Wangbuliuxing (Vaccaria Seed): A Key Herb for Breast Diseases

Wangbuliuxing is the seed of Vaccaria segetalis (family Caryophyllaceae); Vaccaria is a common weed in wheat fields, widely distributed in China except the south. In folk practice Wangbuliuxing is a lactagogue; a folk proverb says, "Wangbuliuxing, taken by women, makes milk flow freely." For postpartum agalactorrhea, stewing crucian carp or pig trotters with Wangbuliuxing promotes lactation. In TCM bencao classics, Wangbuliuxing is an important herb that activates blood and unblocks the meridians, promotes lactation, and dissipates abscesses.

The name Wangbuliuxing is peculiar. Huang Gongxiu explains its origin: "Its nature is to move rather than to stay; even the king cannot detain its going." Wangbuliuxing treats women's menstrual abdominal pain, amenorrhea, insufficient lactation, breast abscess, and swellings. But because Wangbuliuxing has a strong anticoagulant action and easily causes bleeding, pregnant women and those with bleeding tendencies are forbidden to take it.

Ancient formulas for insufficient lactation mostly include Wangbuliuxing; it is often combined with Chuanshanjia (pangolin scales). But now pangolins are a first-class protected animal and can no longer be used as medicine, so Wangbuliuxing should no longer be combined with it. Sheng Maiya (raw malt) is also an herb that soothes the liver and promotes lactation; Wangbuliuxing may be combined with raw malt for insufficient lactation, or used alone.

Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica says of Wangbuliuxing: "It manages metal wounds, stops bleeding and drives out pain, extracts thorns, and expels wind-bi and internal cold. Long-term use lightens the body, resists aging, and extends life." Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians records: "It stops vexation and epistaxis, treats deep sores and evil ulcers, fistulous breast lesions, and difficult labor in women." Both mention Wangbuliuxing stopping bleeding; Huang Gongxiu considered this record wrong, holding that such a moving, penetrating herb could not possibly stop bleeding. But modern pharmacological research confirms that although Wangbuliuxing is a blood-activating herb, it indeed also has hemostatic action.

Modern studies show that guinea pigs fed Wangbuliuxing decoction (10 g/kg) daily for 10 days, in an animal model of acute blood-stasis microcirculatory disturbance induced by intravenous high-molecular-weight dextran, showed significantly reduced blood viscosity, improved hyperviscosity in hemorheology, improved microcirculatory blood volume, and shortened circulation time. Thus Wangbuliuxing does improve bleeding in blood-stasis patterns, showing that it both stops bleeding and activates blood—a TCM herb with a bidirectional effect on blood circulation. Although Wangbuliuxing can stop bleeding in blood-stasis patients, other bleeding patients should use it cautiously; Bencao Huiyan specifically notes: "Those with blood-loss diseases, metrorrhagia, and pregnant women must all avoid it."

In my previous article "Liu Shaowu's 'Tiaoshen Gongjian Decoction' for Breast Cancer", I introduced that Liu Shaowu used high-dose Wangbuliuxing (90 g daily; the usual clinical dose is 3–10 g, far below Liu's dose) for breast cancer; after 120 doses of his prescription, the patient's primary breast tumor and metastases completely disappeared.

Liu's experience deserves attention. The mechanism by which Wangbuliuxing—used for generations to treat breast abscess—treats breast cancer has not been much studied, but animal experiments confirm it has anti-early-pregnancy effects. This suggests Wangbuliuxing may strongly regulate female sex hormones, which may be why it treats breast cancer. Besides breast cancer, Wangbuliuxing is also used for thyroid cancer and brain tumors.

Wangbuliuxing for breast cancer is often combined with Gualou, Pugongying (dandelion), Xiakucao, and Chishao. Bencao Huiyan records treating early breast abscess with "Wangbuliuxing one liang, Pugongying and Gualou ren each three qian, Danggui tip three qian, decocted in wine." The early breast abscess here roughly corresponds to modern acute mastitis. In the Heart Scriptures of Medicine there is "Wangbuliuxing Powder," using "Wangbuliuxing two sheng, Gancao five liang, Yige two liang, Guixin four liang, Danggui four liang," powdered; take a fangcunbi measure three times daily and once at night with wine, for treating swellings.

In addition, Wangbuliuxing stir-fried yellow and ground into powder, mixed with warm water into a paste and applied externally, treats shingles with good effect; external application for 3–10 days usually eliminates pain and the rash crusts over and heals.

Whether taken internally or applied externally, Wangbuliuxing is non-toxic; no generation of literature records its toxicity. But its blood-activating force is strong and easily causes bleeding, so patients with poor coagulation should use it cautiously.