Hechan Pian: A Commonly Used Anticancer Chinese Patent Medicine
Hechan Pian is a commonly used anticancer Chinese patent medicine. It is composed of agrimony (Xianhecao), dried toad skin (Ganchanchu pi), ranunculus tuber (Maozhaocao), fritillaria (Zhebeimu), raw pinellia (Sheng Banxia), and houttuynia (Yuxingcao). It is a sugar-coated tablet that appears brownish-brown after the sugar coating is removed. It is a Chinese patent medicine developed by contemporary clinicians specifically for anticancer use, and it has some efficacy against primary bronchial lung cancer, pulmonary metastatic cancer, laryngeal cancer, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
The main side effect of Hechan Pian is nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal distension, diarrhea, and rash caused by the dried toad skin; based on my observation, these side effects occur at a relatively high rate. This medicine is best not taken alone; it should be used together with other spleen-fortifying, dampness-resolving, stomach-warming, and qi-regulating herbs.
Hechan Pian works best against lung cancer; several of its components are herbs with good efficacy against lung cancer. Hechan Pian can inhibit tumor-cell proliferation and promote tumor-cell apoptosis. After 30% Hechan Pian-containing serum acted on the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (LAC) for 72 hours, the TUNEL assay showed an apoptosis rate of 12.3%, markedly higher than the blank serum group (5.7%) and the blank control group (1.2%). Hechan Pian combined with chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer gave a higher response rate in the combination group than in the chemotherapy-only group (40% vs. 32%). In the Hechan Pian-plus-chemotherapy group, symptoms such as cough, sputum, night sweats, fatigue, and reduced appetite improved significantly more than in the control group.
The agrimony (Xianhecao) in Hechan Pian has a deficiency-supplementing effect and can raise the patient's strength. But by itself, Hechan Pian's deficiency-supplementing force seems insufficient; weak patients using Hechan Pian should also, according to their own condition, take other types of root-supporting and foundation-firming medicines, such as Renshen Yangrong Wan, Dabuyin Wan, Liuwei Dihuang Wan, Jinkui Shenqi Wan, Zuogui Wan, Yougui Wan, Jianpi Yishen Keli, or Zhenqi Fuzheng Keli. Or they may ask a professional Chinese-medicine physician to write a formula tailored to the patient.
The nausea and vomiting caused by Hechan Pian can be relieved with patent medicines such as Erchen Wan, Xiangsha Liujun Wan, or Xiangsha Pingwei Wan. Patients who already have cholecystitis or gallstones may develop nausea and abdominal pain after taking Hechan Pian; for such patients, one may consider Danshu Jiaonang or Shugan Hewei Wan to relieve the side effects. Some patients have also reported palpitations and precordial discomfort after taking Hechan Pian, which may be related to the effect of dried toad on the heart. Therefore, patients with hypertension and heart disease should use Hechan Pian cautiously.