☯ TCM Properties
Disperses Stagnant Blood, d isperses accumulation and inhibits carcinoma
Traditional Chinese Uses
Xi Shu is the fruit, bark and root of Camptotheca acuminata (the "happy tree"), a comparatively modern addition to the materia medica. Bitter and cold, it disperses Blood stasis, breaks up accumulations and masses, clears Heat and resolves toxicity. It is used mainly as an anti-tumor and Heat-clearing agent for various masses and carcinomas, and has been applied to conditions such as gastric, intestinal, bladder and skin tumors, chronic leukemia, and psoriasis.
The tree is the natural source of camptothecin, from which the chemotherapy drugs topotecan and irinotecan (topoisomerase-I inhibitors) are derived. Because the active constituents are cytotoxic, crude Xi Shu is toxic — it can cause bone-marrow suppression, severe gastrointestinal reactions and bleeding — and is not for self-administration; it is contraindicated in pregnancy. It is used only within professional oncologic settings.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Camptotheca acuminata Decne. (Nyssaceae), the happy tree or cancer tree, is a fast-growing deciduous broadleaved tree reaching 20-25 m in height, endemic to southern China and Tibet. The trunk is straight with smooth grey bark; young branches are reddish-green and glabrous. Leaves are opposite, ovate to elliptic-oblong, 12-28 cm long, with entire margins, an abruptly acuminate tip, and prominent pinnate venation, glossy dark green above and lighter beneath with pubescent veins. The inflorescence is a globular head 1.5-2 cm in diameter consisting of many small greenish-white flowers, the heads arranged in axillary or terminal clusters, with separate male, female, and bisexual heads on the same tree. The fruit is a narrow winged samara 2-2.5 cm long, brown at maturity, aggregated into pendulous heads. The tree is the original natural source of camptothecin and its derivatives (irinotecan, topotecan), used in TCM and modern oncology for cancer treatment.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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