In the last class, I've introduced some basic concepts of Chinese herbs, coupled with examples. Now I'd like to introduce some herbs we mentioned in examples. First, I'd like to talk about Ma Qian Zi (Semen Strychni). Generally, you don't have access to this herb in hospital because it is a highly toxic herb and strictly regulated by the government. However, it's contained in many patent Chinese medicine, such as Yunnan Bai Yao, which contains Duan Chang Cao (also toxic), Ma Qian Zi and other ingredients. Let's take a look at Ma Qian Zi. It is bitter in flavor, cold in property and highly toxic. I'd like to mention it's still controversial about whether Ma Qian Zi is cold or warm in property. It's now generally believed that Ma Qian Zi is bitter, cold and highly toxic. Its main function is to unblock collaterals. I call it unblocking collaterals and resolving hard nodules. So, first, Ma Qian Zi has very good effect in unblocking collaterals and relieving pain. Therefore, it's mainly used for intractable rheumatic joint pain, often accompanied by joint deformity. Since it unblocks collaterals, Zhang Xichun once said Ma Qian Zi is superior to any other herbs in unblocking meridians and benefiting joints. This indicates that it has noticeable effect in alleviating pain. And that's why it can be used to treat intractable rheumatic joint pain coupled with joint deformity. It can also be used to treat limb numbness and paralysis due to obstructions of muscles or tendons. Actually it's very effective for many conditions, for example, it's effective for facial palsy even if used externally. This is its first function. The second function is also related to the first one. Since it unblocks collaterals, alleviates pain, and resovles swelling, Ma Qian Zi can be used for traumatic injuries and very effective for pain due to bone fracture. Today, it's more often used to treat intractable pain, such as vascular headache, trigeminal neuralgia, rheumatic joint pain, especially intractable rheumatic joint pain, with remarkable effects. The problem is that we do not have the access. In addition, it cannot be used in decoction, but in solid pills or powders. Even if you have the access, you can only get a very small dose, 0.3g-0.6g on a daily basis. Then how do we use it externally? We've prepared a major pain-killing component of Ma Qian Zi... brucine with nanotechnology. Then it's prepared into a spray to apply to the affected area. What about the effect? (1) Immediate pain relief: the pain can get immediate relief at least within 20 minutes of spray. It has immediate pain-relief effect. (2) Strong pain-relief effect: Many kinds of pain such as tennis elbow, neck pain, joint pain, muscle injury, etc. Can all be substantially relieved. (3) Longer pain-relief effect. So external use of an ingredient of Ma Qian Zi brucine can get amazing pain-relief effect, better effect than other medicine. So much for Ma Qian Zi. Next I'd like to talk about Zhu Sha (Cinnabaris). Last year pediatric medicien in Beijing Tong Ren Tang was detected to contain excessive mercury. Mercury is also the major component of Zhu Sha. Zhu Sha is often used in our daily life. As a medicine, Zhu Sha has the following characteristics. First, it is indeed toxic. It is sweet in flavor and cold in property; and it is very heavy. It is cold, heavy and enters the heart meridian. We all know that the heart dominates mental activities. Based on the fact that it enters the heart meridian, 又是寒性的 and heavy, we know Zhu Sha has good effect in tranquilizing mind. This mind-tranquilizing effect focuses on two aspects. First, it is very heavy and can strongly traquilize mind, which means an immediate and strong sedative effect. As a result, it can be used for restlessness due to multiple reasons, such as restless, insomnia, dementia, depression and mania. Secondly, since it is cold and enters the heart meridian, Zhu Sha can clear the heart and calm the mind. With this function, it can be used to treat hyperactivity of heart fire, i.e., restless and insomnia due to heart fire disturbing the mind, and mouth or tongue ulcerations. So clinically Zhu Sha is often used for heart-mind disturbance. There is a famous formula called Zi Zhu Wan (Magnetite and Cinnabar Pill) containing Zhu Sha and Ci Shi (Magnetitum). This is the first aspect. The second aspect: it can clear heat and remove toxins and can often be used for toxic-heat ENT problems such as mouth or tongue ulcerations and sore swollen throat. For mouth/tongue ulcerations and sore swollen throat, we know there is a patent Chinese medicine called Bing Peng San ( Borneol and borax powder), which is a spray for mouth ulceration and sore swollen throat. Zhu Sha is toxic and its main ingredient is mercury. We have be clear about: (1) Zhu Sha cannot be calcined with fire, because the mercury comes out in certain temperature. (2) The dosage needs to be strictly controlled: 0.1g-0.5g per day. (3) it is not for decoction but for pills or powders. In summary, we all know these products are toxic, so did ancient people. The ancient people also knew under certain conditions they can be more toxic. So as for the preparation, they were extremely cautious about the temperature and the container. Why are we still using it? Because we want its efficacy and avoid its toxicity, which is possible. After these two Chinese medicine, we come to the most toxic one Pi Shi (Arsenicum) including red and white arsenic. We'll introduce them together. It is very hot, and highly toxic. How highly? Even a very small dose can be fatal. Actually it has always been highly poisonous since ancient times; at the same time, it has extraordinary effect for intractable, difficult diseases. There is no point talking about its specific functions. Because it is used externally to treat intractable skin ulcers, scrofula and stubborn dermatitis. It has good effects for above conditions because of its function in removing rotten tissues and killing insects when used externally. A patent Chinese medicine called Zi Jin Dan (Purple Gold Elixir) contains Pi Shi. Today, it's very difficult to get approval by using Pi Shi in external preparation and is therfore rarely used. Here I'd also like to talk about its effect when administered orally, of course, not in decoction but in pills or powders. It is more often used for intractable asthma. We describe its functions as 'robbing' phlegm and relieving asthma. It can be used to treat asthma due to cold phlegm. We all know asthma is very difficult to treat. Why? Because of its hidden phlegm inside the body, which can be triggered by inducing factors. These factors include weather changes, diet, fatigue or emotions. That's why asthma is so It is difficult to treat. To cure asthma, you need to strenghten the body constitution, you also need medicine. We often hope that asthma in children can be cured through his development, along with a stronger body constitution. Other than this, asthma is very difficult to eradicate. To eradicate asthma, you need to remove hidden phlegm. How? Pi Shi has such effect. I've witnessed an asthma patients in his forties had been using steroid aerosols all year round. One day he was treated with spine-scraping method while I was present. I saw one of the components for spine-scraping is arsenic. At that time the patient was in his forties. He almost never experienced asthma ever since the spine-scraping was done more than 10 years ago. This also indicates Pi Shi can help to eradicate asthma. Why? It can remove hidden phlegm inside the body the cold phlegm, or asthma due to cold phlegm. Finally, Pi Shi can also be used to treat malaria. Likewise, we do not have access to Pi Shi. I use these three examples to explain that they are related to recent events, Ma Qian Zi and Yunnan Bai Yao, Zhu Sha and pediatric medicine in Beijing Tong Ren Tang, Ci Shi and Xiong Huang (Realgar) for anti-tumor. With three representative Chinese medicine, I'd like you to know that (1) they are not atoxic but toxic, and some of them are highly toxic and can even be fatal. This is one aspect. Another aspect, we should not discard it just because it is toxic; instead, we should transfrom toxicity into efficacy. Toxicity of Chinese medicine involves many factors. I'm going to introduce these factors in next class. So much for this class.
