What are the functions and effects of fish lice?
Mar 24, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Lernaea, also known as anchor worms, refers to the entire body of several species of fish lice from the family Lernaeidae, including Lernaea polymorpha, Lernaea qinghaiensis, and Lernaea sinensis. Lernaea has various functions and effects, including clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting diuresis and reducing edema, activating blood circulation to resolve stasis, relieving inflammation and pain, as well as killing parasites and relieving itching. Additionally, Lernaea can enhance immune function and improve resistance by modulating the immune system and strengthening the body's defense against pathogens.
Argulus, also known as fish lice, refers to the entire body of several species of fish lice from the family Argulidae, including Argulus chinensis, Argulus kawamei, and Argulus qii. Fish lice have various effects and functions, including clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting diuresis and reducing edema, activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and killing parasites to relieve itching. Detailed functions are as follows:
1. Clearing Heat and Detoxifying: Fish lice can eliminate heat toxins in the body, reduce inflammatory responses, and promote wound healing. They are suitable for treating symptoms such as sore throat and oral ulcers caused by heat toxicity. Fish lice can provide good adjuvant therapeutic effects for certain heat-toxin-related diseases, such as acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis.
2. Promoting Diuresis and Reducing Edema: Fish lice have a diuretic effect, helping to remove excess fluid from the body and alleviate symptoms of edema. This provides certain adjuvant therapeutic benefits for edema caused by conditions such as nephritis and cirrhosis. By promoting urine excretion, fish lice help improve fluid balance in the body, relieve related symptoms, and enhance patients' quality of life.
3. Activating Blood Circulation and Removing Blood Stasis: Fish lice can promote blood circulation and resolve blood stasis, making them suitable for treating injuries, contusions, and swelling-related pain. They help improve blood circulation, eliminate blood stasis, reduce pain and swelling, and accelerate the recovery of injured areas. For bruising and swelling caused by external injuries, fish lice can provide effective adjuvant therapy, aiding patients in recovering more quickly.
4. Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects: Fish lice possess certain anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties and can be used to treat various inflammatory pains, such as arthritis and rheumatic pain. They help reduce local inflammation, alleviate pain, and improve patient comfort. For chronic inflammatory diseases, fish lice can serve as an adjuvant treatment to help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
5. Killing Parasites and Relieving Itching: Fish lice have the effect of killing parasites and relieving itching, commonly used for treating skin itching, eczema, and other symptoms. They inhibit the growth of parasites, reduce skin itching sensations, and offer certain therapeutic effects on skin diseases caused by parasites. Additionally, fish lice can be used to treat other skin conditions such as dermatitis and urticaria, helping patients alleviate discomfort.
Fish lice can also enhance immune function and improve resistance. By regulating the immune system and strengthening the body's defense against pathogens, they help prevent colds and other diseases.
