore blood flow to reattached tissue. A rare case where ancient and modern medicine agree.