# Earthworm

**Lumbricus terrestris*; oil of worms*

**Known today as.** The common earthworm, washed in wine, dried, powdered, or boiled in oil.

Kind: Animal

## What was it used for?

Oil of earthworms for stiff joints, cramps, and sinews; the dried worms for jaundice and fevers.

## What does modern science say?

Earthworm enzymes (lumbrokinase) that dissolve clots are studied in East Asia; the old European uses have no support.

## Pharmacognosy and toxicology

- **lumbrokinase**: a group of fibrinolytic serine proteases
- **lumbritin**: 
- **collagen and lipids**: the oil of worms

**Mechanism.** The oil of earthworms rubbed on joints is an animal fat; the dried worm of Chinese medicine (dilong) is another matter, since its lumbrokinase dissolves fibrin in the laboratory and in animals, and it is given in China for stroke and thrombosis, with trials of uncertain quality. The old jaundice use has no basis.

**Dose.** Safe; lumbrokinase can prolong bleeding.

**Standing.** Dilong is in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia; lumbrokinase is sold as a supplement, unapproved in the West.

## What did the older authorities say?

**Chinese medicine.** Uses the dried earthworm, *di long*, “earth dragon,” for fevers and convulsions.

## Sources

- Pomet, P. (1694). *Histoire générale des drogues* (English, *A Compleat History of Druggs*, 1712).
- Mihara, H., et al. (1991). “A novel fibrinolytic enzyme extracted from the earthworm, *Lumbricus rubellus*.” *Japanese Journal of Physiology* 41.
- Cooper, E. L., and Balamurugan, M. (2010). “Unearthing a source of medicinal molecules.” *Drug Discovery Today* 15.

---

*Earthworm.* In *Materia Medica*, edited by B. C. P. Statema. Version 1, revised 2026-09-30. The Thinking Press. https://thethinkingpress.org/materia-medica/earthworm

Historical description, not medical advice.