Zijin Ding Inhibits Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Leukemia
Zijin Ding is a famous TCM formula. Taiyi Zijin Ding was once an important emergency medicine in the Qing Dynasty imperial palace. The "Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China" (Part I, 2005 edition) records the formula of Zijin Ding: Shancigu (Pleione Pseudobulb) 200g, Hongdaji (Knoxia Root) 150g, Qianjinzishuang (Croton Meal) 100g, Wubeizi (Galla Chinensis) 100g, Shexiang (Moschus) 30g, Zhusha (Cinnabar) 40g, Xionghuang (Realgar) 20g.
In preparation, Zhusha and Xionghuang are processed by water-grinding (a TCM method of processing mineral drugs) into an extremely fine powder; Shancigu, Wubeizi, and Hongdaji are ground into fine powder; Shexiang is ground fine and triturated with the above powders and Qianjinzishuang, then sifted and mixed uniformly. Separately take 320g of glutinous rice flour, add water to form a dough, steam until cooked, mix with the above powder, and press into ingots, each weighing 0.3g or 3g; then low-temperature drying completes the product.
Zijin Ding has the effects of averting plague and counteracting toxicity, and of reducing swelling and relieving pain. It is indicated for heatstroke, epigastric and abdominal distending pain, nausea and vomiting, dysentery and diarrhea, and phlegm syncope in children. Zijin Ding may also be applied externally to treat boils and furuncles, mumps (parotitis), erysipelas, and throat wind (tonsillitis). Applied externally, Zijin Ding can treat herpes zoster with a very high effective rate. It has strong anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action, and external application also works well for cervical erosion and phlebitis.
In Zijin Ding, Daji (Knoxia), Qianjinshuang, Zhusha, and Xionghuang are all toxic, but all also have anti-cancer effects; Shancigu, Wubeizi, and Shexiang are also anti-cancer. Hence Zijin Ding is a commonly used anti-cancer Chinese patent medicine. Modern pharmacological research has found that Zijin Ding has some inhibitory effect on skin cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer, and leukemia.
Zijin Ding has some analgesic effect, related to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antispasmodic actions; taken internally or applied externally it both relieve pain. But when taken internally the dose must be controlled: start with a very small amount, observe the patient's adverse reactions, and increase the dose gradually. Zijin Ding must not be taken long term, for prolonged use causes cumulative poisoning from mercury and realgar; it is best taken for a period and then stopped for a period.