The Qi-Moving, Pain-Relieving and Anticancer Effects of Jiuxiangchong (Aspongopus)
The Chinese medicinal Jiuxiangchong is the dried whole insect Aspongopus chinensis, of the family Pentatomidae. Jiuxiangchong is also colloquially called the "fart bug" or "stinky bug," because when startled it releases a characteristic foul odor to protect itself. Despite its inelegant nickname, after stir-frying Jiuxiangchong is not stinky at all but rather fragrant, hence its fine name "nine-fragrance bug."
Jiuxiangchong is found in many parts of China. In warm seasons it often appears among crops or shrubs, and anyone raised in the countryside is likely familiar with it. Jiuxiangchong is a phytophagous insect whose host plants include members of the gourd, bindweed, legume, and nightshade families; it is especially fond of chayote and pumpkin.
In ancient times people already recognized Jiuxiangchong's medicinal value. The Bencao Gangmu records that Jiuxiangchong is "pungent-salty in flavor, warm in nature, and non-toxic; it mainly treats stagnant qi in the diaphragm and epigastrium, deficiency of the spleen and kidney, and strengthens yuan yang." The Bencao Xinbian records that Jiuxiangchong "especially invigorates yang and benefits essence, and can also quieten the spirit and settle the hun-po." TCM through the ages has ascribed two main actions to Jiuxiangchong: regulating qi and relieving pain, and warming the kidney and invigorating yang.
Modern pharmacological research shows that Jiuxiangchong has various activities including antitumor, reproductive-injury protective, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticoagulant, anti-ulcer, and anti-fatigue effects. In vitro experiments show that in test tubes Jiuxiangchong has a strong inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, and Shigella flexneri. Its anticancer effect may be related to its relatively high content of the anticancer trace elements manganese and magnesium.
Jiuxiangchong is often used for stomach and hypochondriac pain caused by digestive diseases. The Xiandai Shiyong Zhongyao describes its effect thus: "It is an analgesic with a tonic effect. It is suitable for nervous stomach pain, sore lower back and knees, oppression in the chest and epigastrium, and stagnant pain in the pit of the stomach (actually the epigastrium) brought on by emotional displeasure; taken together with other tonics it is effective."
Modern practitioners make "Ningtong Wan" (Pain-Settling Pills) from Jiuxiangchong as the chief herb: Jiuxiangchong 150 g, Sanqi 200 g, and Zhi Quanxie (processed Scorpion) 100 g. Grind to a very fine powder and form with water into pills the size of perilla seeds. Take 1.5 g each time, morning and evening, washed down with boiling water. This formula treats epigastric pain or intercostal neuralgia caused by stomach disease, cholecystitis, or hepatitis.
Jiuxiangchong is also a herb often used in diseases such as gastric and gallbladder cancer; adding it to a large complex formula strengthens its anticancer and analgesic effects. The Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (1987, 11:40) also records a method of treating hemangioma (a benign lesion, not a malignant tumor) with Jiuxiangchong: mainly apply the abdominal contents of Jiuxiangchong to the hemangioma, 3-4 times daily, for several days until the hemangioma resolves, with no toxic side effects. This method has its limitations, however, as live Jiuxiangchong must be caught.
TCM ascribes a yang-invigorating action to Jiuxiangchong, and this record may not be idle talk, though few use the herb for yang-deficiency impotence; today Jiuxiangchong is mainly used to regulate qi and relieve pain. This record nonetheless shows that Jiuxiangchong is rather warm and drying, so not everyone is suited to taking it. Those with blazing liver-gallbladder fire or yin deficiency with internal heat should forbid Jiuxiangchong, otherwise their symptoms may worsen.