Anyone heard any good info on Chinese herbs lately?

[Guest guest]

Has anyone on this list anything to say about Chinese herbal medicine?

If not, why not? This is a serious question. One which, I think, bears

discussion. Why do we have comparatively so little to talk about vis a

vis Chinese herbal medicine per se?

 

So that I'm not just as guilty as the persons to whom I ask this question:

 

In issue #1, 2005 of Tian Jin Zhong Yi Yao (Tianjin &

Medicinals), Zhang Hai-feng, Yao Fang, Wang Wei-tao et al. describe

the effects of an extract of Quan Xie (Buthus Martensis) on the

progranulocyte HL-60 and its associated genes in acute promyelocytic

leukemia. (According to an NIH Website, " The HL-60 cell line, derived

from a single patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia, provides a

unique in vitro model system for studying the cellular and molecular

events involved in the proliferation and differentiation of normal and

leukemic cells of the granulocyte/monocyte/macrophage lineage. " ) It

was found that this extract could markedly increase the apoptosis

(i.e., cell death) of HL-60. However, this effect was dose-dependent.

At the highest concetration (10mg/mL), the proportion of apoptosis

increased markedly, peaking at 21.44%. At mid and low doses, these

proportions were only 12.56% and 9.47% respectively. Nevertheless,

even this was marginally better than the 7.36% apoptosis in the

control group. This treatment also markedly increased the expression

of the P53 gene and decreased the expression of bel-2.

 

Not only does this study suggest that an extract of Quan Xie has a

beneficial effect on HL-60 death and associated gene expression, but

it also once again underlines the importance of dose in the practice

of Chinese medicine. Notice that the increase in effect from the high

dosage was not a simple arthimetic progression.

 

BTW, the extract used in this study was basically a water-based

decoction with alcohol used as a preservative. Ten grams of scorpion

were crushed and soaked in 100ml of water for 30 minutes. Then they

were cooked at 100 degrees C two times. This liquid was spun in a

centrifuge for 20 minutes at 1,000 rpm. Finally, it was cooked again

at 100 degrees C for 20 minutes, then concentrated to 50% (I assume

with alcohol) to eliminate any microbes. (If I read this section

correctly.)

 

Another BTW, the authors of this study say in their introduction that

the main active ingredients in Quan Xie are scorpion toxins which are

of four types. This suggests that, at least in Chinese medical

oncology, the use of Quan Xie is a type of chemotherapy.

 

Bob

[Guest guest]

Interestingly,

The new issue of the New England Journal of Acupuncture has an

article on the treatment of a patient with a malignant brain tumor who

was still alive and well five years after treatment with an herbal

prescription containing qian xie.

 

On another note, Bob, we need to make it easier for Western schools

and practitioners to to CM journals in Chinese. Any

possibility of giving a web link to a good supplier, or Blue Poppy

serving as a subscription service?

 

Thanks,

 

 

On May 2, 2005, at 2:26 PM, Bob Flaws wrote:

 

> Another BTW, the authors of this study say in their introduction that

> the main active ingredients in Quan Xie are scorpion toxins which are

> of four types. This suggests that, at least in Chinese medical

> oncology, the use of Quan Xie is a type of chemotherapy.

[Guest guest]

an extract of Quan Xie (Buthus Martensis) on the

progranulocyte HL-60 and

>>>>Unfortunately these in vitro studies often have little to do with what

actually occurs in patients

 

 

 

 

Oakland, CA 94609

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, " "

<zrosenbe@s...> wrote:

 

> On another note, Bob, we need to make it easier for Western schools

> and practitioners to to CM journals in Chinese. Any

> possibility of giving a web link to a good supplier, or Blue Poppy

> serving as a subscription service?

 

Z'ev, take a look at www.wanfangdata.com

They provide data on things Chinese, including Chinese medicine. They

have, I believe, 79 Chinese medicial magazines online, including the

better ones.

They work with an annual subscription fee, and they already have

several universities and libraries signed up. Mind you, the fee for a

school is very steep.

If you are an individual practitioner looking to read Chinese

magazines, you may be able to negotiate a deal with them.

I communicated with Danny Liu, who is in Beijing, and he seems to be a

very nice guy dliu

 

Regards,

 

Tom.