The Anti-Cancer Action of the Mongolian Medicine Kudouzi (Sophora Alopecuroides)
In Inner Mongolia there is a herbal medicine called Kudouzi (bitter bean), which belongs to the legume family. Its root, whole herb, and seeds can all be used medicinally. The root is called Kudougen, the whole plant Kudoucao, and the seed kernel Kudouzi. Kudouzi is mainly produced in China's Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Xinjiang, Shanxi, Ningxia, and Qinghai. In Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang it is commonly used by local people, while in other regions it is rarely used.Both Kudougen and Kudouzi are used against cancer, but Kudouzi has a certain toxicity, and its seed kernel is even more toxic. When used as medicine, it is usually stir-fried until black to reduce its toxicity. Poisoning from taking Kudouzi causes reactions such as dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, irritability, abdominal pain, diarrhea, chest tightness, palpitations, pale complexion, lowered blood pressure, and breathing difficulty. Kudouzi's toxic side effects on the heart and kidneys are especially pronounced, so those with heart or kidney disease should not take it. If the root, stem-leaves, and seed kernels of Kudouzi are used together with Maqianzi (Strychnos), the toxicity is additive and the risk of death is very high; therefore this herb must not be used together with Maqianzi.When using Kudougen and Kudouzi to fight cancer, the patient's white blood cells may drop and blood pressure may fall; a few patients experience loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and other reactions similar to chemotherapy. After discontinuing, these side effects basically resolve on their own. Although Kudouzi is toxic, its anti-cancer effect is relatively good.There are reports showing that total alkaloids extracted from Kudougen and alkaloid "Kudougen A" were used to treat 112 cases of malignant hydatidiform mole, with 97 clinically cured, accounting for 86.6%, and 15 ineffective, accounting for 13.4%. This clinical cure rate is very high, making it a specific drug for malignant hydatidiform mole.In the folk tradition of Xinjiang, China, some also use the seed kernel of Kudouzi to treat gastric or intestinal cancer. The usage is: 5 Kudouzi seeds, 3g fresh ginger, 6g Pugongying (dandelion), ground together into a fine powder and taken with water. If the patient has stomach pain and vomiting of acidic fluid, it can also be used together with aluminum hydroxide.Kudouzi does not belong to traditional Chinese Materia Medica; it is merely an ethnic medicine, so traditional bencao works do not record it. But Mongolian medicine uses it to treat many diseases. Mongolian medicine holds that Kudouzi has the effect of clearing heat and drying dampness, can reduce swelling and relieve pain, and can treat damp-heat dysentery, enteritis diarrhea, jaundice hepatitis, skin eczema, sore throat, toothache, stubborn tinea, scalds, and stomach pain.Kudouzi can be used by decocting the root and stem-leaves for oral intake or directly swallowing its seed kernels, or by decocting it for external use. Mongolian medicine often uses an appropriate amount of Kudougen decocted in water to fumigate and wash affected areas to treat scalds, eczema, and stubborn tinea and other skin diseases; ethnic doctors in Mongolia and Xinjiang also often take Kudoucao decocted internally (usual dose 1.5-6g) for acute and chronic bacillary dysentery. The crushed seed kernels of Kudouzi can also be used externally for skin diseases and sores and boils on the skin.On the market there are finished Kudouzi tablets made by Chinese patent medicine factories; the package insert states it treats damp-heat-type bacillary dysentery, but this drug can also be used as an adjuvant for digestive-tract tumors.Kudouzi has relatively strong side effects; an excessive dose or prolonged use may cause adverse reactions. So when using this herb, one must control the dose and duration carefully. If used to treat cancer, it should be used for a period and then paused for a while before resuming, and it should also be combined with other herbs that bolster the righteous qi and consolidate the root.