Madengcao (Camptosorus) for Thromboangiitis Obliterans and Lower-Leg Ulcers

Madengcao is the whole herb of Camptosorus sibiricus of the Aspleniaceae family; it is a specific drug for thromboangiitis obliterans that contemporary TCM has discovered from folk remedies. Because this herb is not widely used, most pharmacies do not carry Madengcao, though I have seen some herb collectors or wholesale dealers selling it on sites such as Taobao.

Madengcao has the effects of activating blood and resolving stasis, stopping bleeding, and resolving toxin. In Northeast China and in Henan and Shandong provinces, local people use it to treat thromboangiitis obliterans, stroke with hemiplegia, uterine bleeding, traumatic bleeding, neurodermatitis, and lower-leg ulcers.

Changbaishan Zhiwu Yaozhi records folk proven formulas using Madengcao to treat neurodermatitis and hemiplegia caused by cerebral vascular embolism: simply take 6g of Madengcao decocted in water daily.

This drug has a specific effect on thromboangiitis obliterans and the lower-leg ulcers it causes. Research shows that injection made from Madengcao treated 63 cases of thromboangiitis obliterans, with 34 clinically cured, 27 improved, and only 2 ineffective.

Besides being made into injection, Madengcao can also be decocted for internal or external use. For internal decoction the usual daily dose is 3–6g; it can also be ground into powder and swallowed, 1g each time, 2–3 times a day.

Dried Madengcao ground into powder and applied externally to the affected area can treat lower-leg ulcers and traumatic bleeding.

The reason Madengcao can treat thromboangiitis obliterans and the lower-leg ulcers it induces is related to its blood-vessel-dilating and platelet-aggregation-inhibiting effects.

Animal experiments show that a 100% water-alcohol extract of Madengcao has a marked dilating effect on isolated rabbit-ear vessels, toad hind-limb vessels, and rabbit hind-limb vessels. The total flavonoids of Madengcao have a significant peripheral-vessel-dilating effect on the coronary vessels of experimental rabbits and guinea pigs, and inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation.

Madengcao has very low toxicity, and taking its water decoction is basically non-toxic. But when the total flavonoids extracted from Madengcao are made into injection and given intravenously to mice, an overdose causes intermittent convulsions and, in severe cases, paralysis and death.

In Henan folk tradition, Madengcao is also used for uterine bleeding and traumatic bleeding. For uterine bleeding, use 3–7 leaves of Madengcao, decoct in water, and mix with a beaten egg to drink. For traumatic bleeding, grind Madengcao into powder and apply to the wound.

The uterine bleeding Madengcao treats may be caused by uterine fibroids; this is my inference based on Madengcao's main effects, but there is a lack of literature and clinical data on Madengcao treating uterine fibroids.