Hirudin is an active ingredient extracted from leeches and their salivary glands, which has blood-activating effects, anti-coagulant, anti-clotting, anti-thrombotic and lipid-lowering effects, with side effects including causing gastrointestinal discomfort, liver damage and itchy skin.
Leech is a traditional Chinese medicine, commonly known as leech, which has the effects of breaking blood circulation (breaking blood stasis and clearing the meridians), expelling blood stasis and eliminating symptoms (removing blood stasis and lumps in the body). Hirudin extracted from it has the efficacy of activating blood circulation and has an inhibitory effect on thrombin, which is commonly used in anticoagulant and thrombolytic therapy in clinic, especially suitable for the treatment of various thrombotic diseases, such as venous thrombosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Some patients taking Hirudin may experience nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases, liver function impairment, and there may also be signs of toxicity, such as dyspnea and epistaxis (nosebleed). It is contraindicated in pregnant women and those who are allergic to its ingredients. If there is a need for medication, it should be regulated by a doctor after a clear diagnosis.