Aristolochic acid, a chemical found in some Chinese herbal medicines, was listed as a class 1 carcinogen 15 years ago. Recently, it was once again denounced as a strong carcinogen by an international heavyweight paper, once again on the cusp of the storm.
Then, some articles on the Internet are searching for Chinese herbal medicine and patent medicine containing aristolochic acid, many of which mention that Houpu contains aristolochic acid.
And Magnolia officinalis is one of the main components of "Huoxiang Zhengqi water", which is a family medicine. Therefore, Huoxiang Zhengqi water is inexplicably related to cancer.
Does Houpu contain aristolochic acid or not? Will Huoxiang Zhengqi water cause cancer? Chinese medicine teacher Chen Wendong will give an authoritative explanation.
What is Magnolia officinalis and what are its ingredients?
According to Chen Wendong, Magnolia officinalis is a kind of Aromatic Medicine in traditional Chinese medicine, which is commonly used for drying dampness and resolving phlegm. It is bitter, pungent and warm in nature. It can return to the spleen, stomach, lung and large intestine. It has the effect of drying dampness and eliminating phlegm, removing Qi and fullness.
Magnolia officinalis is often used to treat three major diseases:
1. Dampness obstructs the middle Jiao and distends the abdomen. It is often used in the same way as Atractylodes macrocephala and tangerine peel.
2. Food accumulation and qi stagnation, abdominal distension and constipation. It is often used together with rhubarb and Fructus aurantii.
3. Phlegm and cough. It can be used in the same way as Suzi, Chenpi and Banxia.
As for Magnolia officinalis, it does not contain aristolochic acid at all. It mainly contains magnolol, isomagnolol, honokiol, tetrahydrophonokiol, magnolial B, C, D, e, magnolial a, B, C, D, e, F, G, h, I, eugenin and volatile oil. In addition, it also contains alkaloids, curculine.
Therefore, some articles on the Internet irresponsibly make up the rumor that Houpu contains aristolochic acid. Please don't believe it.
Can agastache water cause cancer?
Huoxiang Zhengqi water is a common medicine in many families, which has significant effects of relieving the surface dampness, regulating the Qi and the middle.
It does contain Magnolia officinalis (made of ginger), in addition to Atractylodes macrocephala, tangerine peel, Angelica dahurica, Poria cocos, big belly peel, pinellia, liquorice extract, patchouli oil, perilla leaf oil. It uses two kinds of auxiliary materials, namely, dried ginger juice and medicinal ethanol.
It is said on the Internet that Hopu in Huoxiang Zhengqi water will cause cancer, at least for now, it is lack of scientific basis or clinical basis.
As just mentioned, Magnolia officinalis contains many chemicals, but it does not contain aristolochic acid. Moreover, Magnolia officinalis does not cause cancer! Why do you say that? Please look at the modern pharmacological research on Magnolia officinalis, which is clearly pointed out in the pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine:
Magnolia officinalis decoction has broad-spectrum antibacterial effect. In addition, Magnolia officinalis has the functions of regulating smooth muscle, anti ulcer, central inhibition, lowering blood pressure, antiviral microorganisms, anti-tumor, etc.
Therefore, Houpu does not contain aristolochic acid and will not cause cancer. Huoxiang Zhengqi water can be used at ease.
Pharmacist's point of view: Chinese medicine containing aristolochic acid has been proved to be carcinogenic, which is beneficial to the development of Chinese Medicine
The aristolochic acid incident and the cancer caused by Huoxiang Zhengqi water, which are put forward on the Internet, are in fact the same. We think that some so-called scholars, ordinary people and so on may have a general suspicion.
As for the "poisons" of traditional Chinese medicine, predecessors have already summarized and concluded that "poisons" have two meanings: one is "generalized" poisons, the other is "narrow" poisons.
In a broad sense, it means that all drugs are poisons, such as: people who eat too much ginseng will lose sleep, people who eat too much ephedra will sweat more than even collapse, etc.; in a narrow sense, it means drugs with toxicity, such as Aristolochia, etc.
Moreover, the guiding principles of Chinese medicine, such as "18 anti and 19 dread", have been established in the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine. As long as we use the medicine correctly under the guidance of the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, we think it is safe.
Moreover, I think that the Chinese medicine containing aristolochic acid will lead to nephritis and liver cancer. If it is proved, it will only be beneficial to the development of Chinese medicine. For the problems that the ancients did not realize, we should find them through new technology and new methods, so as to avoid medical accidents and do no harm to the people!
Extending to the hot topic of who is better in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, I think there is no comparability at all. On the one hand, western medicine is guided by a set of complete and scientific theories; on the other hand, traditional Chinese medicine is explored by thousands of years of experience, which is effective and under the guidance of theories sorted out by generations of physicians.
We should continue to publicize the real knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, constantly improve and sort out the theoretical knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, so that the broad masses of the people know what it is and why it is.