The Anti-Cancer and Other Actions of Wubeizi (Galla Chinensis)
Wubeizi (Chinese gallnut) is a very distinctive Chinese medicine: it is the insect gall formed by the aphid Schlechtendalia chinensis or Melaphis paitan (family Pemphigidae) on its host trees Rhus chinensis, Rhus potaninii, and Rhus punjabensis. Wubeizi looks like a plant fruit, but cut open, it contains many insects. Both Kaibao Bencao and Bencao Tujing record Wubeizi as "containing many insects inside." Wubeizi resembles another medicinal, Cordyceps: both are insects living parasitically inside a host and finally forming a whole with it.
Each early spring, when Rhus chinensis sprouts, wingless parthenogenetic aphids invade the tender tissue, stimulating it to swell into a wart-like gall. During gall formation the aphids vigorously reproduce parthenogenetically, producing many larvae inside. In autumn these larvae gradually become winged adults; the gall then bursts naturally, and the aphids fly out to parasitize on second hosts—mosses of the Mniaceae family and related genera. Next spring they fly back from these mosses to Rhus chinensis to reproduce, cycling endlessly.
Thus Wubeizi is harvested each September–October before the galls burst naturally; after harvest, boil in water for 3–5 minutes to kill the aphids inside, then sun- or shade-dry. It may also be harvested in June, again boiled first then dried. Galls harvested in September–October are somewhat horn-shaped, hence called "horn galls" (jiaobei); those harvested in June look like pork bellies, hence "belly galls" (dubei). Both are on the medicinal market; though different in shape, composition and efficacy are the same.
The main component of Wubeizi is gallotannin; dried galls on Rhus chinensis leaves contain 50–80% gallotannin. If you often handle plants and observe aphids on them, you know aphids are sticky—thanks to tannins. This astringency of gallotannin is its greatest medicinal value. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies Wubeizi as an astringent: it astringes the lung, intestines, and sweat, secures essence, stops diarrhea and bleeding. This is because gallotannin coagulates proteins in skin, mucosa, and ulcer tissue, forming a protective film.
Wubeizi tannins have broad-spectrum anti-cancer action, inhibiting liver, gastric, esophageal, lung, cervical, prostate, and oral cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer. Wubeizi tannin markedly inhibits breast cancer MCF-7 growth; after treatment, estrogen-receptor protein and phosphorylation levels drop significantly. Gallotannin also reduces expression of EGFR, Her-2, and Her-3—and estrogen, EGF, and Her-2 are key drivers of breast cancer.
Some current targeted anti-cancer drugs are designed on just these principles; Wubeizi can be called a natural targeted anti-cancer medicine. For breast cancer, Wubeizi may be used both externally and internally; for external use simply mix Wubeizi powder with vinegar and apply to the affected area. Wubeizi is especially effective against PR-, ER-, and Her-2-positive breast cancer.
Gallotannin also strongly inhibits tumor angiogenesis in Lewis-lung-carcinoma-bearing mice, lowering microvessel density and reducing COX-2 and VEGF expression. It also inhibits EGF-induced MMP-9 expression, thereby suppressing migration and invasion of prostate cancer PC-3 cells.
Besides gallotannin, Wubeizi contains much gallic acid; both strongly inhibit multidrug-resistant oral-cancer KB-C2 cells, making it an effective oral-cancer herb. Besides oral cancer, Wubeizi also treats intractable recurrent oral ulcers.
Wubeizi decoction or powder taken internally treats cough and hemoptysis from pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, and bronchitis, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Wubeizi is a relatively common antidiarrheal, effective for bacillary dysentery, persistent infantile diarrhea, and radiation-enteritis diarrhea. It may be taken internally or made into a paste on the navel to stop diarrhea.
Wubeizi alone, stir-fried yellow and powdered, mixed with vinegar paste, treats goiter, cellulitis, folliculitis, and many other conditions. Reports: 23 goiter cases treated with external Wubeizi, 20 cured; one week per course, mild cases 3 courses, severe 5–10 courses. 83 folliculitis cases all cured; 156 cellulitis cases, 150 cured.
Wubeizi and Chixiaodou (adzuki bean) in equal parts powdered, mixed with vinegar, treat traumatic blood-stasis swelling well—once for mild, 2–3 times for severe resolves swelling and pain. Wubeizi is also a dermatology staple: TCM says external use detoxifies, astringes sores, kills parasites, and stops itching, treating all heat-toxin swellings; alone, or equal parts with Dahuang and Huangbai powdered and applied, it treats many skin conditions. Wubeizi has good antibacterial and antifungal action, used for acute eczema, molluscum contagiosum, multiple folliculitis, hand/foot chapping, anal eczema, shingles, trichomonal vaginitis, hemorrhoids, tinea manuum, tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and onychomycosis ("nail fungus").
Wubeizi also has good glucose-lowering action. The 1978 Beijing Health Bureau Formulary includes Hypoglycemic Tablet No. 2, made from Wubeizi, Fuling, and Longgu in an 8:2:1 ratio with suitable ethanol and starch, for stable and senile diabetes.
Wubeizi also treats common cancer complications. For radiation enteritis, enema with Wubeizi powder and Yunnan Baiyao powder 1.5 g each, dexamethasone 5 mg, and normal saline 50 ml. Wubeizi powder mixed with vinegar into a paste, placed in a blank plaster patch on the navel, also treats radiation enteritis; this external application also treats night sweats and hyperhidrosis in leukemia and ovarian cancer patients.
Wubeizi has many benefits but is a toxic-side-effect herb. Gallotannin at 1.875 mg/kg subcutaneously injected into 94 mice killed 72 within 3 days; after 3 doses, serum ALT rose markedly in all, and most mice showed hepatocyte necrosis and degeneration. Thus internal dosing must be controlled: decocted, adult daily dose 3–10 g; powdered swallowed, 1–6 g. Wubeizi for external surgery is almost always used externally, which is far safer.