Strychnos (Maqianzi)

Clinical Reports
1. treatment of Bell's palsy
ma qian zi 3.6 g, cut into 19 to 24 slices and arranged on medical plaster tape. Applied to affect areas. (applied to left sides if tilted to right and reverse). After 7 to 10 days, new ones were applied till normal. Usually in mild cases two applications were sufficient. Treated 15,000 patients. Effective rate was 80%

2. treatment of myasthenia gravis; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Soak ma qian zi in water for 10~14 days, and de-skin.  (in winter, use lukewarm water; in summer use cold water). After that puts in boiling peanut oil. Cook in low heat for approximately 30 minutes until brown and crispy (when roll under a jar on the hard surface, the seed should crumble easily) . After taking out, mix in the talcum powder to absorb the oil. After h for 10~14 hours to screen out talcum powder and flush with clear water. After drying, grind it into powder and it is ready to use. .Starts  with a small amount of 1.5 fen per day and make into 3 serving per dose. Gradually increase the to  3.2 fen to 4 fen per day. Note: one fen equal to 0.3 gram (new measurement). e.g. 1.5 fen is 0.45 gram.   Caution: this herb is extremely toxic. Use it under expert supervision of experienced Chinese herb doctors..

3. treatment of tuberculosis
4. treatment of cervical erosion

Medical functions:
1. effect on CNS: small amount of strychnine stimulates and large amount induces seizures. It is rapidly absorbed after oral administration and caused spinal reflexes and stimulates the respiratory and motion centers
2. effect on digestive system: strychnine does not have effect on the smooth muscles of the stomach and intestines but its bitterness can induce the the secretion of stomach.

3. effect on respiration system: the effect of brucine is 1/8 of t

hat of strychnine. It can inhibit cough of mice, caused by ammonia solution or sulfur dioxide and its effect surpasses that of codeine. Oral administration is more obvious that abdomen cavity injection. It also possesses the effect of phlegm expectorant. Its effect on suppressing asthma is weak but it can enhance the effect of anti histamine of rabbit if the duration of drug application is longer and amount is larger.

4. other effects: ma qian zi possesses the effect of curare (arrow poison). It can inhibit the growth of bacteria in test tubes. Some varieties of ma qian zi produced in Africa possesses muscle relaxing effect.

5. toxic effect: In early stages there is sensation of spasm of the jaw and neck muscles, difficulty in swallowing, the whole body is uncomfortable, then extreme contraction of the muscles and tetany.

Actions & Indications:
Rheumatoid arthritis, injuries, boils and swellings, sequelae from polio of children, Impotence, for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, organic and functional disorders of the heart and circulatory system,
glycine encephalopathy, nervous conditions, Myasthenia Gravis; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cancer, depression, Migraine, Perimenopausal Syndrome, facial neuralgias, Raynaud's Disease.
 
Dosage:
0.3 to 0.6 g. (do not exceed commonly used dosage)

Cautions:
Do not overdose. Overdoses have been recorded with as little as 60 mg.