Cancer is something that nobody wants to encounter, but in reality, it is closer to us than we think. Traditional Chinese medicine has recently become popular in the treatment of cancer. Da Wei Yao, also known as Verbesina encelioides, is a whole plant or root of the Verbesina family. It is harvested in the autumn and can be used fresh or dried. It has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. Da Wei Yao also has anti-cancer properties!
【Anti-Cancer Effect of Da Wei Yao】
Da Wei Yao leaf extract has anti-cancer effects in mice with Schwartz leukemia (ascitic type), prolonging their lifespan. Foreign experimental literature has confirmed the anti-cancer efficacy of this herb and its use in clinical treatment of cancer and leukemia.
1. Anti-tumor effects
Leaf extract has anti-tumor effects (extends lifespan) in mice with leukemia (ascitic type).
It has no effect on the rectus abdominis muscle of frogs and has a significant excitatory effect on the isolated uterus of rats. Both water and alcohol extracts have oxytocin-like effects.
2. Hypotensive effects
Injection of water extract of Da Wei Yao root can lower blood pressure and stimulate respiration in anesthetized cats. It has an inhibitory effect on the isolated heart of frogs, while alcohol extract has no effect.
Toxicity: Water extract has slight toxicity; alcohol extract has no obvious toxicity.
【Botanical Characteristics of Da Wei Yao】
Da Wei Yao is also known as Dogtail Grass or Whole Insect Grass. It is an annual herbaceous plant, 15-60cm tall. The root is cylindrical and turns yellow-brown when dried. The stem is erect, stout, and branched, with rough, appressed hairs.
Leaves: Leaves are opposite or nearly opposite, with wrinkled elongated leaf blades measuring about 5-10cm long, ovate or triangular-ovate in shape.
Flowers: Green sepals, pale blue-purple or white corolla, 5 stamens, terminal inflorescence, an unidirectional spike-like inflorescence with small flowers densely growing only on the upper side of the axis. The tip bends outward and gradually opens from bottom to top. The flowering period is from May to September.
The terminal inflorescence is arranged in a bifurcated scorpion tail shape, with the entire inflorescence reaching 15cm long. The end curls up like a caterpillar, hence the name "Ear Hook Grass."
Fruit: The fruit is a capsule formed by the fusion of two small drupes.
Uses: Edible, medicinal, and a source of honey.
The main effects and functions of Da Wei Yao are dispelling wind and heat, treating pneumonia, pulmonary edema, liver disease, sore throat, oral ulcer, abscess, tumor, etc. Crushing Da Wei Yao and applying it externally can reduce swelling.
【Effects and Functions of Da Wei Yao】
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Da Wei Yao has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and diuresis. It is commonly used for pneumonia, empyema, sore throat, oral ulcer, bladder stones, abscesses, and swelling.
1. "Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine": "Diuretic, heat-clearing, abscess-dissolving, detoxifying. Used to treat fever with rashes, pneumonia, empyema."
2. "Nanning Pharmaceutical Chronicle": "Dispels swelling, detoxifies, eliminates accumulations. Internally used to treat bladder stones; branches and leaves boiled with lime water can be used as a fumigation wash to treat snakebite sores."
3. "Folk Herbal Medicine of Southern Fujian": "Treats sore throat, cough, early-stage abscesses, oral ulcers."
4. "Folk Herbal Medicine of Southern Fujian": "Treats dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, and general body pain during menstruation."
5. "National Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicine": "Clears heat, detoxifies. Mainly used for pneumonia, lung abscess, empyema, diarrhea, dysentery, orchitis, diphtheria, oral ulcers, abscesses."
