Source: Chinese Pharmacopoeia
Category: Formulas that Expel Parasites
Pattern: Tapeworm Parasites
Key Symptoms: Hunger, fatigue, weight loss, abdominal discomfort, itchy anus
Secondary Symptoms: Nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation
Ingredients
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Nan Gua Zi
| 60-120g | |
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Pinyin: Nan Gua Zi
Chinese: 南瓜子
Pharmaceutical: Semen Cucurbitae
Taxonomy: Cucurbita moschata seu pepo
English: Squash or Pumpkin Seeds and Husks |
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Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Stomach and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Expels parasites and alleviates pain
Tapeworms, roundworms, threadworms, Blood flukes and schistosomiasis (used as a stand-alone herb)
Post-addiction, especially opioids (Bao Xiang'ao, Qing dynasty, who attributed addictions to parasites, 蟲 Chong which cause the cravings to re-emerge, Wilcox, 2025)
- Benefits postpartum fluid metabolism
Insufficient lactation
Postpartum swelling of the hands and feet
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Standard Dosage: 30-60g ground into powder and taken with cold water. 60-120g for
tapeworms and 120-200g for schistosomiasis.
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Bing Lang
| 30-60g | | |
Pinyin: Bing Lang
Chinese: 槟榔
Pharmaceutical: Semen Arecae
Taxonomy: Areca catechu
English: Betel Nut |
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Tastes: Bitter, pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Stomach and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Kills Parasites and expels Demons
Kills a wide variety of Intestinal parasites including fasciolopsis, pinworms, roundworms and Blood flukes Best for tapeworms
Drains downward to expel the bodies of dead parasites
Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
- Regulates Qi, reduces accumulations, drains downward and unblocks the bowels
Food Stagnation and Qi Stagnation with abdominal distention, constipation or tenesmus
- Promotes urination
Damp leg Qi and oedema due to Excess
- Treats malarial disorders
Malarial disorders
- Relieves nausea
Nausea
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for loose stool due to spleen insufficiency or qi sinking. Use with caution for pregnant women.
This herb is prohibited from use in the UK under the banned and restricted herbal ingredients list issued by the MHRA and so is generally substituted with Zhi Shi and Yi Li Ren, or Fei Zi and Yu Li Ren for expelling parasites. |
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Subsitutions:
Bing Lang cannot be used in the UK so must be replaced with another antihelmintic herb. Alternatively, some a western medical journal from 1852 used pumpkin seeds followed by castor oil in a sufficiently purgative dose.
Preparation: Grind Bing Lang into a powder and decoct in 400 ml of water until 100 ml remains and filter out the dregs. Next chew up or grind the pumpkin seeds and eat them. 2 hours later drink the Bing Lang decoction. Worm bodies should be discharged along with diarrhoea 4–5 h later. If there is no diarrhoea, take 10g Xuan Ming Fen. If it is not completely expelled, take again 1 month later.
Actions: Expels tapeworm parasites.
Contraindications: Extreme deficiency or dehydration.
Research Links:
Reference Notes: (click to display)
Most formulas are found in Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet (2009): Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies and Chen & Chen (2015) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. Others are from translations of primary sources. It is recommended that the original material is cross-referenced for mistakes and additional information.
Substitutions have been taken from Ken Lloyd & Prof. Leung (2004): Mayway UK Substitution List or the above publications and are intended as suggestions to help navigate the tight restrictions in the UK quickly. More applicable substitutions may be appropriate in specific situations.
Individual herb information has initially been sourced from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.
