Nobody likes me, everybody hates me
I'm gonna go eat worms
Great big fat ones, little bitty skinny ones
Even ones that squirm
-Nursery rhyme

Lumbricus, the earthworm, is a Chinese herb that can clear heat, extinguish wind, and open up channels and collaterals. Several enzymes obtained from Lumbricus have strong fibrinolytic properties: they can dissolve blood clots. Lumbricus can promote heart health, help with chronic diseases, and problems associated with old age because clotting, or blood stasis, is often an important element with these conditions.
The nature of the earthworm to burrow and break up earth probably inspired its herbal use. Its form resembles a channel or blood vessel. It has amazing immunity and regenerative powers: cut one in half and you end up with two. Also remarkable is its ability to digest garbage and transform it into fertile soil. At least one scientist reported that he failed to create cancer in the earthworm. Darwin gave Lumbricus high points: "It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world."