Tiankuizi Anti-Cancer Benefits and Effects, Differences from Dongkuizi, and How to Eat It Plus Contraindications

Tiankuizi is the tuberous root of the Ranunculaceae plant Tiankui (Semiaquilegia adoxoides), also known among the people as "thousand-year rat droppings." In traditional medicine, Tiankuizi is considered to have excellent effects in clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and dispersing nodules, and promoting urination to treat strangury. It is even known as an “anti-cancer treasure.” So what exactly are the benefits and effects of the anti-cancer treasure Tiankuizi? How does it differ from Dongkuizi? What are its methods of consumption and contraindications? Below, the editor takes everyone through a detailed look.

I. What benefits and effects does Tiankuizi have?

1. Why is Tiankuizi called an anti-cancer treasure?

Tiankuizi is the root of the herbaceous plant Tiankui, made through washing, drying and other processing. Its main function is to reduce swelling and disperse nodules, and to clear heat and detoxify, with a particularly good therapeutic effect on various types of abscesses and swellings.

By making use of its ability to eliminate abscesses and swellings, modern traditional Chinese medicine departments have developed many TCM formulas using Tiankuizi to treat cancer, and these have achieved very good therapeutic results. There are already treatment formulas for esophageal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer and bladder cancer. But treating disease is not as good as preventing it, especially for terminal illnesses like cancer, where prevention outweighs treatment. Based on the principle that medicine and food share the same origin, taking an appropriate amount of Tiankuizi in daily life can produce a very good anti-cancer and cancer-preventive effect. At the same time, Tiankuizi also has a very good therapeutic effect in treating dry cough and resolving phlegm.

2. Benefits and effects of Tiankuizi:

① Clearing heat and draining dampness: Tiankuizi has the benefit of clearing heat and draining dampness, and can be used for edema, strangury with turbid urine, and leukorrhea.

② Detoxifying and reducing swelling: treats pain and disperses toxic swellings, sores, scrofula and miasmic toxins, falls and impacts, mad dog bites, hemorrhoids, and strain injuries.

③ Relieving cough and calming wheezing: suitable for cases caused by external pathogenic heat steaming the lungs and binding with stagnant heat in the lungs, causing lung qi to rebel upward, leading to cough and wheezing.

④ Dispersing nodules and promoting lactation: suitable for breast pain caused by internally accumulated blood heat, or by blocked nipples with external pathogenic fire-toxin, or for insufficient milk flow.

⑤ Clearing heat and extinguishing wind: Tiankuizi has the benefit of clearing heat and extinguishing wind, and is suitable for epilepsy caused by excess fire in the liver and gallbladder, or by phlegm-fire clouding the orifices.

⑤ Preventing cancer: preventing cancer is one of the important benefits of Tiankuizi. It contains a large amount of alkaloids and some lactones, and these substances are all important anti-cancer substances. Consuming it regularly can prevent the occurrence of many common cancers in humans, such as breast cancer, liver cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer.

3. Anti-cancer applications of Tiankuizi

① Treating nasopharyngeal cancer and esophageal cancer: Grind 500g of Tiankuizi into powder, add it to 1.5kg of sorghum liquor or grain liquor and soak for 7 days. Take 30ml of Tiankui wine each time, 3 times a day. "Selected Exhibition Materials on New Medical Methods with Chinese Herbal Medicine Nationwide"

② Treating stomach cancer: 500g each of Huangyaozi (Dioscorea bulbifera), Tiankuizi and Suanpanzi (Glochidion puberum). First crush the Huangyaozi appropriately, decoct together with Tiankuizi and Suanpanzi in water, filter, concentrate the filtrate into an extract, add excipients, granulate, dry and press into tablets. Take 5 to 10 tablets orally each time, 3 times a day. "Anti-Cancer Chinese Herbal Medicine Preparations"

③ Treating brain tumors: 30g each of Shashi Lurongcao (Monochasma savatieri) and Niuweicai root (Smilax riparia), 20g of Tiankuizi, 15g of Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong), 2g of Tibetan saffron (chewed separately), 1g of pearl powder (swallowed), decocted in water, 1 dose per day. "Practical Anti-Cancer Proven Formulas"

④ Treating malignant lymphoma: 15g each of Tiankuizi, Huangyaozi, Hongmuxiang (Kadsura interior) and Chonglou (Paris polyphylla), 10g of Moyu (konjac, decoct first for 2 hours, then decoct together with the above medicines), decocted in water, 1 dose per day, taken continuously for 15 to 25 doses. (Formula from Shanghai Qunli Herbal Medicine Store)

⑤ Treating breast cancer: 30g each of Tiankuizi, Yuntaizi (rapeseed) and Bili (Ficus pumila), 15g of Loulu (Rhaponticum uniflorum), 9g each of Bajiaolian (Dysosma versipellis), Tubiechong (ground beetle), Bailian (Ampelopsis japonica) and Jinquihua (Caragana sinica), decocted in water. "Complete Collection of Secret TCM Formulas of China"

II. What is the difference between Tiankuizi and Dongkuizi?

1. Differences in appearance between Tiankuizi and Dongkuizi

Tiankuizi is the dried root tuber of the Ranunculaceae plant Tiankui, and it is currently distributed in many areas of our country. In appearance, it is relatively short, spindle-shaped or block-like, slightly curved, with a surface ranging from dark brown to grayish brown, and with fibrous roots on it.

Dongkuizi, on the other hand, is the mature seed of the Malvaceae annual herbaceous plant Dongkui (Malva verticillata), found throughout our country. The fruit of this Chinese medicine is composed of multiple small mericarps, appearing as a flat disc shape, with a persistent calyx at the bottom. The surface is brownish yellow, the back is relatively smooth, with round dots and radiating lines.

2. Differences in effects between Tiankuizi and Dongkuizi

Tiankuizi has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying and reducing swelling, and can be used to treat various swellings and pains, as well as fall injuries, hemorrhoids and other diseases. If bitten by a venomous snake, Tiankuizi can also be applied externally.

Dongkuizi has very good effects in clearing heat, draining dampness and reducing swelling, and can improve difficulty urinating, as well as treat frequent urination, urgency to urinate and painful urination. For insufficient milk secretion, Dongkuizi can also be used in combination with other Chinese medicines.

III. Methods of consumption and contraindications of Tiankuizi

1. Usage and dosage of Tiankuizi:

Internal use: decocted as a soup, 1——3 qian (3.75-11.25g); ground into powder or soaked in wine.

External use: pounded and applied, or pounded and the juice dropped into the eyes.

2. Methods of consumption of Tiankuizi:

① Wuwei Disinfection Drink

Function: clears heat and detoxifies, dissipates boils and sores.

Indications: early-stage boils and sores with fever and aversion to cold, sores shaped like millet, hard with deep roots like iron nails, as well as abscesses, ulcers and furuncles with redness, swelling, heat and pain, red tongue with yellow coating, and rapid pulse.

Composition: Jinyinhua (honeysuckle, 15g), Yejuhua (wild chrysanthemum, 6g), Pugongying (dandelion, 6g), Zihuadiding (Viola philippica, 6g), Zibei Tiankuizi (purple-backed Tiankuizi, 6g)

Usage: one cup of water, decoct to eight parts, add half a cup of ash-free wine, bring to two or three boils again, take warm, and cover with a blanket until sweating.

Formula discussion: In the formula, honeysuckle clears heat and detoxifies and dissipates abscesses and swellings; Zihuadiding, dandelion, wild chrysanthemum and purple-backed Tiankuizi clear heat and detoxify, cool the blood, reduce swelling and disperse nodules; a small amount of wine is added to free the blood vessels, which helps dissipate abscesses, swellings, boils and toxins. Combined into a formula, it together achieves the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, and dispersing nodules and reducing swelling.

Source: "Yizong Jinjian" (Golden Mirror of Medical Ancestors)

② Tiankuizi Tea

Benefits: clears heat and detoxifies, reduces swelling and disperses nodules.

Indications: abscesses and cellulitis; breast abscess; breast lumps; strangury with turbid urine and leukorrhea.

Materials: 5g of Tiankuizi, 3g of green tea.

Usage: brew with 200ml of boiling water for 10 minutes before drinking. An appropriate amount of white sugar may be added. Continue brewing and drinking until the taste is weak.

Source: "Diannan Bencao."

③ Tiankuizi and Beimu Tea

Benefits: clears heat and reduces swelling, softens hardness and transforms phlegm.

Indications: scrofula and phlegm nodules.

Materials: 5g of Tiankuizi, 3g of Beimu (Fritillaria), 3g of calcined oyster shell, 3g of Jiegeng (Platycodon grandiflorus), 3g of Gancao (licorice), 5g of green tea.

Usage: decoct Tiankuizi, Beimu, calcined oyster shell and Jiegeng in 350ml of water until 10 minutes after boiling, then brew Gancao and green tea with it for drinking. Continue brewing and drinking until the taste is weak.

Source: traditional medicinal tea formula.

3. Contraindications for consuming Tiankuizi:

People with spleen deficiency and loose stools, and those with clear and profuse urination, should avoid using Tiankuizi.