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Eupolyphaga, Tu Bie Chong 土鳖虫

Ground Beetle, Wingless Cockroach
Tu Bie Chong (TCM)

Picture
Tu Bie Chong
(Adam, Chengdu Medicine Market, 2009)

Entomological name:
Eupolyphaga sinensis is the standard species.
Steleophaga plancyi and Opisthoplatia orientalis are alternate species.

Parts used:
Whole dried insect

Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Salty. Slightly Toxic

Classifications:


Uses:
1. Strongly Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-Postpartum Blood Stagnation
-Abdominal Masses, Fibroid Tumors, Cancer
-enlarged Liver, or Hardness of the Liver or Spleen
-also memory impairment from poor cerebral circulation
-regarded as one of the strongest 'Blood-breaking' medicine in TCM

2. Moves the Blood, Promotes Healing of the Sinews and Bones:
-Trauma, Bruising
-Injury to the soft tissue of the joints, Fractures


DOSE:
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 500–1500mg
Tincture (1:5 in 90% alcohol): 2–5 mls.

COMMENT:
This is a potent medicine to move the Blood, regarded as similar in strength to Leech which contains powerful anticoagulants. However, this is regarded as more suitable for weak patients.

PREPARATION:
1. Typically, they are killed with boiling water, then dried in the sun or a low oven.
2. Dry-fried Wingless Cockroach (Chao Tu Bie Chong)
  Dry fry in a wok until scorched. This reduces toxicity, helps sterilize and reduces the foul smell.

SUBSTITUTE:
I. Pill Millipede has been used in the West very similarly to Eupolyphaga in TCM. It can be used as a substitute, especially for Masses and Tumors associated with Blood Stasis.
2. Wingless Cockroach is used as a substitute for Pangolian scales (Chuan Shan Jia) when used to break blood stasis and resolve masses.

Main Combinations:
1. Blood Stasis:
i. Wingless Cockroach with Rhubarb (Da Huang), Dang Gui, Leech (Shui Zhi), Tabanus (Meng Chong), Toxidendron resin (Gan Qi), Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Scutellaria Huang Qin, Paeonia Bai Shao, Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang, Apricot kernel (Xing Ren), Licorice (as in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan)
ii. to strongly resolve Blood Stasis, Wingless Cockroach with Leech, Earthworm
2. Abdominal Masses, Wingless Cockroach with Rhubarb,
3. Enlarged Liver or Hardness of the Liver, Wingless Cockroach with Curcuma Yu Jin, Notoginseng San Qi
4. Cirrhosis, Wingless Cockroach with Cremastra Shan Ci Gu
5. Gynecological Tumors, Wingless Cockroach with Zedoary (E Zhu)
6. Severe pain from Gout or Arthritis, Wingless Cockroach with Wasp Nest (Feng Fang), Centipede (Wu Gong), Spatholobus Ji Xue Teng
7. Trauma, Fractures:
i. Wingless Cockroach with Frankincense and Myrrh
ii. Wingless Cockroach with Drynaria Gu Sui Bu
iii. Wingless Cockroach with Notoginseng San Qi, Dang Gui, Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Safflower (Hong Hua), Dragon's Blood (Xue Jie), Dipsacus Xu Duan, Frankincense (Ru Xiang), Myrrh (Mo Yao), Licorice (as in Die Da Wan)
iv. Wingless Cockroach with Notoginseng San Qi, Dang Gui, Borneo Camphor (Bing Pian), Frankincense (Ru Xiang), calcined Pyrite, prepared as a powder for oral administration (as in Huo Xue Zhi Tong San of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
v. Wingless Cockroach with Notoginseng San Qi, Dang Gui, Safflower (Hong Hua), Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Borneo Camphor (Bing Pian), Methyl Salicylate, extract of Belladonna, prepared as a plaster for topical application (as in Hong Yao Tie Gao of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)

Major Formulas:
Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Die Da Wan

Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy
2. Only suitable for use in those with Blood Stagnation (fixed pain, masses, cyanosis of the nail beds or tongue and a choppy pulse)
3. Allergic skin reactions have been reported. Its use should be discontinued if skin rashes appear.

TOXICITY:
It is mildly toxic. Side effects may include nausea, gastrointestinal irritation, weakness and vertigo.

Main Preparations used:

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