The Anti-Cancer and Pain-Relieving Effects of Bajiaolian (Guijiu, Dysosma)
The Chinese medicinal Bajiaolian is the root and rhizome of Berberidaceae plants Dysosma versipellis, Dysosma pleiantha and Dysosma veitchii. Dysosma versipellis and Dysosma veitchii look similar: their leaves divide into eight parts, resembling eight angles, hence the name Bajiaolian (eight-angle lotus). Dysosma pleiantha's leaf divides into six parts, resembling six angles, and because it looks like an open umbrella it is also called Yibasan (one umbrella). All three species contain podophyllotoxin, the key active constituent responsible for the drug's therapeutic effects, so the three are used interchangeably; the Bajiaolian sold on the market is mainly these three plants.
Bajiaolian has a long history in Chinese medicine. The earliest materia medica, Shennong Bencao Jing, already lists it, under the name Guijiu. Shennong Bencao Jing states that Guijiu is 'pungent in taste and warm; it mainly kills gu toxins and ghost visitation, wards off noxious qi, expels evil qi and resolves all poisons.'
In fact Bajiaolian itself is toxic. In animal experiments, a resin isolated from the whole herb of Dysosma pleiantha caused diarrhea in experimental rabbits and vomiting, diarrhea and even death in experimental cats. Bencao Bielu notes that Guijiu is 'slightly warm and toxic,' and Bencao Jing Jizhu also mentions its toxicity. Therefore, when using this herb, the patient's reactions must be closely watched to avoid poisoning.
Chinese medicine holds that Bajiaolian resolves phlegm and stops cough. Combined with heat-clearing and phlegm-resolving herbs such as Huangqin, Didancao (Ardisiae Japonicae Herba) and Baibu (Stemonae Radix), it relieves cough and sputum caused by lung heat. Bajiaolian also clears heat, detoxifies, dissipates nodules and reduces swelling. Used alone or with appropriate companion herbs, it treats sore throat, scrofula, goiter and tumors, welling-abscesses, deep-rooted boils, and venomous snake bites.
In modern practice Bajiaolian is often used for mumps, Japanese encephalitis and malignant tumors. Besides the traditional decoction, there is now an injectable solution; Bajiaolian injection has some efficacy against infectious diseases such as mumps, Japanese encephalitis and hemorrhagic fever, and has a good antipyretic effect.
Bajiaolian has a long history of use in tumors, and many ancient texts record its swelling-reducing and nodule-dispersing action. Bencao Jingshu notes that Bajiaolian can 'disperse nodules and ward off noxious influences'; Bencao Huiyan says it can 'attack damp accumulations, dissipate static blood... and attack and disperse bound phlegm, bound qi and bound blood.' For goiter (thyroid enlargement or thyroid tumor), that book recommends: 'Guijiu, Haizao (Sargassum), Kunbu (Ecklonia), Haidai (Laminaria), Haifen (sea sediment powder), and Haipiaoxiao (cuttlebone) each 60 g, Gancao 30 g, one conch shell, processed together into honey pills the size of a wutong seed; let one pill dissolve under the tongue each night.' Caoyaofang records that Bajiaolian can 'disperse all kinds of toxins; it can soften hardness and push out pus.'
Some modern Chinese herbal works record Bajiaolian's anti-cancer and swelling-reducing action. Quanguo Zhongcaoyao Huibian includes a medicinal-wine formula for breast cancer: 'Bajiaolian and Huangdujuan (Rhododendron) each 15 g, Zibeitiankui (Semiaquilegia) 30 g, soaked in 500 g of white liquor for seven days; take internally and rub externally. Take 9 g each time, 2-3 times daily.' For breast cancer, Bajiaolian may also be combined with liver-soothing and blood-activating herbs such as Bayuezha (Akebiae Fructus), Wangbuliuxing (Vaccariae Semen), Goujuli (Ponciri Fructus) and Lizhihe (Litchi Semen). For lymphosarcoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, combine it with fire-draining, hardness-softening and phlegm-resolving herbs such as Xiakucao (Prunella), Huangyaozi (Dioscoreae bulbiferae Rhizoma) and Kunbu.
Bajiaolian can also treat ascites. Bencao Huiyan records that Guijiu treats 'qi, blood, phlegm-rheum accumulations distending into gu,' which is what we today call ascites. That book says: 'Take Guijiu 500 g (sliced), fresh ginger 60 g, and alum 15 g; soak in a decoction for two days, then boil in wine and pound into a paste. Add Badourou (croton kernel, oil removed) 9 g, Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum) and Chansu (Bufonis Venenum) each 15 g, all powdered, mix and form into pills the size of foxtail millet. Take 20-30 pills each morning and evening with plain water.' The Badou and Chansu in this formula also have anti-cancer and swelling-reducing effects.
Thus, from ancient times to the present, Bajiaolian has been one of the commonly used herbs for tumor diseases. Because it also has some pain-relieving action, and because tumor diseases often involve pain, Bajiaolian is an anti-tumor herb that simultaneously reduces swelling and relieves pain. It may be used externally or taken internally; internally it may be made into pills or powder, or decocted (the usual oral dose is 3-12 g).
Applied externally, Bajiaolian also reduces swelling and pain. Ground with strong liquor into a paste and applied to the affected area, it treats lymphadenitis, mumps, and pain caused by lymphatic and parotid tumors. According to Guizhou Caoyao, equal parts of Bajiaolian, Yekui (wild mallow) and Pugongying (dandelion), pounded and applied, treat unknown swellings and toxins. Bajiaolian powder blown into the throat treats sore throat. External use is far safer than oral use, so whenever external application is feasible it should be preferred.