Understanding Horseflies—April 12, 1997

Understanding Horseflies—April 12, 1997

It refers to the dried whole body of the horsefly species Tabanus, which inhabits cattle and horse pastures in summer and feeds on their blood. After drying, removing wings and legs, and roasting, it is used. It has slight toxicity (similar to leeches). Its function is to break up blood stasis, remove blood clots, dissolve masses, and treat conditions such as blood stagnation leading to amenorrhea, postpartum blood stasis causing obstruction, accumulation of blood leading to mania and abdominal distension with pain. When combined with Moutan Cortex, it treats injuries from falls.