Dried Leech (Hirudo nipponica) — Wild-Caught Air-Dried Whole Leech, 500g

Dried Leech (Hirudo nipponica), known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Shuǐ Zhì (水蛭), is the air-dried whole body of a wild-caught leech, also called the Broad-Bodied Golden-Line Leech (宽体金线蛭). For centuries, Shui Zhi has been prized as a blood-quickening, stasis-breaking herb used to invigorate circulation, unblock collaterals, and resolve fixed accumulations. Its nature is salty, bitter, and neutral, with a mild toxicity in TCM theory, making it a potent yet carefully measured herb for moving stagnant blood and restoring smooth flow.

Key Selling Points

• Wild-caught Broad-Bodied Golden-Line Leech
• Clean-water air-dried whole leech
• Traditional blood-quickening herb
• 500g bulk pack for decoction use
• Sourced from Jiangsu, China

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is cleaned in fresh water and air-dried to preserve its dark brown to blackish color, firm leathery texture, and faint marine aroma. When decocted, the dried leech softens and yields a mildly salty, slightly bitter infusion with a subtle earthy note, characteristic of traditional water-derived herbs.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Traditional herbal decoction
• Herbal formula ingredient
• TCM practitioner-prepared blends
• Bulk herbal storage for clinics
• Traditional soak and preparation

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Shui Zhi is decocted into formulas and tonics to invigorate blood, break stasis, and unblock collaterals. It is a classic ingredient in traditional blood-moving decoctions, often paired with herbs like peach kernel, safflower, and angelica. In daily practice, it is simmered in water or combined with other herbs in a formula, and is also used in traditional medicinal wines and external preparations.

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