Rhizoma Dysosmae pleianthae
From HerbLab, herbal encyclopedia of Chinese traditional medicine
Contents |
RHIZOMA DYSOSMAE PLEIANTHAE(八角莲)
Miao Xiyong, a physician in the Ming Dynasty, wrote: "The plant is pungent in flavor, warm in property and poisonous. It can prevent and treat snake or insect bite."
It is the dried root of Dysosma pleiantha (Hance) Woodson, which mainly grows in the Yangtze River Valley. Dysosma veitchU (hemsl. et Wils) and Podophyllum emodi Wall. var Chinese Sprague are its homogeneous plants and can be used to substitute the drug when it is in shortage.
ANTICANCER PHARMACOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
1. Its main substance, podophyllotoxin, can inhibit metakinesis of cells. 2. Podophyllinic acid-2-ethyl hydrazide, a commercial product derive from podophyllotoxin, is widely used as an anticancer drug. 3. It has been proved that podophyllotoxin, being very poisonous, has a strong inhibition on many tumors, Walker's carcinoma and sarcoma-180.
EXPERIMENTAL FORMULAS
For cancer of the skin and uterine neck:
Handbook of Practical Anticancer Drugs recommends external application to the lesion with 10- 20% solution of the herb.
For lung cancer:
Handbook of Practical Anticancer Drugs suggests taking 1.5g of the powder of the herb daily.
For malignant lymphoma:
Journal of Fujian Folk Herbs reports that 30 to 60 grams of Rhizoma Dysosmae Pleianthae and 60 grams of millet wine are decocted together in water and taken a dose a day.
For cancer of the esophagus:
Zhejiang Tumor Journal says that: "30 grams of each of Rhizoma Dysosmae Pleianthae, Folium Euonymi Fortunis, Herba Dianthi and Folium Indocalami Tessellati, 9 grams of Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and 6 grams of Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae are decocted into a syrup to be taken in several times in a day. This formula has a quick effect. "
Therapies Based on Differentiation of Symptoms and Signs remarks that: "For patients with cancer of the esophagus, 9 grams of Rhizoma Dysosmae Pleianthae is boiled and taken as tea daily."
HISTORICAL COMMENTS
Compendium of Materia Medica compiled by Li Shizhen reads: "The herb is able to eliminate pathogenic factors, lessen all kinds of poisoning, remove the dead fetus and cure pernicious malaria. "
Dictionary of Chinese Medicine says that: "The herb is very potent and combats poison with poison. "
Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica says that: "If you really understand Dysosma pleiantha (Hance) Woodson, you are not afraid of sleeping together with poisonous snakes. The herb can combat all kinds of poison, soften hard masses and evacuate pus."
THE AUTHOR'S NOTE
According to a report of American Journal of Medicine in 1982, resin derived from its homogeneous plant, Podophyllum emodi Wall. var. Chinese Sprague, reacts with podophyllotoxin to form an artificial substance similar in function as narcissine and terminates metakinesis of cancer cells. Experiment on 250 cases of acute monocytic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, malignant lymphogranulomatosis, malignant lymphoma and breast cancer showed the substance has certain effect. Since 1973, the herb has been used clinically for the treatment of parvicellular bronchopulmonary cancer and carcinoma of testis, and has showed remarkable effect.
